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When you're purchasing any vehicle one of the most important factors you take into consideration is reliability, perhaps more so when it's a commercial vehicle and will directly impact your livelihood as your equivalent of a company car.
Surprisingly there's not a huge amount of van reliability data available for customers to look over and no uniform measurement either. Our guide to the most reliable vans will highlight some of the best features about these vans whether you're looking for brand new or reliable used vans.
The instantly recognisable Ford Transit was first manufactured by the renowned van maker as a cargo van in 1965 and has since evolved to suit the practical needs of businesses today. It's also available in smaller version: the Ford Transit Connect and the Ford Transit Custom.
The Ford Transit has a maximum payload of 2457kg and a maximum load volume of 15.1 cubic metres. This is matched with the option to add on shoulder and waist height cargo area trim boards, a load retention pack, and cargo area management systems to utilise the space in the rear of the van to its maximum potential.
There are several diesel engines available with varying power outputs but also the option for a heavy duty truck engine if you don't think a standard engine will work well enough for you. In an effort to improve efficiency and fuel economy the diesel engines they are also supported by mild hybrid technology.
Ford has also pushed into electric vans with the Transit to make it available as the E-Transit which offers a range up to 196 miles and a rapid charge to 80% that makes as little as 34 minutes.
The Volkswagen Caddy Cargo is based on the Volkswagen MQB platform for the first time which has allowed VW to include certain technology for the first time too. The result is a reliable small van with recognisable improvements on its predecessor.
The upgrade includes Travel Assist, oncoming vehicle braking when turning function, connected infotainment systems, and digitised controls. It has a payload of 700kg which includes 100kg on the roof and a loading volume of 3.1m3 or 3.7m3 in the Caddy Cargo Maxi.
The Caddy Cargo offers manual and automatic gearboxes but also 4Motion four wheel drive options for those who require it. This can be matched with a huge array of optional equipment to allow you to tailor the van to your needs exactly.
The Volkswagen Caddy has won awards at both the Great British Fleet Awards and the What Car? Van Awards including the "Compact Cube Van of the Year" at the former and "Best Overall Small Van" at the latter.
Now in its third generation the Mercedes Benz Sprinter a big van with multiple uses across many industries and continues to win awards such as Best Large Van at the Fleet News Awards in 2021 and winner of Most Reliable Van seven years in a row at the FN50 Awards.
There's a choice of diesel engines with various power outputs for the Mercedes Sprinter and one front wheel drive option with all others coming as a rear wheel drive engine. The Sprinter also comes as an electric van, the eSprinter, which offers a range of 95 miles and rapid charging to 80% in 30 minutes.
The Mercedes Benz Sprinter will give you a load space volume up to 17 cubic metres depending on which wheelbase and set up you opt for whilst taking a maximum payload of 3175kg, making it easy to see why it wins the awards that it does.
The Ford Transit Connect has been developed and sold by Ford since 2002 and is the second smallest in the Ford Transit range. It's focus lies in fuel economy and utility with different wheelbase options and more eco conscious engine choices.
The Transit Connect offers a 982kg maximum gross payload and a maximum load space of 3.6m3. It offers load-through space too so that you can carry items as long as 3 metres in the L1 van and 3.4 metres in the L2 van.
Ford currently offers both petrol and diesel options but are also taking steps to make these more conscious options by having their diesel vans able to use HVO as an alternative to normal diesel. This is a renewable paraffinic diesel fuel that comes from a selection of raw materials including waste cooking oils. This results in surprisingly good fuel economy for the Connect.
The original Volkswagen Transporter was produced in 1949 so it is safe to say that the model has come a long way since then. Now in it's sixth generation, with a seventh on its way, the Transporter is a well trusted and reliable medium sized van.
The current Volkswagen Transporter is available as a panel van or a kombi crew van with various load lengths available on both and two roof sizes too. This gives you a load capacity from 5.8 to 9.3 m3 and a maximum payload of 1300kg for the Transporter.
There are three different diesel engines available with outputs up to 204PS and either manual or automatic gearboxes depending on which engine you choose. These will give you a combined mpg anywhere between 33.6 and 40.4 and CO2 emissions from 183 to 220 g/km.
Most recently it place second at the FN50 Awards in the Most Reliable Van category.
The Renault Trafic is a medium van that was launched by the French brand in 1980 and is now in its third generation. It's been a template for other commercial vehicles, such as the Vauxhall Vivaro and the Fiat Talento, so is no wonder that it's a popular choice on its own.
It's load volume varies from 5.8m3 in the L1H1 models to 8.9m3 in the L2H1 models and is paired with a maximum payload of up to 1251kg depending on which model you choose.
The current model offers a range of diesel engines with either manual or automatic gearboxes and a huge range of outputs to suit all businesses travel needs. These use AdBlue to help to make the emissions of the Trafic cleaner but will last for a few thousand miles at a time.
Luckily for van drivers there is a large selection of reliable vans available in the UK commercial vehicle market. There are full reviews available for these too as well as more in depth guides on which type of van is best for you and your needs.
Our team at Clark Commercials are always on hand to advise you on the best new and most reliable used vans available should you have any further questions.
