Keeping it simple – Dacia Duster
With more than 2 million vehicles sold, the Duster has been the number one car for retail sales in its class in Europe’s SUV market since 2019. The Duster now features a fresh and contemporary design and hours spent in the wind tunnel have allowed for a reduction in drag and therefore CO2 as well as delivering lower fuel consumption.
Fleets say vehicle supply has been hit by semiconductor shortages
A range of actions have been undertaken by those impacted, with almost three-quarters (74%) extending the life cycle of current vehicles, more than half (51%) speeding up the implementation of EVs on their fleet, a quarter (25%) acquiring used vehicles rather than new, 21% adding a wider range manufacturers to choice lists and 11% turning to other forms of mobility.
Musso muscle – Ssangyong Saracen 2.2-litre pick-up review
SsangYong pushes the value aspect of its range and you'll struggle to find a more comprehensively equipped model. When it comes to rival pick-ups, we're not entirely convinced that the badge counts for too much as long as the vehicle can do the job at the right price.
Is it a car? Is it a van? – Toyota Corolla Commercial
Toyota’s fourth generation hybrid system gives a generous all-electric driving capability that’s ideal for urban deliveries, while the hybrid system ensures there’s always the freedom to make longer trips whenever required, with no need to schedule down-time for recharging. Powertrain and chassis are unchanged from those used by the Corolla Touring Sports passenger car, so it retains the smooth, refined and efficient performance of the 1.8-litre self-charging hybrid electric system
Landed gentry – Land Rover Defender 110 D250 Hard Top Review
Our 110 review model certainly dealt with the muddy, hilly farmlands of Dorset and was of much interest to the farming community - but did it stack up against the trusty old Landy workhorses that inhabit this corner of the world? Size was the main comment, the Defender 110 is a mighty beast, dwarfing the old models, but what about practicality?
Monster machine – Ford Ranger Raptor
While Ford is keen to sell the Ranger Raptor as some kind of ultimate off-road machine, the engine choice is slightly odd, but then Europe is a very difference market to North America.
Versatile Verso – Toyota Proace MPV
Road manners are pretty good also. Vans ain't what they used to be generally, they are more refined, comfortable and drivable than a few years ago. The diesel engines come in 115hp, 150hp and 180hp trim and they are smooth enough runners, particularly in the cruise while the auto transmission we tried also gets high marks with smooth changes. Useful is the standard hill-start and with a long vehicle, reversing sensors are also welcome.
People carrier – Citroen e SpaceTourer Business Edition M 50kWh
Advancements in battery technology have made electric cars and LCVs viable and there’s a growing number of models available. Then there’s the financial incentives: a 0% Benefit-in-Kind tax on zero emission, fully electric vans, making e-LCVs more affordable than ever for those businesses.
Pick of the pick-ups – Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
The D-Max comes in single and double cab variants and it’s powered by a 1.9-litre turbodiesel, a little rough around the edges but this is a commercial vehicle after all and it does the job very effectively. It has the ability to tow 3.5 tonnes and the vehicle is also backed by Isuzu’s 125,000 mile/5 Year warranty. The model range runs from the entry Business through All-Purpose to Adventure. Business has Utility trim, offered in 4x2 or 4x4 and in three different cab types - single, extended and double cab.
VW Caddy Life – perfect bag (and people) carrier
The Caddy is now in its fifth generation and while there are larger five-seat VWs around, this version is probably the best value, starting at under £25,500, and the most practical as a family vehicle. It sits on the same VW Group MQB platform which means it shares many of the attributes of the latest Golf, including engines, safety equipment and many interior features.
Thinking electric? Citroen e-Dispatch can take a load off your mind
The Citroen e-Dispatch is the electric version of Citroen’s medium-sized panel van and has a range of 211-miles when fitted with the larger 75kWh battery option or 143 miles for the smaller 50kWh battery. It uses the same technology as the Vauxhall Vivaro-e, Peugeot e-Expert and the Toyota Proace Electric. Its 134bhp electric motor provides plenty of torque for carrying heavy loads while performance is good as well.
City dweller – Citroën e Berlingo
Capacity is everything with a van and the Berlingo's load space is wide and high and able to accommodate two euro palettes. The rear wheel arches don't intrude too much into the space which, overall, is practical and very usable with 10 lashing points. The Driver Pro version also gets a hard plastic load protector on the floor.
Keeping it simple – Toyota Proace 75kW Review
All-in-all, the Toyota Proace Electric can do pretty well all that it’s Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall electric siblings can do although it can’t offer different sizes or trim levels – but there’s something to be said for keeping complexity to a minimum.
Citroen e-Spacetourer – an electric people mover
The e-SpaceTourer’s van heritage also means that it’s not very light on its feet with a top speed of just 80mph and a 0-62mph acceleration time pf 13.1 seconds. You can certainly live with that given its carrying capacity, but a 143 mile range? – not so much.
New ë-Berlingo takes to the road
Priced from £29,575 MRRP OTR (incl. Plug-in Car Grant), Citroën ë-Berlingo Electric features a 50kWh battery offering a range of up to 174 miles (WLTP), paired with a 100kW (136hp) electric motor. New ë-Berlingo Electric is fitted with a 7.4kW on-board charger as standard, with a full re-charge taking 7.5 hours.
Smooth Operator Vivaro-e Elite 3100 75kWh
The Vivaro comes across as a very good package, easy to drive, very good range and practical for short or long distance work. It comes with the option of 50kW or 75kW batteries, the latter costing £4,500 more but gives you greater range, around 200 miles.
All new electric Kangoo ready for unveil
Kangoo Electric, which has won the hearts of some 70,000 professional customers since its launch at the end of 2011, now accounts for one in every five electric utility vehicles sold in Europe. Equipped with a new lithium-ion battery with a fully usable capacity of 45kWh, the Kangoo E-TECH Electric boasts a range of up to 300km (187 miles) in WLTP cycle.
Long term update – Ford Tourneo Active end of term report
As much as the Tourneo's size is its strength, it's also its weakness when it comes to those tight country lanes and even tighter village roads. This is a big beast to handle and it's size and weight do have an effect on fuel economy with a return of 31.4mpg rising to 39.5mpg in a long motorway run. Load carrying, though, is where the Tourneo scores, be it people or cargo. There's plenty of room for all the weekend-away paraphernalia, although if you are fully laden with people - all eight of them - you would struggle to fit the suitcases in.
Long term update – On tour with the Tourneo
The trip also provided the opportunity to show off some of the other advantages of the Tourneo. Load carrying is part of it, plenty of room for all the weekend bit and pieces, although if you were to be fully laden with people - all eight of them - you would struggle to fit the suitcases in.
Ford Tourneo Custom Active – Popular with all the family
As mentioned before, a big hit with family and friends. The young ones certainly enjoyed their club-class trip to the beach. Plenty of room for them, the rest of the family plus all the necessary bags, hampers, buckets and spades.
