Mid-sized vans are the unsung heroes of the Australian ecology, getting the job
done without fuss or fanfare, keeping the wheels of business turning.
But for those who drive them day in, day out, choosing the right van to suit your specific
needs is far from easy which is why we brought our top six contenders together for the carsales
Best Commercial Van Awards.
Our line up included Ford's Transit custom with its well equipped and well protected load
bay.
Peugeot’s Expert, a recent newcomer to Australia’s mid-sized van scene and the only van on test
here with rear barn doors; Volkswagen’s Transporter which offers the highest braked towing limit
at two and half tonnes.
Toyota’s new sixth generation HiAce, an all-new platform that sees the old cab-over
engine format make way for a semi bonneted design.
Hyundai’s iLoad with its potent turbo-diesel and rear wheel drive and Renault's Traffic,
the only vehicle on test to feature a manual transmission.
To assess our half dozen contenders, we put each through five testing stations with our
panel of experienced judges scoring the vans across a range of criteria.
So this is our weight testing station.
Obviously this van is built to do a job, really important that we get an idea of what they
are like with weight in the back, so we have loaded each one up with 650kg and the
other thing that we are learning through loading them up with weight is how easy they are to
load, how accessible the load bays are.
So Peugeot Expert the only van we’ve got on test here today that’s fitted with barn
doors makes loading a lot easier if you are using a forklift and a pallet.
Certainly the best equipped load bay of any of the vehicles on test today has got to be
the Ford Transit Custom.
Got a nice sturdy floor liner, grab handles at the side apertures, the tie-down points
are mounted towards the base of the walls, not in the floor.
So it basically gives you a bit more flexibility when you’re securing a load.
While the Peugeot has the highest payload limit and the Volkswagen the highest braked
towing limit, our judges deemed Ford's Transit Custom to offer the best all round mix of
load lugging ability, functionality and practicality.
The Ford simply has the best equipped load bay of the bunch with excellent protection
and access kept off by roomy dimensions and competitive payload and towing limits.
The Toyota’s spartan but wide load bay with suit custom fit outs and the Peugeot and Renault
impress for their space and ease of use.
When you think about the amount of hours’ people actually spend behind the
wheel of a delivery van, it’s like an office on wheels.
It makes perfect sense that we focus on comfort, ergonomics and safety.
So it probably seems like a really basic thing but grab handles are really convenient for
vehicles of this height and yet only two of them on test have them.
Rear view visibility is proving to be quite a differentiator here so for the Volkswagen
to not have a rear view camera, the only one on test that is, it’s doing it no favours.
So the Hyundai iLoad had provision for three occupants but the centre one only gets a lap
belt and no headrest.
But on the assumption that you are probably only going to have two occupants for most
of the time, this is actually pretty useful.
Toyota’s HiAce triumphed in this field.
Its new design ultimately delivering a substantial improvement over its predecessor and its assembled
rivals.
The HIACE also served well for its long list of cutting edge safety features which, like
in the Peugeot, are standard inclusions.
The Hyundai, however, is starting to show its age.
It still offers a decent level of comfort and has all the safety essentials but misses
out on many of the latest generation features.
At this station I am looking at cabin technology and connectivity and these are
really important features given the amount of time that drivers spend behind the wheel
of these vehicles.
The HiAce is the newest vehicle on test and it’s got a lot of the driver assistance
technologies and infotainment technologies that drivers are looking for.
However, I am a bit surprised by the lack of storage options that I’ve got in the
HiAce compared to some of the other vehicles that we’re testing.
For instance, I’ve got my phone plugged in here but there is nowhere obvious for me
to put when I am ready to hit the road.
In the Expert there is loads of great storage opportunities.
There’s a spot here where we can pop an A4 folder or similar.
There is a spot, very sensibly, where I can put my phone when it’s plugged in and there’s
other clever storage ideas too.
I mean here we have a great little spot where we can pop an iPad or something similar and
keep that stowed.
And then even under the seats here, more room here for bits and pieces.
There is just lots of useable space and I think it makes a lot of sense for a commercial
van.
Ford's Transit Custom rose to the fore in this category where it shined for its intuitive
and informative implementation.
It’s Sync3 multimedia system and its wealth of features, all aimed at making life
behind the wheel both easier and more efficient.
Peugeot’s Expert also performed strongly, with a high level of standard technology and
healthy cab storage, including dedicated room for a table or small laptop.
The Volkswagen Transporter however, didn’t fare as well, thanks in part to its tiny infotainment
screen and lack of standard inclusions like a reversing camera versus its purchase price.
My part in this massive puzzle is the driving experience.
I get to drive each of the vehicles around a set loop and I am looking at things like,
obviously engine performance but also the gearbox, how that performs.
I am looking at steering weight and feel, I am looking at ride quality.
The Renault stands out in this company, Rod, it’s
the only vehicle here with a manual transmission.
It is, but it’s a particularly nice one.
Not sure how you’d feel about it after a full day at the wheel in traffic, but as
far as I can tell, if you are going to have a manual you might as well have this one.
I liked the refinement of this vehicle as well Rod.
I find it very easy to drive.
I think they have set the suspension up very deliberately for ride comfort in the front
end, so it is quite plush.
But I am not sure that that’s going to be the right setting in all conditions?
[Well, and that plushness was amplified a little bit, wasn’t it, when we had 650kg
in the back.
Look, it did handle the weight pretty well but when we were coming through those
bends and hitting the odd mid corner bump, that’s when you get that little bit of unsettled
feel around the front end.
It really gets off the mark really well.
The throttle response is…
I would say it’s the most responsive vehicle on test.
I think this just reaffirms my initial impression around performance – it’s really peppy.
On the road it was Renault’s Traffic that truly delivered, impressing for its smooth
shifting six speed manual, broad spread of useable urge impeccable road manners and a
degree of poise the other struggled to match.
Close behind was Ford's Transit Custom which felt almost sporty despite having the lowest
output of the bunch and Toyota’s HiAce which delivered a refined and responsive drive.
At the other end of the field, Hyundai’s iLoad still does a dependable job but couldn’t
quite match the others for feedback, steering feel and overall refinement.
Finally, we put each vehicle under the microscope to assess its pricing, service terms and ongoing
running costs while using our own wealth of red book data to compare average resale values.
Once again it was Ford’s Transit Custom out in front.
It’s mix of purchase price, running costs, warranty and service provisions putting it
at the head of the pack.
After weighing up all our judging criteria there can only be one truck sales best commercial’s
van and that is the Ford Transit Custom.
The Transit Custom simply represents the most compelling mid-size van package available
today.
Ford has carefully considered each and every aspect of van ownership and come up with a
highly functional vehicle that places the driver at the very centre of its design philosophy,
it’s a tough act to follow and a very worthy winner of our best commercial van awards.