Looking for a van that’ll cope with everything your working day will throw at it? These are the top six on sale today, according to Honest John Vans.
No job is too big for a large van. In fact, when it comes to all-round practicality, the large van is one of the best and most versatile commercial vehicles.
There are hundreds of different models to choose from, with large vans offered in a variety of body types that include high and low roof models, long and short wheelbases, crew cabs, dropsides and tippers. This means you can get the large and practical workhorse that your building business really needs. What’s more, with bank interest rates at a record low, there has never been a better time to get a great deal on a new large commercial vehicle. But which large vans on sale today are the best?
Top six large vans
MAN TGE
You would be forgiven if you have never heard of MAN – they’re still relatively new to the world of vans. But they’re not rookies when it comes to commercial vehicles, with a comprehensive and highly-rated range of trucks, as well as a large dealer and servicing network. The TGE is a true heavyweight champion of the large van market: all versions are easy to drive, practical and supported by MAN’s comprehensive truck service network. Gross vehicle weights span from 3.0 – 5.5 tonnes, which means there is a TGE to suit every heavy duty job.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Described by Mercedes-Benz as “a toolbox on wheels”, the Sprinter does everything you’d expect of a large van with the choice of front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. There’s lots of driver tech too with the Sprinter getting everything from autonomous city braking to a sophisticated drowsiness detection system that’ll prompt the driver to take a break if it detects mistakes being made. Claimed economy peaks at 41.5mpg while outputs range from 114PS to 163PS for the four-cylinder engines and rise to a thumping 190PS for the V6.
Ford Transit
Backbone of Britain – that is the Transit’s claim to fame. And it is very true for the latest model. It’s nigh on impossible to complete any journey without seeing one on the road. The Ford Transit is one of the most capable vans you can buy. There are 450 model variants, with three load lengths and two load heights to choose from. Jumbo Transits have a load volume of 15.1 cubic metres while maximum payload peaks at 2.1 tonnes.
Fiat Ducato
The Ducato range is one of the longest-serving name-plates in the large van market, with the first version arriving as far back as 1981. Thanks to payload capacities that run all the way up to 2.2 tonnes, the Fiat is one of the most spacious large vans on the road. Cab comfort is good throughout and the 2.3 MultiJet diesel engines are flexible and frugal performers. The latest model is also available with an increased range of safety tech, with automatic emergency braking and a useful system that will warn the driver if a vehicle stays into the van’s blind spot.
Volkswagen Crafter
Easy to drive and packed with tech, the Crafter is as comfortable and refined as anything you’ll find in Volkswagen’s car range. The largest versions will easily carry six Euro pallets and payloads range from 735kg to 2.5 tonnes. The range spans 69 different versions, with a wide choice of body lengths and heights. Front-wheel drive versions offer a maximum cargo capacity of 18.4 cubic metres.
Peugeot Boxer
The Peugeot’s Boxer is the mechanical twin to the Fiat Ducato, so there’s little to choose between the two. Like the Fiat, the Boxer’s load sill is among the lowest on the market, at between 493mm and 602mm and that means loading is generally pain free. Gross vehicle weights peak at 3.5 tonnes, which means all versions can be driven on a standard car licence, while the van’s maximum load width of 1.87 metres makes the Boxer apt for carrying bulky tools, equipment and materials.
Did you know?
A standard driving licence will allow you to drive a van weighing a maximum of 3.5 tonnes. The only exemption to this rule is if you passed your test before January 1997 – then you may automatically be able to drive larger, heavier vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes. The vehicle’s driver’s manual will list its gross vehicle weight (GVW) – always check before you get behind the wheel.
