Latest Van News
OX ‘flat-pack’ light truck sets sights on Africa
OX is designed to be an uncomplicated low-cost, all-terrain vehicle ideal for use by remote communities in Africa…
Small fleet benefits from Van Excellence
It may only have a six-van fleet, but AES is the latest operator to be awarded Van Excellence accreditation…
Finnish stamp of approval for Transit Connect
Current Ford Transit Connect features in the latest issue of first class stamps from Finland’s Posti…
Hubbard Alpha System keeps KFF cool
Kent Frozen Foods’ new Iveco Daily refrigerated conversions are using Hubbard twin-evaporator units…
VOSA targetting light commercial operators
The warning came at the second Van Excellence conference organised by the Freight Transport Association…
New Van Launches
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2013 - First Drive
New 2013 Sprinter is the first van to comply with Euro 6 and safety features are a high priority…
Show Preview: CV Show 2013
The CV Show goes International for the first time and it's Ford and Mercedes leading the way with new product…
Ford Fiesta Van 2013 - First Drive
Launched at the beginning of 2013, the new Fiesta Van has been restyled inside and out and gets the new 1.5TDCi engine…
Ford Transit Custom - First Drive
Ford’s all-new one-tonne Transit, the Custom, is a very different proposition to its predecessor…
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…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012
Welcome to the VansA2Z Vans of the Year Awards 2012. Each year we sit down and decide which, in our opinion, are best light commercials around in each market segment and every year it becomes harder and harder to settle on the winners. It’s not that we are indecisive — or are we? — it’s just that LCVs are becoming so good these days, thanks to a mixture of design and technology, that they are all more than fit for purpose. The big change over the last 12 months has been the wholesale switch to Euro 5 drivetrains right across the board and to say that it has made a big difference in terms of refinement is a serious understatement. Fuel consumption has also never been so good, but we wonder if we’ll be saying the same following the switch to Euro 6 in four years time.
Fuel-efficiency has become a bye-word in these days of rampant rising diesel prices and the best we can hope for is that the Chancellor announces a fuel duty freeze in the Budget on 23 March so that the 3p/litre increase scheduled for August is cancelled, or at least postponed. The economy needs kick-starting, not further strangulation.
We spend our lives driving vans, pick-ups and light trucks on a daily basis and there are few, if any, on sale in the UK that we haven’t tried at one time or another. They are assessed for fuel consumption, driveability — including such mundane, but important aspects like gearchange quality — refinement, load-carrying ability, load area access and of course price; front-end as well as residual.
Each of the main vehicle categories has a winner and a highly commended, and it’s one of the former that is presented with our overall VansA2Z Van of the Year 2012 trophy.
We would like to thank all the manufacturers and their engineers for taking the humble load-shifter to such technological heights. Congratulations to all the winners and for those who missed out don’t take it personally. It is becoming a closer fought battle each year.
Vans of the Year 2012 Award Winners
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - All Categories
When we were invited on the European press launch of the current Euro 5 Transit last year we were not prepared for the…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Microvan
Thanks to Chinese manufacturer DFSK the microvan market has been kick-started by the introduction of the Loadhopper…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Small Van
Small Vans are the three-door hatchback passenger cars which have had the rear seats removed and the rear side glass…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Light Van
There are many reasons why the Volkswagen Caddy retains its light van crown for the second consecutive year…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Small Panel Van & Van of the Year
When we were invited on the European press launch of the current Euro 5 Transit last year we were not prepared for the…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Large Panel Van
Last years’s winner, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, retains its crown, but for 2012 it is having to share it with…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Pick-Up
Ford’s all new Ranger is a very different proposition to its predecessor. For starters it’s a global product…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Light Truck
Light trucks are used by those operators requiring a sturdy, uncomplaining, no-nonsense workhorse like landscape…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Minibus
Ford offers a range of Transit minibuses with unrivalled choice when it comes to specification and seat configurations…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - 4x4 CDV
Some operators require a car-derived light commercial that’s willing to get down and dirty, and venture off-road when…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - 4x4 Panel Van
Four-wheel drive Panel Vans may be specialised and not at the top of every operators wish-list, but they definitely…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - Innovation
In terms of active safety there is nothing to touch there is nothing to touch Electronic Stability Programme…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - ecoVan
Available as a Van, Maxi Van and Maxi Crew Van Kangoo Z.E. is powered by a 44kW electric motor…
Vans of the Year Awards 2012 - ecoInnovation
With the ongoing push towards more sustainable transport we have introduced a new ecoInnovation Award this year…
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Manufacturer Quick Link
Iveco Interview 2013 - CV Show
VansA2Z editor Neil McIntee met up with Martin Flach, product director for Iveco at the…
Nissan Interview 2013 - CV Show
Jordi Vila is general manager, commercial vehicles, for Nissan Europe. VansA2Z spoke to…
Fiat Interview 2013 - CV Show
Sebastiano Fedrigo is Director of Fiat Professional and we caught up with him at the 2013…
Isuzu Interview 2013 - CV Show
VansA2Z editor Neil McIntee caught up with William Brown, General Manager of Isuzu UK…
Ford Interview 2013 - CV Show 1
Neil McIntee caught up with Barb Samardzich, Vice President of Product Development Ford…
