UK’s best van? These are the most reliable vans to buy right now

Written by Tom Webster Updated: 18 November 2024

What is the most reliable van you can buy in 2025? The latest FN50 survey shows which make and model of light commercial vehicles perform the best when it comes to reliability. The survey is based on real data and is carried out by our sister company Fleet News. All the major areas of the market feature, from the best large vans to the best small vans and everything in between.

The information comes from some of Britain’s largest fleets. These are the sort of companies that run thousands of vehicles of different shapes and sizes that are out on the roads around the clock in different and demanding situations.

So if you want to make sure you get the best van for reliability, then read on.

How does the FN50 determine the best vans for reliability?

As the FN50 name suggests, the data comes about as a result of the Fleet News team asking 50 of the UK’s biggest leasing companies to rate the commercial vehicles on their fleets for warranty and breakdown issues. This data then dictates the top 10 most reliable vans you can buy.

The leasing companies also rate the van manufacturers in order, and which van dealers they consider to be the best performers.

The latest data is from November 2024, but we have put the previous nine annual FN50 survey results in as well so you can see which manufacturers and vehicles have performed better or worse over time.

This is also helpful for those looking to buy a used van as you can look back at how that model performed in the year in which it was made. It also shows which vans and van makers build the most consistently dependable models and which brands might have upped their game.

Although it is a vital factor, reliability doesn’t tell the complete story about a van, so combine this data with the annual Parkers Awards to get a full picture of which are the best vans in all areas. The awards include our recommendations for the best vans in every size category, as well as the best pickup and best electric van, and you’ll find yourself with a best van list that’s second to none.

Top 10 most reliable vans

In reverse order, these are the UK’s top 10 most reliable vans according to the latest FN50 fleet van reliability survey.

10. Renault Trafic

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The Renault Trafic returns to the top 10 list of the most reliable vans for 2025, with last year’s absence proving to be a one-off blip. Its position of 10th is not far off its most recent performances, having previously finished ninth in 2021 and 2022.

It’s been around in its current form for around a decade now, with this version having been launched in 2014. An electric model joined the range in 2022, but the fundamental van remains the same solid and practical vehicle that is good to drive.

Variants: three trim levels, two lengths, two roof heights
Engines: 2.0-litre turbodiesel (130-170hp), 120hp electric with 52kWh battery
Drivetrain: FWD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 5.8-8.9 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 1,145kg
Maximum towing capacity: 2,500kg
Price from: £29,500*

Find a Renault Trafic for sale near you

9. Toyota Proace

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The Toyota Proace has a big trick up its sleeve when it comes to reliability, in the form of its 10-year Toyota-backed warranty. This doesn’t necessarily make it less likely to break down than the very closely related Citroen Dispatch, Fiat Scudo, Peugeot Expert and the Vauxhall Vivaro, but that cover will provide a great deal more reassurance.

Variants: three trim levels, two lengths, one roof height
Engines: 1.5-litre turbodiesel (120hp), 2.0-litre turbodiesel (145-180hp), electric (136hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 5.3-6.1 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 1,375kg
Maximum towing capacity: 2,300kg
Price from: £28,940*

Find a Toyota Proace for sale near you

8. Volkswagen Crafter

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The Volkswagen Crafter is an excellent large van, but it missed out on the top 10 most reliable last year. It returns to the fold for the 2024 results, though. It has been on sale for a few years now, having been launched in 2017. It is due a facelift in 2025, but the bits underneath are all remaining unchanged, which is good news for those who appreciated the Crafter’s reliability this time around.

Variants: two trim levels, three lengths, three roof heights
Engines: 2.0-litre diesel (140hp, 163hp, 177hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, RWD, eight-speed automatic, five-speed manual
Load volume: 9.3-16.1 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 729-1,229g
Maximum towing capacity: 3,500kg
Price from: £36,945

Find a VW Crafter for sale near you

7. Ford Transit

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The Ford Transit is the biggest name in UK vans, and as a result meets a wide range of needs – some much more demanding than others. To be named in the top 10 most reliable models is a reassurance and an achievement as a result. The big van is a strong performer all round, too, with loads of versions and the Ford E-Transit is an excellent addition to the range.

2024 added a slight tweak to the offering, with an extended range version providing a bigger battery to boost the distance it can go between charges.

