IT’S been a record entry for the Business Vans Awards this year. The judges have made their decisions and now the results are in:
So, who are the tops when it comes to vans and services?
Here goes:
Best Small Van: Citroen Berlingo
Strong recognised dealer network, large model range now including the e-Berlingo. Popular with fleets and the used buyer alike. The Berlingo Van was launched in 2018 and has since become the vehicle of choice for thousands of van users thanks to its award-winning features and excellent load capability and economy. It features some of the lowest fuel consumption in its class.
Available with efficient Euro 6.3 petrol and Euro 6.2 diesel engines, the 1.2-litre PureTech 110 petrol engine achieves up to 44.1mpg and emit just 121g/km CO2. Available in 75hp, 100hp and 130hp outputs, the 1.5-litre BlueHDi is rated up to 55.6mpg and from just 114g/km CO2 under WLTP testing.
Highly Commended: Maxus e-Deliver 3
Best Medium Van: VW Transporter
The van itself is backed by Volkswagen’s Van Centre network of 63 Van Centres and 33 Authorised Repairers, and a Working With You promise to work in partnership with businesses, providing them with the best products and aftersales support, whether they’re buying two or two thousand vans
Highly Commended: Citroen Dispatch
Best Large Van: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The Sprinter has a comprehensive van and chassis line-up, offering pretty much something for everyone. Popular with fleets, the Sprinter comes with latest safety and technology features and is supported by a strong dealer network. Total cost of ownership is compelling.
The size of network, back-up, parts support and specialist 24/7 workshop operations in over a third of the network are stand out. When coupled to an unlimited mileage warranty and operator assistance services the breadth of operator benefits are unrivalled in this segment.
Highly Commended: Fiat Ducato
Best Pick-Up: Isuzu D-Max
The All-New Isuzu D-Max is the latest generation pickup that raises the bar for safety, technology, capability, and refinement the pick-up segment as a whole and at great prices.
The new D-Max combines smart new styling and impressive safety technology with improved off-road performance. Not only does it deliver the strength and durability you’d expect from an Isuzu pick-up truck, this capable workhorse now adds superior levels of comfort and refinement.
Best Electric Van: Citroen Dispatch
Good number of models covering differing lengths and battery sizes. This PSA vehicle is already proving popular with fleets. Flexibility of wheelbases and roof heights. Great payload and range with broad multi-use operations – from inter urban to longer distance. Supported by comprehensive dealer network and support services.
Highly Commended: Maxus e-Deliver 9
Best Long Term Rental: Europcar
The focus for Europcar’s van services during 2020 was on the needs of ‘Business Britain’ and in particular on providing services that would help small businesses continue to operate in a COVID world.
The UK’s reliance on the logistics sector changed immeasurably in 2020 – with firms having to pivot to provide delivery of goods in a way never previously experienced. And ‘white van man’ became the hero of the hour, delivering everything from essential food and medicines to leisure and garden products.
Sustained investment in its product offering and further expansion of its network of supersites meant that Europcar Van and Trucks could provide a genuinely local service with a comprehensive choice of vehicles.
Highly Commended: Northgate Vehicle hire
Best Manufacturer Conversion: Citroen Ready to Run
All Citroën converted vehicles are designed to meet European standards and are built on the X range of Relay 35 Chassis Cabs (have 40 heavy Back-to-Back cab). A maximum gross weight of 3,500kg (4000kg for Back-to-Back cab) offers optimum practicality for all businesses. Through Ready to Run, buyers can opt between Tipper, Dropside, Luton, Curtainside, Low-floor Luton and Crew van conversions, with each vehicle guaranteed by a three-year/100,000-mile warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance.
Sales and support is given by a dedicated Citroen aftersales team as part of the RTR programme. All conversions are covered by their three-year/100,000-mile warranty and 24-hour roadside assistance, with many Citroen Business Centres offering workshop facilities.
Highly Commended: Renault
Van Service: Mercedes-Benz
The size of network, back-up, parts support and specialist 24/7 workshop operations in over a third of the network are stand out. When coupled to operator assistance services the breadth of operator benefits are unrivalled in this segment.
Mercedes-Benz Vans UK’s mission is to “Keep businesses moving”. The pandemic has thrown into sharp relief the extent to which customers, particularly those engaged in key sectors such as health, and food and parcel deliveries, rely on the manufacturer and its franchised network to keep their vehicles up and running. Despite the challenging backdrop Dealers are also demonstrating their commitment to operators by investing heavily in new and upgraded facilities.
