Top 10: Medium vans
The best medium size vans are cheap to run, easy to drive and hugely practical. The Honest John Vans experts have trawled the new and used van for sale market to reveal the top 10 medium vans on sale today.
Ford Transit Custom
The Ford Transit Custom is Britain's favourite van. In short, no other model matches its popularity. Important updates in 2018 gave the Ford lower running costs, higher levels of semi-autonomous tech and more car-like comfort. The 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine provides great performance, with advertised economy of 39-46mpg.
Volkswagen T6 Transporter
The Volkswagen Transporter injects some premium refinement into the traditionally rough 'n' ready world of medium size vans. All versions are easy to drive and comfortable, while high spec versions get Volkswagen's latest touchscreen infotainment. At the business end of things, the Transporter can't match its rivals for payload, but it remains one of the most desirable medium vans on the market.
Toyota Proace
Effectively a rebadged Expert, the Proace sets itself apart from its French rival by getting a five-year 100,000 mile warranty as standard - a big improvement on Peugeot's three-year deal. Available in three body sizes and two wheelbase lengths, the Proace can be specified as a van or crew cab, with panel or glazed/semi-glazed size walls.
Vauxhall Vivaro
The new Vauxhall Vivaro is one of the best vans on sale right now, thanks to its car-like handling and heavy duty payload capacity. The largest versions will shift up to 1450kg, while the efficient range of turbodiesel engines return an official 47mpg. Factor in the comfortable cab and stylish design and it's easy to see why this is Vauxhall's best-selling van.
Mercedes-Benz Vito
The Vito is a versatile and capable medium size van, thanks to its wide choice of bodystyles and powertrains. Offered with petrol, diesel or electric power, the Vito is affordable to run and easy to drive. It can't match its rivals for outright carrying capacity, but the largest versions offer up to 6.6 cubic metres of load space.
Renault Trafic
Popular with builders and delivery drivers, the Renault Trafic provides up to 8.6 cubic metres of load space, while the smallest versions will carry three Euro pallets with ease. Bodystyles cover panel, crew cab and passenger van, which means there is a Trafic to suit most jobs. Standard equipment is also high, with all vans getting DAB audio, electric door mirrors and anti-theft alarm.
Nissan NV300
The NV300 shares its mechanical platform and engines with the Trafic, but is sold with the additional bonus of a comprehensive five-year-warranty as standard (two years more than the Renault). Offered in two load lengths and two heights, the NV300 will carry three Euro pallets, while a bulkhead hatch extends the load length to a maximum of 4.1 metres.
Peugeot Expert
The Expert is a compact but hugely capable van. Maximum payloads peak at an impressive 1400kg, while the largest versions will swallow three Euro pallets. On the road the Expert feels more akin to a large family car, which means even novice drivers quickly feel at home behind the wheel, thanks to the van's nimble handling and rich choice of semi-autonomous tech.
Citroen Dispatch
Another van that's built alongside the Peugeot Expert, the Citroen Dispatch matches its French stablemate on every level, with excellent levels of comfort and handling. Under the bonnet the Dispatch is offered with the choice of 1.6 or 2.0-litre diesel engines, with the standout performer being the 115PS 1.6 HDi that will officially return 54mpg.
Fiat Talento
Built alongside the Renault Trafic, the Fiat Talento is a sound and versatile choice of medium van. It's great to drive and competitively priced, even if standard equipment levels are a little sparse. Load volumes are broad – spanning 5.2 to 8.6 cubic metres - and practicality can be enhanced with the optional bulkhead hatch.
