If you’re a professional person you probably want to present a professional image in all areas of your business – including the vehicle that you drive. If that vehicle is a van, you’re more than likely depending on it in order to do your work in the first place. So as well as projecting the right image, and being able to carry everything that your job requires, your van needs to be reliable. Because if it’s not reliable, you may end up letting down your clients – which is as about as unprofessional as things can possibly get.
But while there may not be as many different vans as there are cars for sale in the UK, there is still quite a choice – so knowing if you’re picking a reliable model can be tricky. Or at least, it would be, if not for the Fleet News FN50 van reliability survey.
This uses data from some of the UK’s largest leasing companies to provide a top 10 list of the most reliable vans on sale. So let’s take a look at this list and see whether the vans on it also fit the bill from a business professional’s perspective.
Top 10 reliable vans
10. Vauxhall Vivaro
The Vivaro is medium-sized van that offers high payload ratings, so can carry plenty of goods and equipment. It’s a smart, modern-looking vehicle that’s also tidy and refined to drive. Vauxhall’s image may be a little staid, but this van is built in Britain. Which might work well for your business.
9. Renault Trafic
The Trafic’s strengths lie in its loading length – the longest in the medium van class – and its efficient engines. The automatic gearbox option is nice to use as well, making it good for all kinds of different driving. Whether the Renault image is strong enough for your business only you can decide.
8. Nissan NV200
The NV200 is slightly awkward looking and has a rather poor interior. However, the load area is large for its size, making it a good practical choice if you only want a small van. Its true strength, however, lies in the e-NV200 electric version, which can instantly give your business a greener image.
7. Citroen Berlingo
The Citroen Berlingo is one of the most modern small vans on the market. It looks sleek and is available with a modern, economical petrol and diesel engines – and as the recently launched e-Berlingo electric van. Lots of high-tech toys and hefty payload ratings complete a tempting package.
6. Ford Transit Custom
This is the UK’s bestselling van – and by some margin. It’s popular not only because it’s reliable but also because it offers a huge amount of choice, as well as lots of capability and an excellent driving experience. With more trim levels than any rival, there’s surely a version to suit you.
5. Ford Transit Connect
Not quite the most reliable small van on this list, but very close. As with its bigger brother, the Transit Connect comes in a wide selection of versions to suit a wide range of businesses. It offers impressive engines, is good to drive, and has some clever practicality and tech features, too.
4. Volkswagen Crafter
A clean sheet design with no carry over from previous models, the Volkswagen Crafter is one of the most modern large vans on sale. It looks sharp and highly professional on the outside, and has a superbly practical, high-quality cab. It’s also incredibly easy to drive for such a large vehicle.
3. Volkswagen Caddy
The Volkswagen Caddy has long had a cult following thanks to a trendy image that makes it stand out from other small vans. It’s also the most reliable van of its type. The latest version shares plenty with VW’s passenger cars, offers a vast amount of modern tech, and looks distinctive, too.
2. Volkswagen Transporter
The most reliable medium van is also a Volkswagen with an outstanding and instantly recognisable image. The Transporter has been a market leader for six generations, and the latest models offer the most powerful engines on the market with up to 204hp and slick DSG automatic transmissions.
1. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Number one in this list of reliable vans is also the model with the most professional image of any van. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter not only comes with that all-important three-pointed star on the nose, it has car-grade components inside the cab and an ultra-modern connectivity system. It is the most reliable van for business professionals, without a shadow of a doubt.
