What are the UK’s bestselling large vans at the start 2025? Are electric vans going to sell enough numbers to hit tough government targets? Here are the top 10 most popular vans in the UK in 2025 so far, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
After encouraging figures at the end of 2024, the start of 2025 has given the light commercial industry a bit of a reality check. The overall sales for the month were down by 20.5% compared to the same month in 2024, with almost every area of the market down. There were 19,050 light commercial vehicles – vans, commercial 4x4s and pickups – sold in January, which is down from last year’s 23,962. Granted 2024 represented the best performance for three years, but the drop is still a blow and industry forecasters are predicting that the market will be down 1.5% this year.
Only the small van sector saw a rise in sales versus the previous 12 months, but the figures involved are also not large, with just 668 vehicles sold. Large vans accounted for 11,537 sales, but this was a drop of 22.3% while the medium van sector saw the biggest percentage fall, with registrations dropping by 30.4%.
The pickup sector did better, comparatively speaking, with the 2,807 sales only 6.5% down on last year’s figures. The forthcoming change to the tax status of trucks might have an influence on performance in coming months.
There was a slight glimmer of hope with regards electric van sales, which rose by 13.0%, although this only accounted for 7.0% of the market share, which is still some way short of the government’s zero emission vehicles mandate. More improvement will be needed if goals are to be met.
What the industry says
SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, said: ‘The van market has enjoyed a bullish performance over the past two years but, amid a tough economic environment, businesses are under pressure. It means action is needed to drive fleet renewal and back the industry which has invested massively to produce new EV models.
‘The mandate review must, therefore, deliver workable regulation that reflects market realities, and ensure infrastructure rollout that makes fleet decarbonisation a commercially viable, compelling proposition.’
Below, you’ll see the UK’s top 10 most popular vans in January 2025, in reverse order. You’ll also find full year data for the years 2018 to 2024, so you can see what the most popular vans and pickups were in those years.
All this is useful because it means you can see which vans make the most sense to other businesses, so they may also make the most sense for you. What’s more, it gives you an idea of the most available used vans of a particular age.
Top 10 bestselling vans and pickups January 2025
10. Ford Transit Courier (511 sold)
The new Ford Transit Courier is the best small van you can buy, to the extent we named it the Best Small Van in the 20205 Parkers awards.
It offers more than its predecessor in many ways – it’s larger, has a more modern and spacious cabin and is better to drive. This is thanks in part to its platform, which is shared with Ford’s passenger car, the Kuga SUV. There is also a choice between engines, with a rarity in the van sector among them – a plug-in hybrid.
Find a Ford Transit Courier for sale near you
9. Renault Trafic (518 sold)
The Renault Trafic last had a major update in 2022, with loads of new safety features and a new look helping to keep it fresh and maintaining its appeal. The medium-sized van has some strong contenders in its class, though, with the Ford Transit Custom and VW Transporter to name but two, but it has plenty in its favour. A new E-Tech electric version has since joined the range, matching its major rivals in that sense.
Find a Renault Trafic for sale near you
8. Vauxhall Combo (630 sold)
The Vauxhall Combo is a great small van. Its biggest problem is that it is almost exactly the same as the equally great and almost identical vans from Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot and Toyota. Vauxhall has lots of dealers, though. If one of those is nearby, then that could well be all the reason you need for picking a Combo over its siblings.
It’s a good van, though, so you won’t feel short-changed, offering a big payload and a decent cabin as well as an impressive electric version.
Find a Vauxhall Combo for sale near you
7. Citroen Berlingo (650 sold)
The small Citroen Berlingo is a regular feature in the best-seller list, and it is easy to see why. The small van is practical, good to drive, has an excellent cabin and represents good value for money. There is a strong electric model in the range too.
The challenge it has is tempting buyers away from the practically identical Peugeot, Fiat, Toyota and Vauxhall equivalents. As the top-10 list often shows, it doesn’t always succeed as they often feature too.
Find a Citroen Berlingo for sale near you
6. Peugeot Partner (686 sold)
The Peugeot Partner is one of five nigh identical vans, sharing much with equivalents at Citroen, Vauxhall, Toyota and Fiat, many of which crop up in the top 10 list from time to time. However, the Partner is the only one to have something that sets it apart from the others – a smaller steering wheel as part of a setup dubbed the i-Cockpit. This will suit some better than others, but the rest of the van is otherwise the same as the rest of the quintet – practical, good to drive and boasting a strong electric version.
Find a Peugeot Partner for sale near you
5. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (712 sold)
The Mercedes Sprinter continues to set incredible standards that make it one of the best large vans you can buy. The cutting-edge on-board technology that’s now included only adds to its appeal. Popular particularly in the delivery industry, it has exceptional reliability and the Mercedes eSprinter electric van has a good driving range compared with rivals.
Find a Mercedes Sprinter for sale near you
4. Vauxhall Vivaro (770 sold)
The latest Vauxhall Vivaro is still proudly built in Britain, even though Vauxhall is now part of the massive Stellantis group of companies. Cousin to the Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace, it can carry vast amounts of payload, offers great fuel economy and is now also available in Vivaro Electric form.
Find a Vauxhall Vivaro for sale near you
3. Ford Transit (1,735 sold)
The Ford Transit is the household name for vans in the UK. This latest version has increased payload, upgraded engines, a revised interior and even more technology. It remains easy to drive, comfortable, and there are plenty of specialist dealers around to keep you on the road. It’s also setting new standards for electric vans, with the Ford E-Transit the best out there by a country mile.
