Click for the Ford Transit full review
The large van class has been a closely fought one over recent years, with the Ford Transit not featuring in the top three last time out, despite its famous name and top-selling status. This time, though, thanks to the electric E-Transit the big Ford has added a crucial element to its range that broadens its appeal and drastically raises the bar for the sector and the van industry as a whole.
The electric model behaves in many ways like a standard large van, with a a payload of up to 1,616kg and a range that will be sufficient for a substantial number of users. And that’s before you learn that Ford hasn’t dialled back the performance and has created a genuinely entertaining electric van to drive.
There have been other updates to the Transit in the last year or so that weren’t sufficient on their own to topple the MAN TGE/VW Crafter, but they add to the Ford’s overall strength. Key upgrades include an optional 10-speed automatic transmission and a version with a 5.0-tonne gross vehicle weight. There is also Ford Pro, the comprehensive support network that aims to, among other things, minimise your vehicle downtime. This all adds up to a vehicle that can offer the most comprehensive and wide-reaching range in the large-van class.
RUNNERS UP
Click for the Volkswagen Crafter full review
Click for the MAN TGE full review
Between them, the Volkswagen Crafter and MAN TGE have picked up the title in this category every year since we launched our awards in 2017, and it has won the overall award on three occasions, too. Such was their dominance that it took something special to remove them from their position at the top of the class, and they remain an excellent pair of vans, even five years after their launch.
The wide range of versions, strong engines and frankly excellent cabin all mean that you won’t go far wrong with either a Crafter or the mechanically identical TGE. The two are looked after by a very different type of dealer network, with VW’s more consumer oriented and MAN more geared towards businesses. Either way you will be driving an excellent van.
Click for the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter full review
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is another high-quality large van with an excellent array of on-board technology. It is a popular choice with big fleets but will serve smaller businesses just as well, thanks to its impressive reliability record and its strong and premium brand image.
There is a huge array of Sprinters that you can choose from, with four lengths, three heights, three trims, light and heavy versions and crew and panel vans. We love the on-board connectivity and the fact you can choose between front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and even 4×4 versions. It can only be a good thing for large-van buyers that there are so many good options to pick from in this category – you can’t go far wrong with a Sprinter.
