Research reveals the Mercedes-Benz Citan can travel more than 830 miles on one tank of diesel, and 600 miles on a tank of petrol
- Mercedes-Benz Citan also revealed as one of the cheapest fuel-efficient vans to buy, costing as little as £15,000(1) to buy brand new.
- Meanwhile, Fiat Fiorino is named the least fuel-efficient of all the vans analysed, travelling just 423 miles on one tank.
- Drivers looking to go green might opt for the Iveco Daily Electric van, which can travel 174 miles on one charge.
- Research reveals the most cost-efficient petrol, diesel and electric vans for confused drivers looking to make a new purchase.
Van drivers who opt for the Mercedes-Benz Citan are getting the most bang for their buck, as it’s revealed to be the most fuel-efficient van to buy in 2020.
That’s according to new research by Confused.com, which analyses some of the best vans on the market to discover the most fuel-efficient options across petrol and diesel.
With so many vans on the market, choosing the right one to buy can be an overwhelming decision. Which van is the cheapest, and which costs the least to run? To help van drivers, Confused.com’s research calculates which vans will get drivers the furthest for their money, while also exploring some of the best electric van alternatives, for those who are environmentally conscious.
The top 5 fuel-efficient van models
The Mercedes-Benz Citan takes the top spot as the most fuel-efficient van across all fuel types. The diesel model can reach 831 miles on a full tank and drive 123 miles further than the Volkswagen Transporter, which comes in second place (708 miles).
Similarly, the Mercedes-Benz Citan also tops the list for the most fuel-efficient petrol van, with a range of 611 miles on a full tank. This is followed by the Ford Transit Connect and then the Volkswagen Caddy, which can both reach 580 miles and 541 miles per tank of fuel, respectively.
At the other end of the scale, drivers who chose the Fiat Fiorino might be forking out more for petrol. With an MPG of 44(2), this petrol van can drive up to just 423 miles on a full tank.
But how much does it cost to buy a fuel-efficient van? While it may seem the vans with the biggest fuel range might cost the most, Confused.com’s research proves this isn’t the case. In fact, the Mercedes-Benz Citan ranked as one of the cheapest petrol and diesel models on the list, costing £15,380(1) and £17,800(1) to buy outright, respectively. This suggests they truly are the most cost-efficient vans for drivers looking to save a few pounds on the initial outlay and the running costs.
| Fuel type | Van make and model | The first year of annual tax | Vehicle cost | Total distance on 1 tank |
| Diesel | Mercedes-Benz | £215(3) | £17,800(1) | 831 |
| Citan | ||||
| Diesel | Volkswagen | £870(3) | £22,755(4) | 708 |
| Transporter | ||||
| Diesel | Nissan | £540(3) | £16,160(5) | 701 |
| NV200 | ||||
| Petrol | Mercedes-Benz | £215(3) | £15,380(1) | 611 |
| Citan | ||||
| Petrol | Ford | £215(3) | £16,211(6) | 580 |
| Transit Connect |
*The most fuel-efficient petrol and diesel vans, ranked by total distance travelled on one full tank.
Electric alternatives
The standard price of an electric van can put many buyers off, with a recent study (7) finding that 60% of respondents felt that the high cost is the most significant barrier to ownership. The study also found that money off the initial cost would give people an incentive to buy an electric vehicle, with respondents asking for an average of £4,865 off the initial price.
The current government plug-in car grant means drivers could be entitled to 20% off (up to a maximum of £8,000) the purchase price of some models, making it more affordable for the environmentally conscious.
Ranking top for the most range-efficient electric van, the Iveco can drive up to 174 miles on a full eight-hour charge (8) and has a payload of up to 1,652kg (9).
This is, however, one of the most expensive models, and would set drivers back £100,000(10) to buy brand new. However, the LDV EV80 and the Nissan E-NV200 which rank in 2nd and 3rd places respectively for the most efficient electric vans are not only cheaper but eligible for the 20% government grant. Saving up to £8,000, drivers could be paying out just £52,000 for the LDV EV80 and £23,804 for the Nissan E-NV200.
Not only is the Iveco the most expensive to buy outright, it is also the most expensive to charge. For a full 8 hours of charge(10), drivers can expect to pay an average of £12.70. This is followed by the LDV EV80 which costs £7.80 while only taking 7 hours to charge(8). Finally, the Nissan E-NV200 comes out with the cheapest figures, taking 7 hours to charge up the battery(11), and costing van owners just £5.60 in total.
| Fuel type | Van make and model | Standard charging time | Vehicle cost | Total distance on 1 charge |
| Electric | Iveco | 8 Hours(12) | £100,000(10) | 174 |
| Daily Electric | ||||
| Electric | LDV | 7 Hours(5) | £60,000(5) | 120 |
| EV80 | ||||
| Electric | Nissan | 7 Hours(8) | £29,755(13) | 118.1 |
| E-NV200 |
*The most fuel-efficient electric vans, ranked by total distance travelled on one full charge.
Daniel McCulloch, van insurance expert Confused.com said:
“With so many choices of vans on the market, knowing the best for your needs can make making a decision confusing and overwhelming. For those conscious of the running costs, fuel efficiency is a key consideration to avoid forking out hundreds per year extra on petrol or diesel. We’ve compiled some of the most fuel-efficient vans on the market to help to make that decision that little bit easier.”
For more information on the Fuel-Efficient Vans study, please visit Confused.com.
