Best large vans 2023
Big load spaces and decent road manners are the order of the day for buyers of large vans, but which ones should you choose and which are best avoided?...
Large vans make up around a third of the light commercial vehicles on the road, and epitomise the phenomenon known as 'White Van Man'.
Their large load spaces mean they're used for a huge range of jobs, from parcel delivery through to construction. Most are sold as 3.5-tonne vans, the maximum weight of vehicle you can drive on a standard car licence, but large vans can go as high as seven tonnes.
Large vans tend to use fairly powerful engines with high torque outputs to help with towing and make easier work of driving off with a heavy load.
Here’s our list of the best large vans to consider – and the one that should be avoided for now.
10. Citroën Relay/Peugeot Boxer
Star rating 3
We're including the Citroën Relay and Peugeot Boxer together here because they are, in essence, the same van, sharing identical underpinnings and engines. Both are decently practical choices, and their economical engines should help to keep your running costs in check, but they're beginning to look dated next to many rivals, and their interior feels inferior in terms of quality and kit.
Star rating 3
The Master impresses by offering a huge load space as well as a range of strong engines. Indeed, if you opt for the range-topping 178bhp 2.3-litre engine, you'll be surprised at just how nippy this large van can be, even when it's loaded down with people and luggage. It doesn't ride as well as some other vans here, and its automatic gearbox option is a bit dim-witted, but it does come with a smart-looking interior that's loaded with kit, even on entry-level models.
Read our full Renault Master review >>
8. Mercedes Sprinter
Star rating 3
There’s no doubting the Mercedes Sprinter has long been the van that everyone aspires to own, with a first-class interior and build quality of the highest order. The range of engines mean most drivers will find a version to suit those needs, while it also has more power than its closest rivals. However, the Sprinter is beginning to feel outclassed in the large van market, while its high price tag means running one is prohibitive for some businesses.
Read our full Mercedes Sprinter review >>
7. Vauxhall Movano
Star rating 3
There's more to love about the Vauxhall Movano than just its impressive ability to move lots of items from A to B; it's also good to drive, with a range of responsive engines and a commanding seating position that gives you a good view of the road ahead. And although it looks a little uninspiring inside, the quality of the materials used is decent enough and there's lots of storage space for your odds and ends.
Star rating 4
Thanks to a mid-life update earlier this year, the Fiat Ducato is now better than ever. While still not quite troubling the class leaders, the latest Ducato is just as practical as the old model, but also sports an elegant interior design and is loaded with assistance kit to make the business of driving easier and safer.
Read our full Fiat Ducato review >>
5. MAN TGE
Star rating 4
The MAN TGE is comfortable, good to drive and capable of hauling around just about anything you might want to throw at it. A drab interior and a comprehensive and sometimes confusing array of options stop it from being counted among the very best in this class, but there are still plenty of plus points to consider – not least MAN's reputation as a titan of the trucking world, which means its aftersales support is among the best around.
Read our full MAN TGE review >>
4. Ford Transit
Star rating 4
When you think of vans, you think of the Ford Transit. It’s what Hoover was to vacuum cleaners – and with good reason. The Transit offers the most variety of any van on sale and is as capable as it is versatile. While other vans have larger load volumes, the Transit makes up for it with faultless driving manners and an interior that wouldn’t feel too out of place in a car. There’s loads of in-cab storage too, while smart safety systems such as adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection make it one of the safest on the market.
Read our full Ford Transit review >>
3. Volkswagen Crafter
Star rating 4
Volkswagen went to extreme lengths to make its own van after a deal to borrow the underpinnings of the Mercedes Sprinter expired. The result, £1.5 billion of research and development later, was the latest Crafter. All that money was certainly well spent, because the Crafter is a very good large van. It has a refined 2.0-litre engine and is available with front, rear or four-wheel drive. The interior has been ergonomically designed to make it as comfortable and relaxing as possible, plus it's practical, with plenty of storage and space for occupants. The Crafter also has one of the biggest load areas in the segment, with an enormous 18.4m3 carrying capacity from the very largest models.
Read our full Volkswagen Crafter review >>
2. Maxus Deliver 9
Star rating 5
It's rare for a relatively new player in any market to find itself towards the top of the pecking order, but that's exactly what the Maxus Deliver 9 has managed. How? Well, as well as being available in such a wide range of guises that there's bound to be a version to suit most buyers, the Deliver 9 is also great to drive, with a spirited 162bhp 2.0-litre engine and a comfortable ride. By far its biggest plus point, though, is its price, which undercuts most rivals, yet no version feels like it misses out on equipment.
1. Ford E-Transit
Star rating 5
For the first time, the best large van is also an electric one, because the Ford E-Transit really does offer the best of both worlds. With much of the same practicality and load space benefits as the regular Transit, plus the additional prospect of low running costs, it's the best all-rounder on sale today. You can travel for up to 196 miles between charges and even enjoy your time behind the wheel, thanks to a classy interior and agile handling. No wonder we recently named the E-Transit as our overall Van of the Year for 2023.
And the one to avoid...
Iveco Daily
Star rating 2
There are lots of different versions of the Iveco Daily to choose from, but speccing one up so that it meets your needs can be an exhausting process, because there are simply too many options available. It's spacious inside, but its driving manners are only so-so and latest suspension set-up increases the rear load height. An updated version of the Daily is coming soon, though.
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