Every commercial worker or delivery driver in the UK needs a solid van to get them from A to B. Good value, light on fuel, rugged, reliable and ready for work.
We’ve scoured the market to find five which do just that and more.
Volkswagen ABT e-Transporter 6.1 Panel Van Advance
The Volkswagen ABT e-Transporter is the German manufacturer's sole commercial van and will hold this title until the all-new ID.Buzz Cargo, which is due in 2022, rocks up. It’s powered by an electric motor, rather than a combustion engine, and pushes out 108bhp with its 37kwh battery, enough to last for a range of 82 miles per charge. You’ll be able to charge to 80 percent from flat in 45 minutes, while charging from a 7.2kW wall box sees the battery fully charged in around five and a half hours. The load volume is 6.7m3 and the maximum payload is 996kg. Standard equipment includes front and rear parking sensors. All for £48,421.
Mercedes-Benz eSprinter
Commercial vans don't come much bigger than the Mercedes Sprinter, or in this case, the eSprinter. The model we tested could carry a whopping 1045kg and has a load volume of 11m3.
It might be more expensive, initially, than some of its competitors but Mercedes is certainly hanging its hat on its long-standing and undoubted quality coupled with its low running costs to convince you that this is, in fact, a great value van - and we can't disagree.
On a standard wallbox with a domestic power supply you’d be looking at an eight-hour charge for the 55kWh battery and six hours for the smaller 41kWh battery. Rapid charging, however, is supported and allows an 80% charge to be added in 30 minutes.
Renault Kangoo ML19 Energy dCi 80 Business
The Renault Kangoo seemingly goes under the radar as a reliable workhorse but it has an excellent history of reviews amongst its loyal users. It is excellent value for money and keeps trips to the fuel station to a minimum with a fuel consumption of 50.4mpg via its diesel engine. The van is also spacious considering it is small enough to drive easily in town. The load volume is 3m3 and the maximum payload is 671kg. It looks credible, too. All from £22,146.
Vauxhall Movano 4500 L4H3 RWD HD Panel Van
The Vauxhall’s Movano is one of our bigger vans. The load space is 4,383cm long, 1,765cm wide and 2,048cm tall. The total volume is 17m3 and, naturally, the maximum payload is considerable too at 1,990kg. The van also has a 2.4 litre turbo diesel engine that produces 165PS, six-speed manual transmission, and plenty of gadgets. Highlights include the rear-view camera and prices start at £41,988.
Nissan NV300 Crew Van Tekna L1H1
The Nissan is beautifully equipped for a van. Standard features include sat-nav, rear camera, cruise control, speed limiter, automatic lights, alloy wheels, and automatic wipers. The van is also a practical workhorse. There is room for six people, with a volume of 3.2m3 and a maximum payload of 1,098kg. Prices start at £35,568.