Van depreciation constitutes the biggest contributor to total cost of ownership (TCO) and aspect of van buying that is becoming increasingly important.
In this article, we compare the residual values of all nine of the mainstream medium panel vans to show how much you could lose over the course of ownership.
We took the future residual values for an entry-level, mid-range and high-end trim level for each of the models to give an average for each after three years with 60,000 miles on the clock.
Here are the results:
9 – Fiat Scudo
Average list price: £18,940
Average retention: 25 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £4,800
Amount lost in depreciation: £14,140
The Italian brand’s chequered history of reliability continues to haunt it with the medium panel van, the Fiat Scudo, suffering the worst residual values in its class. Both the basic Comfort and top-of the-range Sportivo models retain just 25 percent of their original list price after three years.
Read the full Fiat Scudo review.
8 – Citroen Dispatch
Average list price: £19,434
Average retention: 25.5 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £4,995
Amount lost in depreciation: £14,438
Performing marginally better than the Fiat Scudo is the near-identical Citroen Dispatch. The only difference between the two was the Dispatch’s Enterprise trim level, which benefitted from a slightly-higher 26 percent list price retention.
Read the full Citroen Dispatch review.
7 – Peugeot Expert
Average list price: £18,688
Average retention: 25.5 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £4,800
Amount lost in depreciation: £13,888
Not surprisingly, the Citroen Dispatch’s other sibling, the Peugeot Expert, achieved the same retention rate. The two vehicles share the same driveline, chassis and nearly identical specification. Only the Expert’s slightly lower list price separates the two.
Read the full Peugeot Expert review.
6 – Vauxhall Vivaro
Average list price: £20,823
Average retention: 26 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £5,486
Amount lost in depreciation: £15,337
The new Vauxhall Vivaro only managed to achieve a mid-table finish, despite being highly rated by customers. High-end Sportive models perform slightly better than the base models (27 percent versus 25 percent) due to the extra equipment like steering-mounted controls, air-con and reversing sensors.
Read the full Vauxhall Vivaro review.
5 – Renault Trafic
Average list price: £21,079
Average retention: 26.5 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £5,587
Amount lost in depreciation: £15,479
Despite being built at different factories, the Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivaro are two more vans that share the same driveline, chassis and bodywork. While the residual values on the base spec are both 25 percent, this increases to 28 percent on the Trafic Sport, one more percent than the Vivaro Sportive.
Ready the full Renault Trafic review.
4 – Hyundai iLoad
Average list price: £17,882
Average retention: 30 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £5,375
Amount lost in depreciation: £12,507
Achieving a respectable fourth place is the Hyundai iLoad. Residual values are high on this model thanks to the high levels of equipment, comfortable ride and the fact that there aren’t many around. Buyers should be aware of the heavy fuel consumption, however.
Read the full Hyundai iLoad review.
3 – Mercedes-Benz Vito
Average list price: £22,880
Average retention: 33.5 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £7,663
Amount lost in depreciation: £15,217
Even though early examples of the Mercedes-Benz Vito were marred by rust and mechanical problems, the latest generation is a significant step up in terms of build quality and, combined with the high levels of safety and comfort, has helped increase the residual values to its third best in class.
Read the full Mercedes-Benz Vito review.
2 – Ford Transit Custom
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Average list price: £22,171
Average retention: 33.5 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £7,675
Amount lost in depreciation: £14,496
Over 50 years since its launch, the Ford Transit is still the UK’s favourite commercial. One of the main reasons it continues to sell so well is because of its wide availability and range of body styles, and low running costs, which includes low depreciation.
Read the full Ford Transit Custom review.
1 – Volkswagen Transporter T6
Average list price: £21,835
Average retention: 37 percent
Value after three years/60,000 miles: £7,988
Amount lost in depreciation: £13,847
Winning the medium van section for best residual values is, unsurprisingly, the Volkswagen Transporter. For decades, the Transporter has been the most desirable van in its class, with base-spec Startline model retaining 38 percent of their original value at three years and 60,000 miles.
Read the full Volkswagen Transporter T6 review.
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