Small vans are gaining popularity among delivery drivers and owner-operators alike, but which ones should you buy? Here, we name the best options, and reveal the one to avoid...
- How we rated the best small vans
- Your small van questions answered
- 1. Renault Kangoo
- 2. Ford Transit Courier
- 3. Volkswagen Caddy Cargo
- =4. Citroën Berlingo
- =4. Peugeot Partner
- =4. Toyota Proace City
- =4. Vauxhall Combo Cargo
- 8. Ford Transit Connect
- 9. Mercedes Citan
- And the small van to avoid…
- Fiat Doblo Cargo
Towns and cities are increasingly busy places, so having the right van to get you in and get the job done is ever-more important.
Small vans – or city vans as they’re often called – need to be compact in length to fit into tight parking spaces, but feature plenty of rear storage and a hefty payload allowance, allowing you to move anything you might need. The interior also needs to be comfortable for when you’re stuck in traffic, while it also helps if they have the option of an automatic gearbox.
Furthermore, a good small van will have a reasonably powerful engine with plenty of low-down pulling power to make getting up to speed easier. As with all commercial vehicles, running costs need to be sensible, along with the overall visibility.
Here, we’re taking a look at the best small vans on the market, as well as the one that should be avoided. Do note that you won’t find any electric vans here – those models have their own top 10. In each case, click on the links to our reviews to learn more about each model. Of course, if you just want to know what the best small van is, then look no further: the Renault Kangoo is the best small van you can buy.
How we rated the best small vans
Our test process at What Car? is the most rigorous around, and we specifically look at the areas which matter most to buyers in every class. For small vans, that’s practicality, efficiency, and comfort.
Practicality is key for any small van, so we start by looking at how much it can carry in its rear load bay, as well as the shape of the bay itself. After all, a bay which has a high capacity but which is awkward to get larger items in and out of isn’t going to help anyone. Similarly, we pay attention to extra features such as sliding side doors or double-hinged rear doors which can make accessing your materials easier. We also look for clever touches, such as the ability to carry a ladder on the inside of the roof of a van, as is the case in some of the models on this list.
In terms of efficiency, we conduct our own fuel economy tests on most new models, giving you a better idea of what you next van can do to the gallon than what the official WLTP fuel economy figures printed in sales brochures can tell you. We also look at efficiency in terms of how much each van will cost you to run, both in servicing and insurance costs, and CO2 emissions and tax liabilities.
Comfort is a high priority of drivers who may spend a large part of their working day travelling big distances. That’s why we test vans back to back against their rivals over hundreds of miles of UK roads, so we can tell you with confidence which models won’t leave you feeling tired and stressed even before you’ve arrived at work. We also assess comfort from the point of view of your passengers, so we can tell you which models are best when you’re taking family or friends along for the ride.
The best small vans should also be brimming with useful kit designed to take the stress out of your working day, whether it’s tools to help your van function as a mobile office when needed, or technology designed to keep you in touch with your business when you’re on the move, such as a good telematics offering.
Of course, we also factor reliability and price into our ratings, including how each model is priced next to its key rivals, and what kind of warranty each van comes with should anything go wrong.
All of this adds up to a verdict you can really trust, and it’s why What Car? ratings are used by so many buyers to decide on their next new van.
Your small van questions answered
Which small van has the most space?
Go for XL versions of the Citroën Berlingo, as well as its Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo Cargo siblings, and you’ll have up to 3.9m3 of capacity available in the rear load bay, with an extra 0.5m3 available if you also opt for a folding bulkhead. Combined, that’s the largest space available in a small van. The good news is that access to that space is also increased by going for XL models, which get a twin side door compared with the single side door available on non-XL models.
What is the smallest van available?
The smallest van available to buy new in the UK is the Ford Transit Courier. With a wheelbase measuring just 2489mm, it’s able to squeeze into the tightest of city parking spaces, yet offers room comparable with far larger vans. In fact, you can fit up to 2.3m3 into its rear load bay, which means it’s ideal for tradespeople who want the compact space from a small van, but who also need to carry a fair amount of equipment. If you’re willing to stretch the definition of ‘van’ however, you can go even smaller. The Citroën Ami Cargo, for example, measures just 2410mm long, and swaps its front passenger seat for a cargo box with 400 litres of storage space.