Highly Commended: Citroen
Best Short-Term Rental: Thrifty
Thrifty’s rental product caters for companies looking to build additional flexibility into their current fleet that they maybe leasing or financing themselves. By having a percentage of the company fleet on short term rental it will provide options so unused vehicles are not sitting idle in extreme situations like we have seen over the last 12 months and also provide a solution if a company’s business model needs to quickly change to adapt to new market conditions.
With the ability to provide vehicles on short notice Thrifty’s rental solution is also perfect for companies that need to scale up quickly and need to keep their workforce mobile without committing into long term lease agreements.
Best Used Van Programme: VW Commercial Vehicles
Offering flexible funding options and complete peace of mind for the used van operator this OEM has an approved used programme that underpins the brand and ensures VW is an appealing proposition. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched a new Used Van Finance Calculator to help customers find the deal that suits them best. The Approved Used website has been updated to allow Van Centres to display Hire Purchase, Solutions Personal Contract Plan and Lease Purchase options for many of the vehicles advertised via the Used Van Locator.
Highly Commended: Aston Barclay
Best E-Van Charge Point: Instavolt
For van drivers who needs more accountability, Instavolt offers a number of benefits. It’s Fleet Account Solution allows companies to monitor employees driving behaviours and spend. Reporting will tell you how long each driver is charging for and their own charging pattern i.e. frequent short stops versus long charging sessions, that may be useful in managing workforce time. The granularity of the reporting means you will also be able to identify any suspicious or irregular card usage.
Highly Commended: EO
Best Van fleet Management: Northgate Vehicle Hire
Northgate provides bespoke fleet management services to customers who operate LCVs, acquired in a combination of ways including purchased, leased and rented. The Northgate UK fleet is circa 52,000 LCVs and 1,400 cars, and it can supply virtually any type of vehicle through its outsourced supply chain. In the 12 months since the Redde Northgate group was formed, the Fleet Management offering has been strengthened – based upon feedback from Fleet Managers, and utilising our group solutions.
Northgate offers a complete fleet outsource solution or the total flexibility to selectively hand-pick only those services required, focusing upon safety, compliance, vehicle downtime, cost efficiency and increased control at every stage of the customers’ operations.
Highly Commended: Vimcar
Best Van Funding: Mercedes-Benz Finance
This has been an incredibly challenging time and Mercedes-Benz quickly adapted to support customers with financial support and payment deferrals. From the announcement of the first lockdown, its contact centre team worked remotely to maintain an excellent level of service.
Mercedes created a flexible workforce, redeploying colleagues to work in a taskforce that solely focused on helping these customers to keep their businesses moving. Aside from this personal level of customer care, it focused on delivering solutions that are available 24/7.
Best Van Rental: Europcar
During the COVID-19 restrictions Europcar retained a comprehensive network of Stations and Supersites maintaining its usual Delivery and Collection service throughout. It underpinned this network with nine strategically positioned Van & Truck Supersite meaning that on average, Europcar was never more than nine miles away from its customers. These Supersites are unique in the industry.
Highly Commended: Northgate Vehicle Hire
Best Van Recovery: Mercedes-Benz
Nationwide, in excess of 180 MobiloVan roadside assistance vehicles are available to attend breakdowns. Racked out and fitted with work benches and additional lighting, they carry full complements of product-specific diagnostic equipment and tools, as well as stocks of frequently used precision-engineered, first time, fast fit Mercedes-Benz GenuineParts.
These vans are assigned to elite technicians, who are out in all weathers, and at all times of the day and night. Crucially, they are Mercedes-Benz experts. Having completed their Mercedes-Benz maintenance technician training they must also secure other qualifications and complete a customer service course before they can become MobiloVan breakdown specialists.
Best Business Lease: Leaseplan UK
Most van leasing companies could be forgiven, over the past year, for focusing on simply staying afloat while weathering the perfect storm of Brexit and Covid-19.
LeasePlan UK charted a different course – one that has seen it take its LCV proposition in new directions through the development of products and services that make its offering more customer-oriented, cost-effective, safety-focused and environmentally friendly than ever before.
Designed for all size of van fleets, from SMEs through to the largest corporate, Leaseplan’s LCV business lease proposition encompasses the full van leasing lifecycle, covering everything from pre-order fleet audits and custom build/conversion, through in-life management – including downtime optimisation, bespoke consultancy and FTA Van Excellence accreditation – to fair and transparent end-of-contract management.
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