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Small vans are an essential part of daily life for many people as they go about their working day and as a result the small van sector has many options regardless of your need.
The small van market is also moving towards greener options, with many brands now offering electric vans alongside their traditional combustion engine options which allows more van users to take steps towards lower running costs too.
Let us guide you through a selection of the best small vans that are currently available on the market and how they compare for room and equipment.
The Renault Kangoo is a familiar model that's been manufactured and marketed by Renault since 1997. The third generation was revealed in 2020 and now offers petrol or diesel engines alongside a 100% electric offering.
It offers a maximum payload up to 1000kg on LWB models and up to 4.2m3 of loading volume, with Renault adding that it "offers both innovative technology and practical features". There are also 20 driver-assistance systems in the newest version including hill start assist, a wide view mirror in the passenger sun visor, a rear view camera, and rear view assist all available across the range.
As an electric van you can expect a range of 186 miles with three regenerative braking modes available to help you to extend the range for as long as possible. It was developed alongside the new Mercedes-Benz Citan and the Nissan Townstar but benefitted from being the first to launch.
Alongside its Mercedes counterpart it was named International Van of the Year 2022.
The Volkswagen Caddy van has been sold by the Volkswagen Group since 1980 with the current fourth generation being available from 2020 onwards. It's based on the Volkswagen MQB platform for the first time which has allowed VW to include certain technology for the first time too.
This 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.
The Nissan Townstar was launched in 2019 as a rebadged version of the Renault Kangoo and available as one of two lengths to suit your business needs. It's small enough that you can use it in and around town but still has a generous payload and room for a good cargo volume.
The L1 model gives a payload of up to 650kg and a cargo volume of 3.5m3 whilst the larger L2 model has a payload of 800kg and a cargo volume of 4.6m3, which makes it great value for money too.
It's user friendly inside too with a well laid out cabin, ergonomically designed seats, and lots of storage options making it a great option for daily use. Part of the additional storage includes a 10 litre tray under the driver's seat alongside an A4 sized compartment in the dashboard and an overhead shelf too.
The Townstar offers a petrol engine but also a full electric van too. This has a range of up to 183 miles, making it one of the better performing electric vans on the market, and can be charged at a rapid charging point to 80% in 2 hours, ideal if you've got to do some work.
Marketed as "The UK's most affordable 4x4 van", the Dacia Duster Commercial is perhaps one of the lesser known small vans on our list. Built from the passenger version of the Duster it sees the rear seats replaced with a large loading area and the rear windows are blacked out to give a covered cargo area.
The Duster Commercial has a payload of 503kg and a loading volume of 1.5m3 in front wheel drive versions and 1.3m3 in four wheel drive versions. Whilst this is much lower than some other small vans it means that you can take advantage of all the benefits of a 4x4 whilst also taking on the tax advantages of an LCV.
It offers petrol and diesel engines, with petrol coming in as the cheapest option, and the pre-VAT pricing for the entire range is under £20,000 which makes it an affordable choice for many looking for a multi purpose LCV.
The Vauxhall Combo Cargo was first introduced in 1993 and is currently in its fourth generation, built on the same platform and bodywork as other commercial vehicles in Groupe PSA's family such as the Peugeot Partner and the Citroen Berlingo having previously used Fiat vans as the reference.
The current version of the Combo Cargo van has a really strong set of safety features including automatic emergency braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, corner stability control, traction control, hill start assist, electronic stability programme, and engine drag torque control.
The Combo Cargo comes with either a diesel engine or a full electric motor as part of Vauxhall's electrified range of commercial vehicles. It has 15 storage compartments inside the cabin, plus a load through bay, for additional organisation and the driver's benefit.
You can expect a payload of 987kg for the diesel models and 800kg for the electric model with a load volume of up to 3.9m3 in the L2 panel van. It's short and long wheelbase options mean that there are great options for every type of business.
The Ford Transit Connect has been developed and sold by Ford since 2002 and is the second smallest in the Ford Transit range. It faces competition in house from the Transit Courier and the Ford Fiesta van, but these are both much smaller offerings.
The interior was drastically revised for the current model and took inspiration from some of Ford's passenger cars with a revised instrument panel, a tablet inspired touch screen on higher trim models, and new trim materials so that it feels sturdy and stylish.
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.
The UK market is full of great small van choices that suit a variety of business needs and running costs. We have highlighted some of the most popular and well known models currently available but our team are also able to advise if you have something particular in mind.
We offer a selection of small vans for sale at Clark Commercials and with free nationwide delivery and free vehicle warranty we are a great choice for your next van.
