What’s the most expensive aspect of running a van? Insurance? Maintenance? Depreciation? (although you don’t have to worry too much about that if you’ve leased your new van). No, it’s more likely to be the cost of fuel. So, in this article, Tim Cattlin looks at the top 3 small, medium and large vans with the best fuel economy, and the electric van with the best range in each category.
The Top 3 Small Vans for MPG
1) Toyota Corolla Commercial: 58.5mpg
OK, so the winner of the best mpg small van category is a little bit different to the others. The Corolla Commercial has a hybrid powertrain, the 1.8-litre petrol engine working in conjunction with a battery and an electric motor to provide a pretty seamless driving experience and a ‘best of both worlds’ scenario. The beauty of the hybrid is that you won’t suffer from the ‘range anxiety’ that you might with a purely electric van, the petrol engine keeping the battery charged so, providing you keep the fuel tank topped up, you’ll get to your destination.
The Corolla Commercial is essentially an estate car with the rear seats removed and the rear side windows blanked out so, you’ll enjoy a much more car type environment in the cabin, and from a driving perspective.
2) Volkswagen Caddy SWB Commerce 102PS: 57.15mpg
Nipping at the heels of the Corolla, but with a conventional 2.0-litre diesel engine is the Caddy. It’s always been a little in the shadow of the Ford Transit Connect and now, due to the collaboration between Ford and Volkswagen, the latest Connect bears more than a passing resemblance to the latest version of the Caddy which has already been available since 2021. Caddy is a favourite with the small business. It comes with the legendary Volkswagen build quality, it looks good, and it holds its value well.
3) Ford Transit Courier Leader 100PS: 55.39mpg
Probably the newest kid on the small van block is the all-new Courier which gets the third place on the small vans with the best fuel economy podium. The previous model Courier was a bit of an oddity with uncompetitive load area dimensions and payload when put up against the likes of the Vauxhall Combo but, this new one hits right back and is almost guaranteed to sell well. I’ve recently had one for a week and it looks great, drives superbly and has probably raised the bar in this sector.
The Small Electric Van With The Best Range:
There are some niche small vans appearing on the market which you might never have heard of, boasting some seriously good ranges but, for this award, I’m just looking at the mainstream players. The prize goes to the very latest version of the Vauxhall Combo Electric (the platform sharing products from Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen and Toyota having similar results) with an official WLTP Combined cycle range of 179 to 222 miles. Small vans can’t carry a big battery like larger vans, so this is an excellent result, giving users a practical range between charges.
The Top 3 Medium Vans for MPG
1) Peugeot Expert 120PS: 41.75mpg
Winning the best mpg medium van category, and representing the other Stellantis brands is the Peugeot Expert, so, if you’re looking at a Fiat Scudo, a Vauxhall Vivaro etc, you’ll find similar economy. The Expert has recently had a minor facelift, mostly identifiable with a smart new front grille and some changes in the cab. This medium van has been with us now for a good few years and has proven popular with fleets and small businesses alike due to its excellent payload and low running costs.
2) Renault Trafic SH30 150 Advance: 40.9mpg
Here’s another van that has been around for a while, but which still manages to look good and provide a practical solution to those needing to move loads around the country, or in our towns and cities. It had a facelift a couple of years ago which resulted in a pretty dramatic frontal perspective, the grille and lights in particular blending in nicely and making the van look up to date, despite its advancing years.
3) Ford Transit Custom Leader 110PS: 40.35mpg
Probably the newest medium van on the market, Britain’s best-selling van gets third place in this very closely fought battle for the top medium van for mpg. The Custom is powered by the 2.0 litre EcoBlue diesel engine, famous for having excellent torque which is so important for van operators when carrying a full load. It’s the lowest powered version that gets the award here, although the ones offering more ‘oomph’ also achieve excellent fuel consumption figures. This van is pretty much all new, with a cab designed with the driver in mind and with some excellent innovations.
The Medium Electric Van With The Best Range:
Up until very recently, the Citroen Dispatch and its Stellantis siblings would have scooped this award but, enter stage left, the Maxus eDeliver 7 with a WLTP Combined cycle of up to 230 miles (up to, as it depends on which battery pack you choose). This van has a maximum payload of up to 1135kg, pretty good for a medium electric van, and although looks are subjective, it’s unlikely that many would consider it to be an ugly duckling.
You might think I’ve overlooked the Volkswagen id Buzz Cargo, with a 254 mile range. I’ve not, but I don’t consider it to be a true medium van, its loadspace and payload mean that, in my opinion, it’s in its own little category of large, small vans…
The Top 3 Large Vans for MPG
1) Ford Transit 105PS: 42.5mpg
The venerable Transit van knocks the competition aside as it takes the number one spot in the top large vans for mpg category with this quite astounding result. There are a couple of caveats to throw in here, though. The latest Ford data sheets don’t disclose the vehicle’s fuel consumption so some older information has been used, and, there’s no differentiation between the various bodystyles and weights which seems a bit odd. But, the result stands and so it’s little wonder that so many fleets and SME’s rely on the van to keep their operating costs down.
2) Fiat Ducato 35 120 MH2: 34.4mpg
Although the Ducato uses the same engine as fitted in the large vans marketed by Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot, don’t assume that the fuel consumption figures are the same. Fiat used their own engines in the Ducato until recently, but now, even though they have to toe the Stellantis line, the Italian company can’t resist tweaking the unit to make it that little bit more efficient. The latest Ducato is an excellent workhorse with a payload better than most together with a spacious cab. It’s well advisable to consider it alongside the more popular large vans as it’s a better van than many would think.
3) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 215 L1H1 Pure: 32.8mpg
OK, so the 215 isn’t the most popular Sprinter model, but the larger, heavier ones also offer a decent MPG. Sprinter’s reputation as being fit for purpose is legendary, and the reliability combined with the aftersales backup from the dealer network mean that the van is often the first choice for fleets. Just watch the payload as it’s not always the best, but otherwise, Sprinter is an obvious choice, especially for the long distance, high mileage operator.
The Large Electric Van With The Best Range:
The Ford E-Transit Extended Range wins this with an excellent (currently estimated, so let’s not get too excited) range of 249 miles, achieved by the fitting of a larger, 89kWh battery. Looking at the small print the result has been achieved with a 90kmh speed limiter in operation, that’s just 56mph, possibly due to its mandatory fitment on the heavier, 4250kg derivatives. Also, this battery pack is obviously going to be heavier than the standard one, so prepare for a reduced payload. Still, let’s not detract from this, the E-Transit is already an excellent proposition for many businesses, and this optional upgrade will be just what some potential customers will have been waiting for.
Mpg and electric vehicle ranges are taken from the latest manufacturers supplied data available at the time of writing, although in some cases, alternative sources have been used, and are based on the WLTP Combined test cycle. Images are for illustration purposes only, some models will vary.