Full review

Bilbo’s took delivery of its first ready to be converted T6 on 22 July, and had the conversion complete by 17 August.

How could it act so quickly? It could call on all of its four decades-plus as a specialist VW converter to make these things happen.

Meanwhile, there’s been hype about the new T6, not all of it justified. Perhaps the biggest news is the new engines it will be introducing. Will be, because the very first T6s come with the last of the current Euro V engines. The first Bilbo’s Celex conversion is the 138bhp 2-litre with DSG automatic transmission. It’s actually a great combination.

Key with the new engines is they will all be rated Euro VI for emissions. There are four 2-litre variants to come – rated at 83, 101, 148 and 201 bhp respectively), with Volkswagen’s DSG automatic transmission available for the top two only (and 4Motion all-wheel drive reserved solely for the 210bhp version). All have BlueMotion Technology, which includes stop-start. You’ll have to use the AdBlue diesel additive on the new engines, though.

You also get some significant fittings that will certainly make T6 the safest Transporter yet. Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Change Assist, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, High-Beam Assist, foglights that see around bends as you drive, front and rear parking sensors... it’s impressive even if you have to call them up yourselves from the options list.

Also, it might have been me, but the sliding door seemed easier to use and less noisy here. There’s a revised tailgate, too, and again that just seemed to have a slightly slicker action.

Despite all this, it really doesn’t add up to the major model change you’d expect with the transition from T5 to T6.

So, how did Bilbo’s get so far head of all its UK rivals? Simple. This UK converter did the same when the T4 was announced. It nipped in and ordered a left-hand drive T6 – VW on the mainland being somewhat ahead of the curve.

Does the T6 drive any better than its predecessors? Traversing various Home Counties highways proved one thing: as ever, a VW camper is just as much at ease on motorways and dual carriageways as around town, where its size and all-round visibility mean it really does act just like a big car.

Although we’ve quoted a start price of £39,290 for a ‘proper’ T6 Celex, that’s the basic model and there’s a ticklist of over 30 Volkswagen options you can have, from cab air-conditioning (yes, still an extra at £895) upwards, before you are confronted with a similar number of conversion options.

It helps explain some £12,000 worth of extras fitted to this early example, none of which you’re likely to dismiss as being superfluous. So the £50,000 this example tops out at, I’d suggest, is a more realistic price.

As for the rest of the ‘van, there’s actually not much new to report on the conversion itself. Bilbo’s long ago perfected its take on the standard VW floorplan, and developers its own rear seat and elevating roof designs. Others buy in such products, but Bilbo’s has honed these features over the years.

That seat design, for instance, is such that at bedtime it’s that bit wider than most where it matters – the upper torso. Making the bed just involves a simple hinging action for the backrest and minimal cushion moving.

As for the roof, although on initial impressions it seems a bit basic it is simplicity itself to operate.

Construction of the conversion throughout really is top-drawer. Bilbo’s was a forerunner in using laminated, computer-cut furniture. It’s minimalist, fuss-free, easy to keep clean and it’s durable.

There’s one other area where Bilbo’s so often scores over its VW-producer rivals: storage. That rear seat base may be fixed, but the luggage space and access is exemplary. Elsewhere, there are generous drawers under the grill, useful mini lockers over the kitchen, and a rear section that offers the choice of wardrobe and/or shelved cupboard areas.

Inside the tailgate, the gas locker takes two 907 Campingaz cylinders, although limit yourself to one and you can pack the mains lead in here. Bilbo’s supplies a 25m lead as part of a £100 Starter Pack. My own thought is a 10m lead more than suffices.

The soft furnishings will change, of course – Volkswagen is planning four new upholsteries for the T6, which Bilbo’s mirrors faithfully throughout the rest of the camper.

Thereafter, the mildest of tweaks include interior lighting that’s all-LED now (losing the stalked reading lamps I always liked). You get powerful strip lights, two of which have a night-time setting – and there’s a double USB socket along with the mains and 12V outlets next to the rear seat.

Let’s not get too carried away. The table isn’t up to the job of catering for four – especially as, wherever you locate it along its rail, at least two folk are going to be stretching to reach it. There is an extra pivot table option for between the cab seats).

I’m still not completely convinced by the Bilbo’s preference for curtains all round, either. They work best in the cab, but better solutions exist for elsewhere, particularly behind the kitchen.

This is an edited version of the full review appearing in the October 2015 issue of What Motorhome.