Jayco Eagle vs Volkswagen Transporter

What's the difference?

The Jayco Eagle Outback, for me, is an example of a camper-trailer getting closer to what I reckon a truly off-road-capable Jayco camper will be like.

There's nothing in Jayco's current line-up that offers comfort and full functionality and is also capable of tackling decent off-roading, so we're looking forward to testing Jayco's first line-up of dedicated off-road campers, including the JTrak Outback and Outback X.

So has Volkswagen done enough with this new Transporter to win back buyers in what has become a highly-competitive van market?

Based on our initial test drive of the Transporter, it’s safe to say Volkswagen has a good chance of regaining some lost ground. But it won’t be easy because there isn’t any particular area where the Transporter really sets itself apart from the competition.

It’s a pleasant van to drive, with a roomy, modern cabin and a competitive cargo area, at least with the diesel engine. The electric Transporter provides an alternative choice for a small audience, but the huge price premium and limited range will mean it won’t suit the vast majority of buyers.

The real opportunity for VW will come when the PHEV arrives in 2026. That has the potential to help create some difference between itself and the likes of Toyota and Hyundai.

It’s noticeable that the brands dominating the commercial van market are the big name ones, rather than the cheaper Chinese competition, which suggests buyers are looking for a trusted name rather than the lowest price.

So from that perspective, Volkswagen has a decent chance of regaining lost ground given its heritage in the van segment.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with meals provided.

These Jayco camper-trailers have a familiar touring-friendly floor-plan – check out the accompanying photos for proof of that – and most adhere to a similar approach to interior functionality – neat and simple – and that’s well suited to those who venture off the blacktop and hit the dirt.

Interior height is 2070mm, standard for campers of this type, so there’s plenty of stretch space for those of us not gifted with the vertical inches of Collingwood’s Mason Cox. Bench height, also standard for a camper-trailer, remains just lower than an average bloke’s hip so stooping to work in the kitchen is still an issue, but that’s part and parcel of the lifestyle, so stop whinging and get used to it.

Looking from the door, to the left is the front bed and club lounge; along the wall is the kitchen area (replete with four-burner stove, Dometic 95-litre fridge*, storage drawers and pantry); and to the right is the rear bed and dinette area. (* Outback models get the 95-litre fridge; Touring models get the 90-litre fridge.)

Overhead interior lighting includes LEDs for the main area and reading lights for the beds; there’s a fan for the beds.

There are also power points and USB port.

This is the really important element for any good commercial van, both the practicality of the cabin (as drivers spend long hours behind the wheel) and the cargo capacity in the back (for the obvious reasons).

Up front there’s a wireless charging pad and seven USB ports spread around the cabin. There are plenty of small item storage spots, and some not so small items, with a large shelf on top of the dashboard and multiple in-door shelves.

Of course, it’s out the back that’s really important and, as mentioned earlier, there is more space thanks to the larger overall dimensions.

Both SWB and LWB vans come with a plastic floor cover as standard, plus there are load rated tied tie down points, a 12V charging port in the D-pillar and LED lights in the roof. 

Thanks to the extra length, the SWB has a 2.6m load length and 5.8 cubic metres of cargo space, while the LWB has 3.0m in length and 6.8 cubic metres. There’s also a steel fixed partition with window, window grille and load through hatch to stretch the usable space even more.

The total payload for the Transporter varies depending on the powertrain. The TDI 2WD can take up to 1062kg (SWB) and 1016kg (LWB), while TDI AWD can manage 963kg (SWB) and 917kg (LWB). The electric Transporter has a significantly lower payload, rated at 806kg (SWB) and 760kg (LWB).

Towing capacity also changes depending on the powertrain, the TDI 2WD can manage 2000kg, TDI AWD up to 2800kg and the electric 2300kg.

This single-axle camper – at 5060mm long (including drawbar), 1910mm high, 2240mm wide, and with a 1270kg tare weight – towed smoothly behind the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport we used on this review.

It sat snug and steady on the towball (with a 150kg download) during open-road driving, as well as during short sections of slightly bumpy gravel track and undulating dirt road.

The Eagle Outback has a hot dip galvanised Endurance Chassis riding on Jayco’s own JTech coil-spring suspension set-up.

Please note: Jayco’s Outback models are designed and engineered for, at worst, dirt roads and gravel roads, not 4WD tracks. Do not think that because these campers have been branded ‘Outback’ that they are actually able to tackle hard-core off-roading.

Volkswagen is a company that prides itself on its driving dynamics, even when it comes to vans. Even with the Ford influence, the new Transporter unmistakably feels like a Volkswagen in the way it drives.

It's worth noting we drove the Transporter unladen, so it may respond differently when filled with cargo, but the fundamental behaviour should remain the same.

There’s no mistaking you’re behind the wheel of a big van, but the Transporter reacts well to your inputs, so it feels responsive and surprisingly agile for such a sizable vehicle.

The same is true for the turbo-diesel engine, which feels strong enough to pull the big van along with a minimum of fuss (although, again, that was without a full cargo load in the back). What the engine does well is perform quietly. The cabin is well-insulated from the outside world, so it makes for a more relaxed environment, which will be a welcome factor for anyone looking to spend their working day inside the Transporter.

We sampled the electric Transporter and it also performed well. Dynamically it felt very similar, despite being rear-wheel drive, but obviously the bigger difference is under the bonnet. The electric motor does a fine job, but it feels solid rather than being particularly punchy. The TDI feels like it does the work easier, even under acceleration which should be the electric motor’s strength.