Best selling vans in the UK: Ford Transit continues to rule the market
Impact of double-cab pick-up tax triggers van sale to plummet - but which vans still lead the way? Here are the most recent figures...
Light commercial vehicle (LCV) sales plummeted last month, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), despite March usually being a busy month with the introduction of new number plates.
Last month saw the weakest March for LCVs since 2023, with the market declining by 3.4% with 49,505 registrations. This was driven by a sharp fall in new pick-up truck registrations, which were down 54% to 3732 sales. These continue to be affected by the Government's new rules on double cab pick-up tax, with double cabs now being treated as cars when it comes to Benefit-in-Kind allowance.
Small vans also recorded decline, registering just 732 units. Sales of medium vans and large vans, however, were on the up, with growth of 2.3% and 8.7% respectively.
Demand for electric vans has fallen, with a 15.9% decline last month. They accounted for just 7.1% of the market – the weakest since September 2024. Diesel remains the fuel of choice among buyers, dominating the market with an 85.6% share.
Thanks to the extension of the Plug-in Van Grant, as well as some new charging incentives for businesses, the SMMT predicts fleet confidence in electric LCVs will grow, though more must be done by the Government to assist the transition.
But which vans attracted the most buyers last month? Below, we count down the top 10 best-sellers in the UK.
Strengths
- Easy to drive
- Flexible diesel engine and smooth PHEV
- Plenty of interior storage
Weaknesses
- Slightly less load space than the previous version
- No physical climate controls
- Squared-off steering wheel takes getting used to
The only competitor to the Ford Transit is its own slimline version: the Transit Custom. A former What Car? Van Award winner, the Transit Custom is a strong offering, not just for its versatility (you can have diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric options), but also because it’s practical and just as refined to drive as any of its rivals.
Where the Transit Custom really delivers is with load space, providing a maximum payload of up to 1459kg. That’s superior to almost every van of its size. Add to this the option of a second sliding door, a generous standard kit list and many safety systems, such as lane-keeping, traffic-sign recognition and front/rear parking sensors, and you can see why the Transit Custom is a winner.
Clearly the market agrees, because Ford has sold just over 30,400 units in 2024 alone. The distance between the two Ford Transits and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is vast.
Read our full Ford Transit Custom review
March sales: 7715
Strengths
- Great to drive
- Huge range of body, engine and weight options
- Modern interior with good infotainment centre
Weaknesses
- Base trim very sparsely equipped
- Expensive list prices
- Not all models driveable on a car licence
In 2025, Ford managed to shift over 30,000 Transits. That averages out at more than 2500 per month; a solid showing on the market. And what makes it more impressive is that the Transit has frequently ranked at the top – if not near – ever since its arrival to British roads in 1965.
These days, the Transit name is split across a few models, including the Transit Connect, Transit Courier, and two all-electric models. Still, the original act remains as strong as ever.
The payload capacity isn’t class-leading, but where the Transit recovers is drivability: its snappy steering, surprising agility and versatile nature, what with its huge range of body, engine and weight options, makes it the perfect van for everyone. For a more comprehensive understanding of just why…
Read our full Ford Transit review
March sales: 3667
Strengths
- Fine car-like handling and comfort
- Load volumes are impressive
- Payload limits are class-leading
Weaknesses
- Only one side door on shorter Standard models
- No high roof option limits load heights
- Warranty limited to three years
The Peugeot Partner is part of a quintet of closely-related Stellantis small vans, including the Citroën Berlingo and Vauxhall Combo Cargo. They're all pretty similar in appearance, but each have their own unique qualities, with the Partner being the most popular of them all last month.
There's a lot to like about the Partner, with its sharp car-like handling and impressive load volumes. We're big fans of its unique interior, which integrates Peugeot's i-Cockpit design featuring a clear and crisp digital instrument screen you look at over the wheel.
You can also have your Partner with pure electric power, in the form of the Peugeot e-Partner.
Read our full Peugeot Partner review
March sales: 2896
Strengths
- Choice of engines to suit most needs
- Greatly improved safety systems
- Quiet interior
Weaknesses
- More interior storage needed
- Slow-witted infotainment system
The Renault Trafic has never truly been a class-leader, but it has consistently been in the mix for solid mid-sized van options thanks to its low price. Positioned between the smaller Kangoo and the larger (and excellent) Master, the Trafic is Renault’s best-selling van for March by a fair margin.
Its strengths lie in a healthy choice of engines, generous standard equipment list and range of safety systems, such as automatic emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW) and blind-spot monitoring.
Though its cargo volume isn’t quite as capacious as some of its rivals, and its infotainment system isn’t perfect, so we’d suggest reading the road test for a fuller picture. Or, check out these new Renault electric vans coming out this year.