What is the definition of a small van?
Small vans can also be referred to as city vans, compact vans or light vans, but these all mean the same thing – these vans are the smallest in terms of overall size on the market, so are well suited to tradespeople working in cities, delivery drivers, or those who simply don’t need the space afforded by a larger model. You might also hear the term car-vased van or commercial SUV when talking about small vans, but since such vehicles are based on existing cars and SUVs, rather than being a bespoke van, we don’t include them in this top 10. The best commercial SUV is the Dacia Duster Commercial, while the based car-based van is the Toyota Corolla Commercial.
When can you drive a small van?
The legal age at which you can drive a small van is the same for driving a car, 17 – however, just as with a car, you need to make sure you hold a full UK driving licence before taking the wheel of a small van yourself.
What is the largest van you can drive on a normal licence in the UK?
The rules concerning what type of licence you need to drive a van can be a bit complicated. If you hold a full UK driving licence, you can drive a van weighing up to 3500kg – that weight includes most small vans. If you want to drive something larger, you may need to take an additional test. Indeed, if you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997, you need to do so in order to drive vans weighing up to 7500kg, or to tow a trailer with your van. Failing to do this could land you with a fine of up to £1000, and up to six penalty points. If you passed your driving test before 1997, you will be able to drive vans and trailers with a combined maximum authorised mass (referred to as MAM) of up to 8250kg.
1. Renault Kangoo
What Car? rating 5 stars
The Renault Kangoo name is synonymous with good value among small van drivers, and the latest version – which is our reigning champion in the small van market – stays true to that theme, with pricing that remains competitive against rivals, and the promise of plenty of kit on most versions. We like the Kangoo’s spacious interior and large load area, plus the fact that it’s quieter on the road than previous models. Indeed, it’s more versatile inside than the Ford Transit Connect and Volkswagen Caddy thanks to innovative features like the Easy Inside Rack, which allows you to store longer items, such as ladders, along the roof of the van. We’re so confident that it’s a great buy, we’re even putting our verdict to the test by living with one.
For Spacious interior | Larger rear loadspace | Quiet road manners
Against No pull-out glovebox | No side-opening door | Less storage than on European versions
2. Ford Transit Courier
What Car? rating 5 stars
The Ford Transit Courier has the honour of being the smallest new van you can buy. It shares is underpinnings with the Ford Fiesta, which makes it a first-rate van to drive, but more importantly, its loadspace is three times the size of most car-derived rivals. Excellent build quality and particularly low fuel consumption make this small van a great choice for anyone requiring only a small payload – in fact, it’s our reigning Best Compact Van champion. A new version of the Transit Courier is due to go on sale late next year, this time powered by electricity.
For Excellent handling | Comfortable | Well equipped above base models
Against Very compact size means limited practicality | Low payload for a van
3. Volkswagen Caddy Cargo
What Car? rating 5 stars
Based on the latest Volkswagen Golf family car, the Volkswagen Caddy has a wealth of safety and driver assistance features that make it enjoyable, safe and relaxing to drive. Inside the Caddy feels well built, and even though its 10.0in infotainment screen features some confusing menus, it does at least include Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring to keep you in touch with your co-workers. In terms of practicality, you can get more inside it thank you can in the Ford Transit Connect, but long-wheelbase versions of the Toyota Proace City – as well as its badge-engineered siblings from Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall – can hold more still. Our favourite 2.0-litre diesel engine endows the Caddy Cargo with plenty of low-down grunt, and should also help to keep your running costs in check.
For Clean and quiet engines | Car-like ride and handling | Impressive resale values
Against Fiddly sliding controls on top-trim models | Poor payload compared with some rivals | Noticeable road noise
=4. Citroën Berlingo
What Car? rating 4 stars
The Citroën Berlingo is one of four badge-engineered vans that largely share the same qualities, and thus all four get an equal fourth place in our rankings. Like its siblings – the Peugeot Partner, Toyota Proace City and Vauxhall Combo Cargo – the Berlingo is decent to drive and can carry an impressive amount of cargo. It also impresses by coming fully stocked with safety and assistance kit, and the option of a slick automatic gearbox. The range-topping 1.5-litre diesel engine (called Blue HDi 130) is our top choice, because is has enough power to make easy work of long motorway journeys yet should still be efficient.
