While the all-electric Vivaro-e has been winning all the plaudits, there’s still a lot to like about the medium-sized Vauxhall Vivaro van. It’s a practical and well-designed vehicle that offers value for money.
While there aren’t that many Fiat Talento medium size vans on the UK’s roads, it’s certainly a van worth considering. It’s in a competitive segment and is up against the likes of the Mercedes Vito, the Ford Transit Custom, and the Volkswagen Transporter. However, it has been priced to sell and if you are a Fiat van fan, then be aware that this is really a Renault Trafic (and the Nissan NV300). It still wins awards on its own terms though.
The Fiat Ducato is the firm’s flagship van offering and should not be confused with the all-electric e-Ducato. The latest version of the Ducato was launched in June 2021 and it’s a comfortable and impressive van to drive, though it remains a popular choice with UK buyers because of its fuel economy.
The Nissan e-NV200 has been around for a while now, it started life in 2013, and a revamp has made it more attractive. For vans in this segment, there’s not a wide range of alternatives but the e-NV200 offers just enough to be attractive with smart looks, lots of technology and decent range.
The ever-popular Ford Transit is a staple of van fleets around the UK, and the latest model is a great van to drive, packed with equipment and delivers impressive efficiency. It’s following in some big footsteps but with a wide range of payload weights and body styles, plus the no-nonsense abilities, the Ford Transit still sets the bar in an increasingly competitive segment.
As a way to transport people in comfortable surroundings, the nine seat Renault Trafic SpaceClass offers a high end shuttle vehicle to impress. While it’s based on the Trafic, the SpaceClass is an all-new creation aimed at those customers wanting a best in class driving experience. The vehicle definitely offers a limo like experience for passengers and it shares its underpinnings with the Vauxhall Vivaro Combi so that’s worth considering too. For businesses that need a nine seat people mover, there’s a lot to recommend this vehicle.
In an increasingly competitive segment, the new Ford Tourneo Custom offers those wanting nine seats and a premium interior a sound business proposition. The Tourneo Custom delivers a spacious cabin with rear seating consisting of six individual seats that can be rearranged into a conference format. Ford says this is a unique feature for the segment. There’s also an impressive 10 speaker audio system and six USB ports for those sat in the rear. The people mover was revamped for the 2018 model year with new technology and improved handling with self-levelling rear air suspension being introduced. For the money, the Tourneo Custom is a great offering and certainly takes the upmarket people carrier game to the premium offerings from Mercedes and VW.
In an increasingly competitive segment, there’s no doubt that some of the newcomers have managed to establish themselves with a luxurious offering but for those who need a workhorse for everyday business use, there’s little to beat the Mitsubishi L200. It has everything anyone looking at pickups is demanding; it’s a tough and solid build, a nice vehicle to drive and it’s a capable load lugger as well. It also has reasonable running costs and is deigned to last.
Here at Commercialvehicle.com we were huge fans of the Isuzu D-Max which impressed in a keenly fought segment. However, the newer model doesn’t quite reach up to its predecessor’s lofty achievements. One of the reasons for this is that the pick-up hasn’t quite moved with the times so it’s starting to look and feel old when compared with more recent entrants. However, for those who want a workhorse that won’t let them down, the tough D-Max is still a sound choice. For those who want more comfort and refinement then there are other choices in the market which will better meet your needs.
The new Citroen Berlingo delivers much of what has made this a popular van over the years; there’s still a solid build, too much in the way of equipment and a reasonable price tag. Many of the van’s fans will be pleased that the new Euro 6 engines deliver better economy and it’s still a great van to drive. Sadly, items that should be standard kit options are not available but it’s still a sound choice for those who need a small van. The other big downside when considering a van from the segment is that while the Berlingo still has winning qualities, its rivals offer more equipment and better comfort for just a little bit more money.