Best Crew Cab vans

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Best crew cab vans 2023

  • What are the best crew cab vans?
  • We test and rate the contenders
  • Find a crew cab van for sale

Crew Cab vans are increasingly popular, both with businesses that need to take workers on site and buyers who need their van to double up as a family vehicle at the weekends. 

Choosing a crew cab van means while you will lose some of that outright carrying ability, it makes for a far more versatile vehicle, as you can carry up to six people (including children thanks to Isofix points). So for example, once you've finished on site, you can still take collect the kids from school. Here are the best 10 on the market.

If you're ready to buy we've got over 2,000 Used Vans for Sale, including an wide range of Crew Cab vans.

Best crew cab vans 2023

Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-in-Van

Year launched: 2012

Ford Transit Custom Trail 2020
9/10

The Ford Transit Custom is still the best-selling van in the UK despite being one of the older designs around - continuous updates and several facelifts have kept it fresh and up to date. The latest model is now available as a PHEV plus there's a Trail version with rugged styling and a mechanical limited-slip differential for better traction.

The Double Cab is especially popular, which makes it a great choice for small businesses and owner operators who need the added practicality of a six-seater van that will also carry up to two Euro pallets (in L2 spec). Add in an excellent cabin along with a car-like drive and it's easy to see why this remains such a popular choice.

Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 Kombi

Year launched: 2020

Volkswagen Transporter Front View
9/10

The VW Transporter has recently had a facelift - it's now called the T6.1 - to keep it competitive against some very strong competition from the likes of the Vauxhall Vivaro and Mercedes Vito. The changes on the outside are subtle with a new front end the most obvious, plus there's an revised interior and the latest Volkswagen infotainment system.

Available with two roof heights and in two different wheelbases, the Kombi holds its value better than many of its rivals with camper van converters snapping up the best used examples. It also has a very strong and classy image.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Crew Van

Year launched: 2015

Mercedes Vito Crew Cab 2017
8/10

The Mercedes Vito Crew Van isn’t especially cheap - this is a Mercedes-Benz after all - but it is a well-finished and good looking van that thanks to its upmarket image, should give customers a good impression of your business. It also happens to be very comfortable and spacious plus it comes with Mercedes PRO connect which gives you live information about your vehicle 24/7 via your mobile phone, including your van’s location.

The range is vast, with different heights, wheelbases and engine choices, making it a particularly versatile choice if you’re buying new. All Crew Van variants will carry six adults, along with a Euro pallet in the back. 

Vauxhall Vivaro Double Cab

Year launched: 2019

Vauxhall Vivaro Front Side View
8/10

The latest Vauxhall Vivaro has been relaunched following the PSA takeover of Vauxhall, which means that the Vivaro no longer shares its architecture with the Renault Trafic. Instead, it’s based on the Peugeot Expert and Citroen Dispatch body, which is lower and longer. 

It’s still an excellent van - its overload indicator is a feature of particular note plus it will average more than 40mpg - but it’s not that cheap compared to the competition. However, Vauxhall’s business-focused van centres make it our choice of the trio though. 

Renault Trafic Crew Van

Year launched: 2014

Renault Trafic Side Front View
7/10

Spacious and comfortable, the Trafic Crew is a six-seater that shares its architecture with the Fiat Talento and previous generation Vauxhall Vivaro. It’s not the newest van on the market, but its modern looks and good equipment levels mean it’s still more than competitive. The crew van is impressively spacious too.

The latest model brings a new front-end that glistens with LED lighting signatures and generous helpings of chrome. There is also a new Black Edition model if you want a sporty look for your Trafic. It gets a piano black grille, black alloys and extras like rear parking sensors.

Peugeot Expert Crew Van

Year launched: 2016

Peugeot Expert Front View
7/10

The Peugeot Expert Crew Van is essentially the same van as the Vauxhall Vivaro, but with a different front end, fewer trim levels and a smaller dealer network. 

Nevertheless, the Expert is still one of the best mid-sizers on the market and can fit up to six people thanks to a fixed rear bench seat which means decent comfort and passenger space plus there's still a floor-level load length of up to 2.36 metres. 

Vauxhall Combo Cargo Crew Van

Year launched: 2018

Vauxhall Combo Review 2023: Front Side View
8/10

The people who make car badges must love this one, as it’s one of the longest vehicle names on the market. The Combo Cargo Crew Van is a panel van version of the passenger Vauxhall Combo Life, which is sold as a utilitarian MPV and is, itself, based on the Combo Cargo Van. Confused? You're not the only ones...

All you need to know is that although it may be one of the smallest double cabs on the market, its clever design means it’s still a capable load carrier, with room for a standard Euro pallet in the back. It's also very comfortable with an impressive smooth ride.

Ford Transit Connect Double Cab

Year launched: 2014

Ford Transit Connect front
7/10

The Ford Transit Connect is one of the few small double cab vans that has a six-seat option, with a choice of either a single or twin passenger seat in the cab, behind which is a three-seat bench. 

Available in L1 or L2 van sizes, the largest Double Cab provides 1.6 cubic metres of load space, while a dealer in every town also makes it an easy van to own and maintain. Sadly, you can't get the Sport or Active versions as double cabs, which means you're left with the utilitarian Leader or Trend models.

Volkswagen Caddy Kombi

Year launched: 2015

Volkswagen Caddy Maxi side
7/10

The five-seater version of the Volkswagen Caddy is a popular choice with leisure users as much as it is with businesses - the image of the Volkswagen badge among surfing folk and mountain bikers making it a popular choice for those who like a van for the weekend. 

That doesn’t stop it being a useful van for work duties, though, with a load length of 1.6 metres and a maximum payload of 637kg. A new Caddy model arrived in 2021, but the previous version still has plenty of appeal and there are lots on the used market. If you can't find a Kombi, look for a Caddy Life

Citroen Berlingo Crew Van

Year launched: 2018

Citroen Berlingo front
8/10

Citroen’s Berlingo Crew Van derivative is one of the cheapest double cabs on the market right now and is a thoroughly decent package - spacious, well-equipped and decent to drive, with a useful load bay. It has seating for up to five people with a folding second row of seats and a through-loading moveable bulkhead.

It’s essentially the same van as the Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo Cargo, though the Crew Van is only offered on the longer wheelbase XL variant. It can carry a standard Euro pallet in the back and comes with the choice of a 1.2-litre Puretech petrol alongside the usual diesels.

Crew cab van FAQs

Andy Brady

Written by

Andy Brady

We'd say it's a tie between the Ford Transit Custom and the Volkswagen Transporter. Both are very comfortable and car-like to drive, with lots of space in the second row. We'd say the Ford shades it just because of the huge payload capacity and the sheer number of variants and trims available. It;s also cheap to run and maintain.

The Ford Transit Connect is widely regarded as one of the most reliable vans on the market judging by feedback to our sister site HonestJohn.co.uk. It's one of the best selling vans on the market yet we here of very few problems. Instead owners seem to have nothing but praise.

It depends on what size van you're looking for, but for large vans, the most comfortable is the excellent Mercedes Sprinter. The most comfortable medium van is the Ford Transit Custom followed by the Volkswagen Transporter and Toyota Proace while if you want a small van, look at the Ford Transit Connect.

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