Vanarama has carried out an in-depth study to uncover the most reliable vans and pick-up trucks.
It compiled data from warranty claims, MoT tests, and specialist media’s survey of van operators.
Budget Small Van Winner – Fiat Doblo
- RRP starting from £13,995
Perhaps coming as a surprise to some, the Fiat Doblo scored very well in Vanarama’s analysis of reliability. In a survey of the best and worst vans for MOT pass rates carried out by Honest John, the Doblo was placed first above all other vans and across all sectors. It also featured in the top 10 most reliable vans in the FN50 survey for 2020, and, the Italian manufacturer has committed to a 5-year / 100,000-mile warranty on every new Doblo.
High-End Small Van Winner – Volkswagen Caddy
- RRP starting from £21,672
The VW Caddy is a real favourite with the leasing companies, and the latest FN50 survey put the van in second place overall and top of the pile in its segment. Not only does it look sharper and smarter, but it’s also packed with tech, a fresh cab environment and new engines too. You can rely on it to work hard, carry well and impress your customers to boot.
Budget Medium Van Winner – Ford Transit Custom
- RRP starting from £23,090
The Ford Transit Custom is still the best-selling van in the UK, popular for it style, top-notch cabin, efficient engines and great load-carrying ability. It’s an all-around great package that our customers shower with praise for its reliability and durability as it regularly appears in top ten of most reliable vans and, like most Ford vans, it comes with a 3 year / 100,000-mile warranty. The fact that the Transit Custom usually outsells its nearest rivals by almost 100% month-on-month (although not lately for obvious reasons) is a testament to this excellent van’s reputation and abilities – it’s a tough package to beat!
High-End Medium Van Winner – Vauxhall Vivaro
- RRP starting from £28,105
The new Vauxhall Vivaro medium panel van is rapidly becoming a UK favourite. Vanarama have seen these vans being built first-hand and know how reliable and durable they are because of the number of checks and balances they have to go through just to get out of the factory. The fleet companies can’t be wrong either – they’ve rated the Vivaro joint fifth in their latest reliability survey.
Budget Large Van Winner – Volkswagen Crafter
- RRP starting from £28,185
The data from the extended warranty provider Warrantywise show that VW Crafter achieved second place across all van sectors, proof of Volkswagen’s bulletproof build quality. The leasing companies love it too, listing it in their own top 10 of the most reliable vans.
High-End Large Van Winner – Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
- RRP starting from £30,000
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is already catching up on the Transit’s sales figures despite the fact it can carry just a little bit less. Mercedes-Benz offer a generous 3-year unlimited mileage warranty on the Sprinter. Given that many users of the van clock up some very high mileages in long-distance courier work, the German manufacturer clearly has confidence in the reliability of its product. Fleet users surveyed also put the Sprinter right at the top of the pile as the most reliable van.
Pick-Up Truck Winner – Toyota Hi-Lux
- RRP starting from £26,895
Off-road driving can put a big strain on all mechanical components, but Toyota have brushed these concerns aside and are confidently offering a 5-year / 100,000-mile warranty on all new Hi-Lux’s. More evidence of just how well built the Toyota is is offered by the fleet users in the FN50 survey who rank the Toyota the 6th most reliable commercial vehicle.