New Launches
Show Report: CV Show 2012
What a cracking event the 2012 Commercial Vehicle Show turned out to be, thanks in no small part to Ford… Read More
Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Long-Term Test 1
We has just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi L200 4x4 Club Cab for long-term appraisal… Read More
Ford Transit ECOnetic Brief Test
We’ve been putting a SWB 100hp 2.2TDi Euro 5 Transit 280 ECOnetic through its paces… Read More
Renault Kangoo ZE 2011 European Launch
Renault is at the forefront of manufacturers offering a mass produced factory-built electric van… Read More
Fuso Canter 2011 European Launch
Fuso has completely revamped its range of light and heavy truck Canter chassis and chassis crew cabs… Read More
Iveco Daily 2011 European Launch
Iveco has introduced new, latest generation diesels to its Daily range, along with detail changes inside and out… Read More
Ford Transit 2011 European Launch
Ford takes the iconic Transit to the next stage with an all-new range of 2.2-litre Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 UK Launch
VW’s large panel van has undergone a serious makeover with changes to the front-end styling and the cab interior, as well as new Euro 5 diesels… Read More
Ford Transit Connect Electric Brief Test
We spent a day with the battery-powered Connect to get a better idea of what it’s like to live with in its natural, urban environment. Read More
Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL Brief Test
Currently undergoing trials with selected fleet customers in the UK, we managed to get behind the wheel of a battery-powered Vito E-CELL… Read More
Volkswagen Crafter 2011 European Launch
Volkswagen’s Crafter has undergone a midlife makeover and gets a new front-end along with new Euro 5 engines… Read More
VW is most reliable van manufacturer
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been named as the best overall van manufacturer in this year’s Fleet News FN50 Reliability Survey. The results are compiled from the feedback and opinions of the UK’s top 50 leasing companies and gives an impartial account of how commercial vehicles operate and perform in the ‘real world’. Caddy and Transporter both performed well, being placed among the top five vans, while the Crafter finished a respectable sixth overall.“We all know that vehicle reliability is even more significant for van drivers and fleet operators as their business depends on them, so this award is very important and explains why we are on track to sell more Volkswagen vans in the UK this year than ever before,” said Alex Smith, the newly appointed director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK (see News Story). “Superior reliability delivers better business, while stronger demand for used Volkswagen vans and stronger residual values reduce whole life costs, making every Volkswagen van owner a winner!”
Stephen Briers, editor of Fleet News, said: “Van reliability is arguably more important than car reliability as vital supply chains can be disrupted through unnecessary vehicle downtime. Volkswagen has demonstrated with its leading position as a van manufacturer, and high placing for its models, that fleet operators can choose its vehicles in confidence.”
Survey Results
Most Reliable Vans
1) Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
2) Ford Transit Connect
3) Volkswagen Caddy
4) Ford Transit
5) Volkswagen Transporter
Most Reliable Van Manufacturers
1) Volkswagen
2) Ford
3) Mercedes-Benz
4) Fiat
5) Renault