Vans of the Year Awards 2011

Vans of the Year Awards 2011-Light Truck

Light Truck of the Year
Nissan Cabstar & Renault Maxity
light-truck

Light trucks are used by those operators requiring a sturdy, uncomplaining workhorse, such as landscape gardeners and builders. And Cabstar has been fitting the bill perfectly for many years now. They just seem to keep going forever, judging by some of the examples seen on the roads.

Renault Truck has been very canny in rebadging Alliance partner Nissan’s Cabstar light truck. It fills in the 3.5t – 4.5t hole beneath its trucks which start at 7.5t.

Availably as a single or crew chassis cab with a choice of three wheelbases, Cabstar can also be had off-the-shelf as a Dropside, Tipper and dry freight or refrigerated Box Van. There’s even a nifty car transporter conversion. Basically, if the bodywork will fit on the back, Cabstar will handle it.

There are two engine options — 2.5- and 3.0-litre — with the rear wheels driven via either a five- or six-speed manual gearbox. Performance has improved greatly since the current powerplants were installed under the cab — Cabstar has a forward-control configuration — and anyone who hasn’t sat in one for a while will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of room afforded the occupants.

Handling and ride are acceptable for this type of vehicle and the latter improves dramatically with some weight in the back. Noise levels cannot be described as low, but it’s no worse in this respect compared to any of the competition.

Highly Commended – Isuzu Grafter
Isuzu Truck offers ready-bodied versions of its 3.5t N-Series light truck under the Grafter banner. There’s a Tipper and a Dropside and take it from us, they are built for punishment. Isuzu truck’s aftersales customer care is second to none.