Van users are spoilt for choice

Damian O'Carroll
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Fiat Ducato Picture/Supplied.

A van for all seasons:

Where would most New Zealand businesses be without their large van?
They are fundamental for transporting loads of all sizes, an essential for such tradies as plumbers, and synonymous with couriers.
Continuing Driven’s focus on commercial vehicles, here is a list of the most popular vans on sale and, yes, they do come in colours other than white.

Fiat Scudo

The Scudo is a remarkably comfortable and car-like thing to get around in. The 88kW 2.0-litre diesel engine is strong and punchy, while the six-speed manual transmission is light and easy to use. With 6cu m of cargo space and a payload of 1200kg, it is remarkably versatile too.
Price: $34,489

Fiat Ducato


The big boy of the Fiat van range is available in a range of wheelbase options (3000mm up to 4035mm) and roof heights to allow for a wide range of capacities — from 8cu m right up to 15cu m. The strong 130kW/400Nm 3.0-litre diesel turbo engine deals with any load with ease and is available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed robotised automatic transmission.
Price range: $61,990 to $63,990

 

Ford Transit Custom

The venerable Transit has recently been split into two lines — the large Cargo and the smaller Custom. The Custom packs a load of technology into a compact, and user-friendly package. Available in short (2933mm) and long (3300mm) wheelbase and low and high roof configurations with load space going up to 8.3cu m, the Custom has a modern 114kW/385Nm diesel engine hooked up to a slick six-speed manual transmission.
Price range: $50,490 to $57,490

Ford Transit Cargo

The big Cargo packs the same engine and transmission as the smaller Custom, but its vast variety of wheelbase and roof options see it offering load capacities from 11cu m to a massive 15.1cu m. With maximum payloads ranging from 1166kg up to 2053kg, the Transit Cargo is definitely one of the bigger boys in the van market.
Price range: $58,140 to $70,540

 

 

Hyundai iLoad

The Hyundai iLoad comes with a 100kW/343Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engine and a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed auto transmission.
With a 4.4cu m load capacity, the iLoad is one of the smaller medium vans, but offers remarkably car-like levels of refinement, including Bluetooth.
Price range: $47,990 to $49,990

 

 

Iveco Daily

With one of the biggest model ranges in New Zealand, the Iveco Daily offers a massive choice of sizes and capacities.
Depending on van size, Iveco offers a 107kW/350Nm 2.3-litre diesel or a 125kW/400Nm 3.0-litre diesel, with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions.
Standard or high roof options are available across 3000mm, 3300mm or 3950mm wheelbases for load capacities ranging from 8cu m right up to a colossal
17cu m.
Price range: $40,600 to $68,100

 

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Like most other large vans in the segment, the Sprinter offers a vast and flexible array of wheelbase, roof and length options to suit whatever it is you may want to carry. From the 1540kg payload and 7.5cu m capacity of the short wheelbase standard roof van, to the 1235kg payload and 15.5cu m capacity of the extra-long-wheelbase super-high roof variant and engines ranging from a 70kW/250Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel, right up to a powerful 140kW/440Nm 3.0-litre diesel V6, the Sprinter has it covered.
Price range: $65,538 to $87,503

 

LDV V80

The respected British brand is now under Chinese control and doing better than ever, particularly in New Zealand, where the V80 has quickly become a common sight on our roads.
With a strong and frugal 100kW/330Nm diesel engine powering the range (hooked up to a five-speed manual or an optional automated manual), the V80 is available in two wheelbases (3100mm and 3850mm) and three roof heights to give cargo capacities of between 6.4cu m and 11.6cu m.
Price range: $34,489 to $47,989

 

Peugeot Expert

As is the way in Europe, the Peugeot is actually a Fiat Scudo with a different face (or is it the other way around?), meaning it is every bit as refined and car-like. It also features the same 6cu m cargo capacity and 1200kg payload, but where it differs is the more powerful 120kW/340Nm diesel four-cylinder engine Peugeot has chosen to offer in New Zealand. Another difference is that the Peugeot is also available with a six-speed automatic transmission, as well as the six-speed manual.
Price: $39,990

 

Renault Trafic

Like the bigger Master, the Renault Trafic (yes, one “f”) is one of the most popular vans in Europe, meaning it must be doing something right. Offered in a single guise here in New Zealand, the Trafic packs an 85kW/290Nm 2.0-litre diesel four-cylinder engine with a choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed automated manual transmissions. With a 6cu m load volume and a 1230kg payload (1222kg for the auto), the Trafic is the perfect size to battle the, er, traffic.

Price range: $47,990 to $49,990

 

 

Renault Master
The big Renault Master is about as comfortable and refined as vans get and in New Zealand comes in two wheelbases — 3682mm or 4332mm — both variants powered by a 110kW/350Nm 2.3-litre diesel four-cylinder engine. The shorter MWB van comes with a choice of six-speed manual or a six-speed automated manual, while the LWB is manual only. The Master has a load volume of 108cu m (MWB) or 13cu m (LWB) and payloads between 1540kg and 1630kg.
Price range: $59,990 to $64,990

 

Toyota Hiace
The venerable Hiace is to the local van segment what the Hilux is to the ute segment — almost the default choice — so it is no surprise it comes in a huge range of configurations. The smaller ZL is available with a 118kW/243Nm four-cylinder petrol engine or a 100kW/300Nm four-cylinder diesel, equipped with a five-speed manual, four-speed auto or six-speed auto, depending on configuration. The larger ZX only comes with the diesel and either the manual or four-speed auto. The ZL has a load capacity of 6cu m, while the ZX takes 9.8cu m.
Price range: $42,990 to $58,330

 

VW Transporter

The Transporter brings a similar car-like refinement as the Amarok ute took to the ute segment, with a strong 103kW/340Nm four-cylinder engine (or an optional 400Nm version) and, unusually in the local van segment, the option of 4WD. With a choice of short or long wheelbase and six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG transmissions, the Transporter boasts payloads of between 854kg and 1305kg and a vast range of options.
Price range: $48,500 to $57,500

VW Crafter
Like all the large vans in the segment, the Crafter is available in a huge range of wheelbases, roof heights and lengths. Powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine in four different states of tune (80kW/300Nm, 100kW/340Nm, 105kW/340Nm or 120kW/400Nm) and a six-speed manual transmission, the Crafter’s total payload ranges from 1336kg up to 2429kg, while load capacity goes from 10.5cu m up to 14cu m.
Price range: $63,500 to $76,500

 

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