Read our full Renault Trafic review
March sales: 2826
Strengths
- Reassuring after-care package
- Impressive ride, handling and refinement
- Almost car-like interior
Weaknesses
- Pricier than rivals from Peugeot and Vauxhall
- Some of the controls are fiddly
It should come as no surprise that the Volkswagen Transporter is such a big seller. Why? Well, because it's very closely related to the top-selling Ford Transit Custom.
Indeed, the Transporter was developed alongside the Transit Custom as part of a collaboration between Volkswagen and Ford, but the German brand has worked to set the Transporter apart from its American sibling with different styling inside and out, and a fresh trim structure.
As such, the Transporter stands out for its great after-care package, including a five-year, 124,000 mile warranty, as well as its impressive ride and pleasant interior. It is pricier than rivals, though.
Read our full Volkswagen Transporter review
March sales: 2822
Strengths
- Can carry more weight than rivals
- Drives and rides well
- Useful equipment and tech fitted as standard
Weaknesses
- Offset driving position can be a literal pain
- Load volume falls short of others
- Only one roof height
Vauxhall's medium van shares its underpinnings with the Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert. Overall, it was the fifth best-selling van of 2025, but it rounds out the top three bestsellers for March.
Two key highlights are a maximum payload of 1400kg and an interior focused on delivering ideal ergonomics. The materials featured are robust but plasticky, and so combined with the dual digital screens and physical switchgear, the Vivaro’s cabin is a mixed bag. Fully electric options do exist, offering a peak of 219 miles of range on a full charge – plentiful for local jobs.
Read our full Vauxhall Vivaro review
March sales: 2490
Strengths
- Huge range of body styles
- High-tech but user friendly infotainment
- Improved fuel economy with front-wheel drive vans
Weaknesses
- Not the cheapest van to buy or run
- Aggressive safety systems
The Mercedes Sprinter is a long distance hauler with a touch of class to it. Now in its third generation, the Sprinter posted 2405 new registrations last month. That’s still a very strong number of course, but it has started to lag behind other rival vans – partly due to price.
But what you do get for the extra money is a bit more luxury: the interior gets a 7.0 or 10.25in screen, lots of cubbyholes for storage and those flashy air vents seen on practically every Mercedes-Benz model these days.
There are an abundance of body styles to choose from: four lengths, three heights, two cab types and one diesel engine with three power outputs (141bhp, 148bhp and 187bhp). Our personal favourite is the mid-spec, which delivers just the right amount of performance. Alternatively, there is the eSprinter, which manages up to 272 miles of official WLTP range. Very nice.
Read our full Mercedes Sprinter review
March sales: 2405
Strengths
- Big cargo bay with a high payload capacity
- Space for four six-footers in Double Cab versions
- Good to drive for a pick-up
Weaknesses
- Not the cheapest pick-up
- Warranty could be better
The most popular pick-up in the UK last month was the Ford Ranger, which makes sense, because it's long been a fixture at the top of the sales charts against its rivals.
And that popularity is well deserved, too – at least, according to us. We named the Ranger our favourite pick-up truck at this year's What Car? Van and Commercial Vehicle Awards, due to its range of bodystyles, impressive practicality and solid driving credentials.
Ford is in the process of phasing out the 2.0-litre diesel in favour of the 3.0-litre V6 — but buyers shouldn't be concerned, because there's still the fabulous plug-in hybrid model.
Read our full Ford Ranger review
March sales: 2094
Strengths
- Excellent off-road
- Impressive towing capabilities
- Fantastic on-road manners
Weaknesses
- An expensive commercial vehicle
- Most pick-ups have a higher payload capacity
- Poor reliability is not ideal for a commercial vehicle
The Defender Hard Top is the commercial 'van' version of the famous Defender SUV, with a name dating all the way back to 1950, when the regular Defender was offered with a removable roof.
You can have your Defender Hard Top either in three-door '90' or five-door '110' style. The rear seats have been stripped out for a larger cargo space, with the rearmost side windows from the regular Defender replaced by solid panels.
Like its passenger car sibling, the Defender Hard Top offers excellent off-road prowess and utilitarian capability, balanced out by an exceedingly comfortable driving experience.
Read our full Land Rover Defender Hard Top review
March sales: 1473
Strengths
- Advanced Comfort seats are comfy and supportive
- Drives and handles well
- Class-leading payload and load volume limits
Weaknesses
- Only one side door on shorter M models
- Lack of high roof option limits load heights
- Warranty limited to three years
The final entrant on this list is the Citroen Berlingo small van. The mechanically identical relative to the Peugeot Partner, which features higher up on this list, managed 1356 new registrations in March.
Mechanically, it’s a choice of three engines – a 109bhp petrol, or two diesels offering 98bhp and 128bhp respectively. There's also an all-electric model in the form of the ë-Berlingo, with an official 213 miles of range.
Entry-level models are relatively utilitarian, so we'd recommend stepping up to Driver trim, which adds some extra practical and luxury touches.
Read our full Citroen Berlingo van review
March sales: 1356
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