The heavy van market is one of the most competitive of the van sectors, with 3.5t sales alone making up almost a quarter of all LCV sales. There is no defined weight or size for the heavy van market, but most analysts agree that it denotes vans of over 7m³ in cubic capacity.
In this article, we help buyers on a budget for this size of vehicle. We’ve trawled through the thousands of classifieds in our ‘Used Van’ section to bring you the ‘Top 5 Large Panel Vans under £10,000’
5 | 2011 Fiat Ducato 2.3mJet 116bhp | £9,990
This Fiat Ducato just made the cut thanks to low mileage, great payloads and low running costs. The Ducato is one of the longest running names in this segment, with the first van going on sale in 1981, alongside sister vans the Peugeot Boxer and the Citroen Relay.
The low kerbweight means it can carry over 1,500kg, which is a rarity nowadays with the extra weight of safety systems and driver aids. The 43,000 miles on the clock is very low for a van of this age, so it’s unlikely any of the components will fail in the foreseeable future.
4 | 2011 Renault Master 2.3dCi 97bhp | £8,685
Just edging the Fiat Ducato on price, running costs and loading capabilities is the Renault Master. The Renault heavyweight is a typical run-of-the-mill van, and this is reflected in the price tag at just £8,685. Running costs shouldn’t be an issue either, as it returns 35mpg on the combined cycle and there shouldn’t be too much going wrong at 62,000 miles.
3 | 2011 Ford Transit 2.4 TDCi 97bhp | £9,595
The UK’s most popular commercial also controls a respectable share of the segment, albeit slightly less than its medium panel van variant. The ‘Tranny’, as it is affectionately known, is favoured for its affordable list price, highly regarded dealer support and the pricing and availability of spare parts.
This particular model of Ford Transit is rear-wheel drive, which is great for towing and for heavy duty applications, but it results in a lower payload of just 1,453kg. The 2.4-litre TDCi is considerably more thirsty than the conventional 2.2-litre, returning just 27mpg on an average run.
2 | 2011 Iveco Daily 2.3D 116bhp | £9,395
The Iveco Daily is very much the odd-ball of the heavy van market; it is the only truck-derived-van, it’s sold through a truck network and it has been developed by a truck manufacturer. It one of the best vans for towing but the truck chassis design and rear-wheel drive layout take their toll on the payload, which stands at just 1,450kg.
Though the Daily has yet to break through to traditional van buyers, customers remain loyal thanks to an incredible reliability record and servicing and repair infrastructure borrowed from the truck industry.
1 | 2009 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2.1CDi 106bhp | £9,995
Whenever the term ‘large panel van’ is mentioned, an image of a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is immediately conjured up. The Mercedes-Benz heavyweight is the most sought after vehicle in the segment, and residual values remain high as a result.
We have to stretch back to 2009 to find a Sprinter that fits our budget with 83,000 miles on the clock, although the 2.1-litre veteran Merc engine is known to plough on five times this mileage. The payload is pretty poor at 1,250kg, but it’s a solid and tidy van and includes full height ply-lining.