There are some great, and not so great looking vans out there – in this article Van expert Tim Cattlin takes a look at some of the best and worst we might see on our roads today…
OK, so, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and life would be dull if we all had the same likes and dislikes. With that in mind, this article is a reflection of my own opinion, it’s only a statement of fact as I see it. You might (and probably will) disagree with some or all of it…
Vauxhall Vivaro (2019 – 2024)
It’s hard to choose between the Vivaro and its Stellantis siblings, the Peugeot Expert, Citroen Dispatch and Fiat Scudo (and not forgetting the Toyota Proace) but I’ve gone for the one with the Griffin badge because I reckon the very latest frontal refresh gives it the edge over the others. This medium van sector is very, very competitive with the likes of Ford and Mercedes-Benz regularly refreshing the appearance of their contenders. The basic design of the Vivaro has now been around since 2016 when it appeared wearing Peugeot and Citroen badges but, does it look 8 years old? No, absolutely not. With excellent payloads, a choice of good diesel engines and an electric drivetrain with a great range, it’s a good looking van that the medium van shopper is wise not to ignore.
Fiat Doblo Cargo (2010-2022)
Now superseded (thankfully), this was a real horror, an ugly duckling of vans if I ever saw one. Quite what the designers were thinking, I’m not too sure but bear in mind Fiat was responsible for possibly the most offensive looking car ever, the Multipla. I’ve got to be fair though, from a practical perspective the van worked well, and, when I was taken on a ‘hot lap’ around Fiat’s test track just outside Milan a few years ago, the independent suspension came into its own and the van stuck to the road like glue.
Vauxhall was unfortunate enough to inherit the design in 2012 for the Combo, which resulted in sales free-falling compared to the previous model. Vauxhall ditched it in 2018 in favour of the shape used by Peugeot and Citroen in their small vans.
Renault Trafic (2022 -)
Despite the fact that the shape of the Trafic is now one of the oldest designs out there, I still think it’s a good looker, and that opinion was there before the 2022 facelift that introduced a dramatic, new front end that totally works. The front bumper sweeps up high at each end, meeting the new, ultra modern headlight arrangement. The grille, with its horizontal bars is bold, to say the least, with Renault’s large diamond badge centrally positioned and intruding nicely into the bonnet leading edge.
I’ve said many times that the Trafic is an excellent proposition, and the fact (well, in my opinion) that it looks great is a bonus.
Maxus Deliver 9 (2020-)
How can I put this? Well, let’s just say that the Chinese have an interesting opinion when it comes to style, and this doesn’t translate too well to Western tastes. Some of the designs are better than others to be fair, but the Deliver 9 doesn’t exactly ‘deliver’. What I think may have happened is that the designers looked at the UK’s best selling large van, and, especially when it came to the front end, attempted to replicate it without it looking like a blatant rip off. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite come off. Here, we’re not too keen on lots of brash chrome and the Deliver 9 has heaps of it across that grille, which is fitted to what could be described as a strong, bold front (I’m trying to be kind here). But, this Maxus is excellent value for money, can carry a lot of weight and has a 5 year warranty. Many will overlook the questionable appearance in favour of the overall proposition it offers.
Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo (2022-)
If appearance was to be the only criteria, I’d probably vote the ID Buzz Cargo as being the best there is. Quite how the designers at Volkswagen managed to come up with a van that looks ultra modern but retro, with hints of the original 60’s camper van in there, I’ll never know. It just looks fantastic. But, despite an excellent electric drivetrain and a superb cab environment, there are a few shortcomings when it comes to loadspace capacity and payload. However, the target artisan operator won’t care too much about that providing the van can accommodate a modest load. Having the ID Buzz Cargo parked outside their shop, perhaps with some subtle vinyl graphics applied will attract attention and promote an image that any business owner would crave.
Ssangyong (now KGM) Musso (2018-)
It’s never been a huge seller but you’ll occasionally spot a Musso pickup on the road. Now, so far in our ‘thumbs down’ contenders, we’ve been critical of the vehicle’s front end. Here, there’s not much to complain about, the Musso having a very acceptable look about it. It’s the rear of the truck that offends me a little, compared to the competition it just looks a bit wrong, with a short cargo section and sides that appear too high. But, once again, appearances are not everything. I, along with some actual, real world pick up users took the Musso out on a challenging off road course along with some of the more well known competition from Ford, Toyota etc. At the lunch break, the Musso dominated the conversation. ‘I didn’t want to like it, but it was really good’ said one…
Be-on Pelkan (2024-)
Here’s one you might not have heard of, although visitors to the last couple of Commercial Vehicle shows in Birmingham may well have seen it being exhibited. The van has its roots in China but, to me it looks more like something you might see on the streets in America, with a bulky rear end, a high bonnet and even higher cab side windows. The front aspect isn’t too bad with shades of Maxus in there, but overall the Pelkan is visually at least an acquired taste I reckon. But (there always seems to be one) this all electric van has an excellent payload and pricing, when finally announced is expected to be very competitive. Maxus, watch out…
Ford Transit Custom (2023-)
And finally – it’s hard to ignore the very latest version of Britain’s most popular van. It last had a major refresh back in 2018 and still looked good but, in this very latest incarnation it’s even better. Once again, it’s the front end that knocks some of the competition into the weeds. The headlights are narrower, almost mean in appearance and are connected in most models by an LED strip passing under the leading edge of the bonnet. The lower front panel is dominated by the large, vent style scoops, and there’s a redesigned grille. The changes are not restricted to the front, lines have been restyled down the van sides, and the rear perspective has been brought up to date. This van looks great and has much to offer. Check out my review here.