It’s hard to believe the VW Transporter has been around since 1950. As the best-selling commercial vehicle VW offers in the UK, it’s now into its fifth generation and a whopping 10 million have been produced since it first rolled off the production line. And having just driven one, I’m not surprised it’s done so well.

You may think the Transporter is an odd vehicle for Farmers Weekly to test. But in its all-wheel-drive 4MOTION guise, we thought it would be fun to put it through its paces on the farm. And boy-oh-boy it was.

We initially thought of it as a vehicle for dealer fitters, engineers and farriers. Yet it was soon clear to see that this van could have wider appeal for farmers in general.

There is a choice of four power outputs; 84, 102, 140 and 180hp. We tested the 2-litre TDI 140, six-speed T30, short wheelbase, panel version.

Shod with bog-standard road-going tyres, this van was nigh-impossible to get stuck.

We tested it in defrosted fields to collect wood and feed sheep and it was a bit overkill for this job really, but there was plenty of room for mineral blocks and troughs.

The toughest test we subjected it to was a trek from Warwickshire to North Yorkshire, cleverly timed to coincide with the worst of the recent snow (a round trip of 14 hours) including 12in snow drifts. It never even stumbled, which proved a bit dull in the end.

This was probably down to the latest-generation 4MOTION four-wheel drive, says VW, which automatically transfers power to each wheel using a Haldex coupling. This means that up to 100% power can be channelled to the wheels that need it most.

This updated system works faster and quieter, says VW, because it’s controlled electronically rather than manually. But on the road in normal conditions, 90% of the engine’s power is delivered to the front wheels, giving the same driving characteristics as a 2wd vehicle.

The new four-cylinder, 2-litre, 140 PD TDI common-rail engine replaces the previous 2.5-litre TDI PD block, yet gains 10 more hp and manages a combined 36.7mpg. When driving more sedately, we managed just over this on a longer journey.

I’ve developed a bit of a taste for those indicator systems that suggest when to upshift and downshift. You’d reasonably assume that by now I’d know when it’s best to change up or down – nonetheless the little arrow is quite comforting. What with it and the trip computer, you can get quite obsessive trying to beat your previous mpg reading on every journey, long or short.

The load bay in the van we tested measured 2353mm long by 1692mm from panel to side door – enough to get plenty of tools, oil drums and spares in. It’s also possible to get the 4MOTION system specced as a longer wheelbase panel version, a T30 Window Van and as a chassis or double cab (which could prove more useful on a farm).

In the cab, things are characteristically VW-like – the stereo, dash and controls would all be familiar to any Golf or Passat driver. The driving position is surprisingly comfortable, and it counts for something when you’re still able to walk after being stuck in it for nine hours without looking like you’ve had a run-in with a Jersey bull.

Likes

• Comfortable driving position

• Well-designed, function-filled dash

• Excellent traction in all conditions (almost boring)

• Economical and car-like to drive

Gripes

• Could do with the larger engine if towing a lot

• Poor access to 12V sockets – behind the cup holder – and cups block the hazard button

• Unable to adjust seats on passenger side – a very upright position

• Poor lighting in the back