For Great safety features | Relatively good to drive
Against Limited interior storage | Five-speed manual gearbox on lower-powered versions | Limited equipment on some models
=4. Peugeot Partner
What Car? rating 4 stars
The Peugeot Partner is very similar to the Citroën Berlingo van, Toyota Proace City and Vauxhall Combo – that means it drives in the same manner as those cars, and that we recommend the same 1.5-litre diesel engine for most buyers. It’s worthy of standing in isolation though, not just because it looks different, but also because Peugeot has morphed its celebrated i-Cockpit design to fit into the small van. This unsual arrangement has you looking over a small steering wheel at the instruments, rather than through it, and in a segment where the driver is often the sole occupier, and therefore the centre of attention, we think it’s worth looking at if you want something a little left-field.
For Economical engines | Relatively good to drive | Comfortable interior
Against Limited interior storage space | Five-speed manual gearbox on lower-powered vans
=4. Toyota Proace City
What Car? rating 4 stars
Like its badge-engineered siblings, the Toyota Proace City gets its own styling to help it stand out from the small van crowd, but ultimately impresses in all the same ways as the other three vans. That is to say, it’s good to drive, has an interior which feels like it will last the test of time, and can haul around an impressive amount of cargo. However, the Proace City comes with a lot of equipment as standard, and as a result it’s more expensive than some rivals. Icon models are our pick of the Proace City range, and come with an upgraded infotainment screen, and a higher-powered version of our recommended 1.5-litre diesel engine, which puts out 98bhp.
For Generous equipment | Enhanced warranty | Smart and comfortable interior
Against Few optional extras | Limited choice of engines | Just two trim levels to choose from
=4. Vauxhall Combo Cargo
What Car? rating 4 stars
The final entry in this badge-engineer foursome is the Vauxhall Combo Cargo. You won’t be surprised to hear that, just like the Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner and Toyota Proace City, it’s good to drive, with an economical 1.5-litre diesel engine and plenty of performance, and comes loaded with safety and convenience kit. It also offers decent load space and a smart interior. If you regularly need to venture off road, the Vauxhall Combo Cargo 4×4 model is also available – a rarity in the small van market.
For Onboard weighing | Great safety kit | Smart interior
Against Confusing engine range | Rough-feeling gearbox
8. Ford Transit Connect
What Car? rating 4 stars
If you’re looking for a small van with a Ford badge on its bonnet, yet the Ford Transit Courier that we looked at earlier is just a bit too small for your needs, then the Transit Connect is the next logical step up. It’s a well-rounded van, but shines by being one of the best options in this class to drive. There’s more to the Transit Connect than just a punchy engine and entertaining handling, though – it’s also well thought out inside, and can haul around an impressive amount of cargo for a small van. Its infotainment software isn’t the best, though, and controls on the steering wheel require getting used to.
For Connectivity features | High weight carrying abilities | Excellent seating
Against Fiddly steering wheel controls | Sync3 infotainment system is prone to errors
9. Mercedes Citan
What Car? rating 3 stars
Think of the Mercedes Citan and Renault Kangoo as being cousins, because under the metal they share many of the same components. That’s a good thing for the Citan, which despite only having one engine option at launch feels sprightly on city streets and is pleasantly quiet. The interior is a step above the Kangoo’s, too, with plenty of soft-touch materials and Mercedes’ dazzling MBUX infotainment system, which is loaded with features and looks swish. It’s a shame that the Citan misses out on some of the Kangoo’s more practical features, though, which combined with a high price stops it from climbing any further up our rankings.
For MBUX infotainment system | Good interior storage | Unlimited-mileage warranty
Against Lack of engine options | Poor payload limit | Premium price
And the small van to avoid…
Fiat Doblo Cargo
What Car? rating 2 stars
The Doblo Cargo has a spacious cargo bay and a strong range of diesel engines on its side, but a cramped driver’s area, a terrible infotainment system and the absence of a load-through bulkhead all make it hard to recommend.
Keyword: Best small vans 2023