Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has expanded its Australian Crafter range with the new Crafter Runner, a simplified large van aimed at businesses that want payload, cargo capacity and essential safety technology without unnecessary complexity.
Available exclusively as the Crafter 35 Medium Wheelbase Runner Van TDI360, the new variant combines a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine producing 103kW with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.
For fleet operators, the more important numbers are found behind the front seats.
The Crafter Runner provides 9.9 cubic metres of cargo volume, enough room for four Euro pallets, with a maximum payload of up to 1,362kg. It also has a 2,500kg braked towing capacity, a 1,311mm-wide sliding side-door opening and a low 570mm loading sill to make regular loading and unloading easier.
These specifications position the Runner as a practical option for trades, service fleets, delivery operations and other businesses that need the capacity of a large van without necessarily requiring every feature available further up the Crafter range.
A simpler Crafter specification
Volkswagen says the Runner has been developed around three priorities: simplicity, value and practicality.
“Our Runner variants are designed around what many Australian businesses tell us they need most: capability, practicality and value,” said Nathan Johnson, Brand Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia.
“The Crafter Runner retains the capability, functionality and reliability that Australian businesses expect from Crafter, while offering a more accessible entry point into the range.”
Despite the simplified specification, the cabin still includes equipment designed for drivers spending long working days behind the wheel.
There is a 10.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless App-Connect, Digital Cockpit Pro, leather multifunction steering wheel and hard-wearing leatherette seat trim. A partition with a fixed window and grille separates the cabin from the cargo area.
Safety remains a priority
Importantly for fleet operators, Volkswagen has retained a broad suite of active safety and driver assistance systems in the Runner.
Standard equipment includes Front Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Assist, Side Assist with Blind Spot Monitoring, a rear-view camera and front and rear parking sensors.
Cross Wind Assist and Attention and Drowsiness Assist are also included, along with blind spot monitoring on both sides and a Moving-off Information System.
For organisations assessing vehicles through a workplace health and safety framework, retaining these systems in a more streamlined specification should make the Runner more relevant than a basic entry-level commercial vehicle where safety equipment has been removed to reduce cost.
Part of a broad Crafter line-up
The Runner joins a Crafter range that covers medium, long and extended wheelbases and offers TDI360 and TDI410 diesel engines.
Depending on application, operators can choose from front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and 4MOTION configurations, while GVM ratings range from 3.55 tonnes through to 5.50 tonnes. All variants use an eight-speed automatic transmission.
That breadth remains important for fleet buyers because large commercial vans are rarely a one-size-fits-all purchase. Payload, access, towing requirements, vehicle dimensions, operating environment and whole-of-life costs all need to be assessed against the intended task.