Find a Ford Transit for sale near you
2. Ford Ranger (1,805 sold)
The latest Ford Ranger is regularly the UK’s most popular pickup trucks and often the only vehicle of its type in the top 10. It has moved the game on significantly from its predecessor, being excellent to drive, comfortable and well equipped inside, and offering a wide range of practicality. There are loads of versions to choose from, too, including the outrageous Ford Ranger Raptor.
Another version that might be of interest is the plug-in hybrid, which arrives in 2025.
Find a Ford Ranger for sale near you
1. Ford Transit Custom (2,728 sold)
The new Ford Transit Custom only went on sale in late 2023 but it’s very much business as usual for the brand’s sales team as it takes up where the old one left off at the top of the charts. This all-new model is a notable improvement over all of its rivals and its predecessor, which made it our 2024 Parkers Commercial Vehicle of the Year.
Find a Ford Transit Custom for sale near you
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2024
This table shows the bestselling vans and pickups for all of 2024:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 46,967 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 31,322 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Ford Ranger | 19,695 | Ford Ranger review |
| 4 | Mercedes Sprinter | 18,753 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 18,581 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | VW Transporter | 15,425 | VW Transporter review |
| 7 | Renault Trafic | 15,799 | Renault Trafic review |
| 8 | Peugeot Partner | 12,828 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 9 | Vauxhall Combo | 12,584 | Vauxhall Combo review |
| 10 | Citroen Berlingo | 12,229 | Citroen Berlingo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2023
This table shows the bestselling vans and pickup for all of 2023:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 40,865 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 28,280 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 20,477 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 4 | Ford Ranger | 18,679 | Ford Ranger review |
| 5 | VW Transporter | 17,487 | VW Transporter review |
| 6 | Renault Trafic | 16,041 | Renault Trafic review |
| 7 | Mercedes Sprinter | 15,799 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 8 | Citroen Berlingo | 14,065 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 9 | Toyota Hilux | 10,888 | Toyota Hilux review |
| 10 | Ford Transit Connect | 10,856 | Ford Transit Connect review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2022
This table shows the bestselling vans and pickup for all of 2022:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 42,215 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 33,203 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Mercedes Sprinter | 17,034 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 4 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 16,830 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 5 | Ford Ranger | 16,827 | Ford Ranger review |
| 6 | VW Transporter | 15,164 | VW Transporter review |
| 7 | Ford Transit Connect | 8,218 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 8 | Peugeot Expert | 8,131 | Peugeot Expert review |
| 9 | Renault Trafic | 8,085 | Renault Trafic review |
| 10 | VW Crafter | 7,455 | VW Crafter review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2021
This table shows the most popular vans and pickups for all of 2021:
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 49,671 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 31,083 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Mercedes Sprinter | 20,862 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 4 | VW Transporter | 20,033 | VW Transporter review |
| 5 | Ford Ranger | 16,376 | Ford Ranger review |
| 6 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 16,004 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 7 | Citroen Berlingo | 11,109 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 8 | Ford Transit Connect | 11,001 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 9 | Peugeot Partner | 10,553 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 10 | Vauxhall Combo | 9,886 | Vauxhall Combo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2020
The most popular vans and pickups of 2020 in a table.
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 43,551 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Mercedes Sprinter | 23,506 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 3 | Ford Transit | 21,724 | Ford Transit review |
| 4 | VW Transporter | 15,856 | VW Transporter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 15,530 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | Ford Ranger | 13,097 | Ford Ranger review |
| 7 | Citroen Berlingo | 12,159 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 8 | Ford Transit Connect | 11,344 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 9 | Peugeot Partner | 11,174 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 10 | Vauxhall Combo | 11,118 | Vauxhall Combo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2019
This is the top 10 list of the bestselling vans (and pickups) of 2019 in total.
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 52,512 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 26,237 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | Mercedes Sprinter | 25,862 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 4 | VW Transporter | 19,608 | VW Transporter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 18,029 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | Ford Ranger | 16,459 | Ford Ranger review |
| 7 | Ford Transit Connect | 15,477 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 8 | Peugeot Partner | 14,605 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 9 | Citroen Berlingo | 13,492 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 10 | Vauxhall Combo | 12,944 | Vauxhall Combo review |
Bestselling vans and pickups of 2018
This is the top 10 list of the most popular vans (and pickups) in all of 2018.
| Sales position | Model | Number sold | Parkers review link |
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 54,806 | Ford Transit Custom review |
| 2 | Ford Transit | 32,694 | Ford Transit review |
| 3 | VW Transporter | 21,763 | VW Transporter review |
| 4 | Mercedes Sprinter | 21,278 | Mercedes Sprinter review |
| 5 | Vauxhall Vivaro | 19,232 | Vauxhall Vivaro review |
| 6 | Ford Transit Connect | 17,495 | Ford Transit Connect review |
| 7 | Ford Ranger | 16,440 | Ford Ranger review |
| 8 | Peugeot Partner | 15,056 | Peugeot Partner review |
| 9 | Citroen Berlingo | 13,428 | Citroen Berlingo review |
| 10 | Peugeot Boxer | 11,731 | Peugeot Boxer review |
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