A good van that’s a great price and has low running costs is essential. It’s probably one of your biggest investments and most important assets.
So if you’re looking for a new van, you’ll need to consider a few things:
- What size do you need?
- What’s your budget?
- Do you want a new or used van?
Once you’ve decided on these factors, you can start looking around for the perfect vehicle. Since the most popular commercial van size is medium-sized, we’re going to take a look at those top 3 vans first.
Ford Transit Custom
Awarded Auto Express’ first Van of the Year, the Ford Transit Custom is affordable from purchase through to running costs. Those that drive them say that they are a pleasure to drive, and you can save an average of £1,250 per year compared with the old Transit Custom’s engine.
The Transit Custom has remote control central locking as standard, and you can open one door without unlocking all of them at once. You can unlock all the doors using a switch on the driver’s door, and there are two different alarms available. These are optional extras, but it’s well worth it if you might have to keep tools in your van overnight.
Notable features:
- 2.0-litre EcoBlue TDCi engine with 104bhp, 128bhp or 168bhp
- 2 less-powerful engines have a combined fuel consumption of 46mpg
- Service intervals of two years or 36,000 miles and a three-year/100,000 mile warranty
- Short and long-wheelbase options
- First commercial vehicle to be awarded five-star Euro NCAP rating
- Items up to 3m long can be carried as loads can slide under passenger seat
Price from new: £19,126-£32,920
Volkswagen Transporter T6
Awarded Van of the Year in 2016, the Volkswagen Transporter T6 is a stylish and popular van. It’s efficient and practical with small and large storage spaces. However, there is no overhead shelf and the lockable glovebox is small.
The T6 has a quiet engine with smooth acceleration through the gears. Under the Bluemotion Technology system, which includes a stop-start system, you can get a great 47.9mpg.
Notable features:
- 8m3 load volume
- High upright position
- Modern and sleek interior
- Touchscreen display as standard
- Short-wheelbase
Price from new: £21,000
Mercedes-Benz Vito
As you would expect, the Mercedes Vito is at the higher end of the spectrum. But it comes with lots of features as standard, and is safe, comfortable and classy.
The Vito comes with either a 1.6-litre four-cylinder diesel engine or a 2.1-litre diesel engine, which is only fitted to the rear-drive versions. The best option for economy is the Vito 116 CDI BlueEfficiency model with a 49.6mpg on the combined cycle.
There is no high-roof option, which means space is sparse compared to the other vans we’ve compared, but rear-wheel-drive models can cope with a payload of 1,369kg.
Notable features:
- 5m3-6.6m3 load volume
- 43-2.91m max load length
- Lane Keeping Assist available
- Service intervals of two years or 25,000 miles
- Rear-parking camera as option
Price from new: £21,426
Make sure you do lots of research before you decide on a new van as it is a significant investment. There are options such as leasing, which stops you from having to find a large lump sum.
Don’t forget that with Quotatis Smart Savings, you can get great rates on van purchasing and leasing. Simply login to your account to find out more.