You’ve chosen your base vehicle range, now think about the specifications of the van itself.

It’s really easy to just focus on the habitation part of your campervan when you’re thinking about buying one. And why wouldn’t you? After all, it’s the space you will chill out in, prep your meals, watch a movie, entertain friends, sleep…

But the base vehicle itself is an essential part of the equation, and I would say the starting point. Don’t get me wrong, focussing on the habitation part of your campervan is vitally important (and fun) too but the base vehicle is effectively the foundation upon which you will build your travelling home from home.

Our blog called ‘A guide to VW campervan base vehicles’ here is a good way to take your first step when researching a van. The blog explains the different ranges available from Volkswagen such as the Transporter, Caravelle, Crafter, Multivan and Caddy.

Once you have decided on the base vehicle range, the next step is to consider the actual van specifications. CamperKing specialises in VW Transporter base vehicles and this blog will explain its different specifications, focussing on the VW T7 and T6.1 models, so you can ensure you have the right base vehicle that suits both your campervanning lifestyle and your budget.

VW T7 van specifications

The T7 is VW’s seventh generation of the popular Transporter range. It is built as the Commerce, the Commerce Plus and the Commerce Pro in ascending order of features within the vehicle.

VW Commerce

The VW Commerce is Euro 6 ULEZ compliant that features:

• A 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Bluetooth connectivity with App-Connect that allows you to mirror your smartphone’s screen to the infotainment display
• Cruise-control and multi-function steering wheel
• Rear parking sensors
• Heated wing mirrors
• Lane assist and dynamic road sign display
• High beam control
• A key-less ignition
• LED headlights.

VW Commerce Plus

In addition to the features listed above for the Commerce, the Commerce Plus also has:

• Body-coded bumpers and wing mirrors
• Front and rear parking sensors
• A reversing camera
• Leatherette multi-function steering wheel
• VW alarm.

VW Commerce Pro

As the next step up, on top of the features for the Commerce and the Commerce Plus, the Commerce Pro also has:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Heated seats
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Power folding wing mirrors
• A heated windscreen
• Wireless mobile phone charging.

At this stage it’s worth considering whether you want more space with a longer van. In other words, a long wheel-base (LWB) vehicle versus a short wheel-base (SWB) van. Short wheel-base T7 Transporters are 5.05 metres long whereas the long wheel-base version will give an extra 40cm of length bringing it to 5.45 metres.

VW T6.1 van specifications

The T6.1 is the facelifted version of the T6, or sixth generation, of Volkswagen’s Transporter range produced and sold from 2019 to 2024.

The Startline is the entry level specification that features:

• A 6.5-inch touchscreen with DAB+, Bluetooth and App-Connect
• Power steering and multi-function steering wheel
• LED interior lighting
• Electric windows and heated mirrors
• Full electronic stability and safety systems
• Remote central locking and alarm.

The Startline with optional Business Pack adds:

• Rear parking sensors
• Cruise control
• Air-conditioning.

The Highline is the higher spec model for the T6.1 and in addition to the features of the Startline with Business Pack, it includes:

• Adaptive Cruise Control, or ACC
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Heated, foldable mirrors
• Automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers
• Front fog lights
• Climactic air-conditioning
• A heated front windscreen
• Body-coloured trim details.

As with the VW T7 base vehicle, the T6.1 comes as a short or long wheel base. The length difference is still 40cm but the vehicles themselves are slightly shorter measuring 4.9 metres (SWB) and 5.3 metres (LWB).

Here to help

Our CamperKing experts are on hand waiting to help guide you through the whole process of buying either a ready-built, new or used campervan, or customising a van to your exact specification.

One of our experts, Jack Grey, talks more about what to consider from a lifestyle basis when buying a campervan in his blog ‘Buying a campervan? Start with how you want to camp, not which campervan you want to buy’, which you can read here.