Variants: three trim levels, three lengths, two roof heights
Engines: 2.0-litre turbodiesel (105-165hp), electric (184-269hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, RWD and 4WD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 9.5-15.1 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 1,340kg
Maximum towing capacity: 3,500kg
Price from: £40,735*

Find a Ford Transit for sale near you

6. Vauxhall Vivaro

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The Vauxhall Vivaro has maintained its mid-top-10 performance, only dropping one place from fifth to sixth. The current model is part of a group of five vans made by the Stellantis group and outperforms all of its close siblings, although its position will be aided by historical performance of the previous version too.

The latest version has massive payload capacity and is also available as the all-electric Vivaro Electric.

Variants: two trim levels, two lengths, one roof height
Engines: 1.5-litre turbodiesel (120hp), 2.0-litre turbodiesel (145hp), electric (136hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 5.3-6.6 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 1,384kg
Maximum towing capacity: 2,500kg
Price from: £29,240*

Find a Vauxhall Vivaro for sale near you

5. Ford Transit Custom

The latest generation of Ford Transit Custom has maintained its regular spot at the top of the sales charts, but it hasn’t been a consistent performer when it comes to the reliability equivalent. It could be argued that selling more means the Transit Custom has a tougher job when it comes to reliability surveys, thanks to the wider sample pool and the many different things that customers use their vans for meaning that some will have tough lives.

This year’s fifth-place finish is higher than the van has managed in the last five years though. This performance will be down to a mixture of the new and previous model, but it is an encouraging sign nonetheless. The body is totally new for the latest model, some of the fundamentals remain the same, with the diesel engines carried over between the two versions.

Variants: six trim levels, two lengths, one roof height
Engines: 2.0-litre turbodiesel (110-170hp), plug-in hybrid (232hp), electric (136-285hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, RWD, AWD manual and automatic
Load volume: 5.8-6.8 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 1,407kg
Maximum towing capacity: 2,800kg
Price from: £32,350*

Find a used Ford Transit Custom for sale near you

4. Ford Transit Connect

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The bulk of the data about the Ford Transit Connect in this year’s survey will refer to a model that is no longer on sale. The new version only went on sale in 2024, so will account for a small percentage of those being reported on. The previous Connect was a semi-regular fixture in the top-10, though, so this performance is not a huge surprise.

The good news is that the future is bright, as the all-new model is essentially a rebadged Volkswagen Caddy, which sits one place above the Ford in this year’s list, as it was last year.

Variants: three trim levels, two lengths, one roof height (2024 model)
Engines: 1.5-litre petrol PHEV (150hp), 2.0-litre turbodiesel (102-122https://www.parkers.co.uk/vans-pickups/ford/transit-custom/2023/for-sale/hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 3.1-3.7 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 782kg
Maximum towing capacity: 1,500kg
Price from: £23,500*

Find a Ford Transit Connect for sale near you

3. Volkswagen Caddy

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The Volkswagen Caddy has long been a feature of the FN50’s list, and is the most reliable small van on sale today. The latest generation joined us in 2021 and picked up where the old model left off. The latest results have seen it move up in the rankings, taking a spot on the podium for the first time since 2021.

It is a smart-looking and well-equipped small van, although it does fall behind some of its rivals in that it doesn’t offer an electric version and there are no plans to do so. It has a lower payload than some of its competitors, too, but it has clearly impressed owners where it matters.

Variants: two trim levels, two lengths, one roof height
Engines: 2.0-litre turbodiesel (75-122hp), 1.5-litre turbo petrol (114hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, AWD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 3.1-3.7 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 725kg
Maximum towing capacity: 1,500kg
Price from: £23,920*

Find a VW Caddy for sale near you

2. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

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The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a fixture at the top of this list, but 2024 is a momentous year as it is the first year in 10 that it hasn’t taken the top spot. Second is still a great achievement, especially as this is over two generations of Sprinter and with a plenty of sales over that decade.

However, Mercedes might be a bit disappointed by the drop even so. Volkswagen is going to have to work very hard to hold onto its newly won top spot in next year’s results.

Variants: three trim levels, four lengths, three roof heights
Engines: 2.0-litre turbodiesel (150-190hp), electric (136-204hp)
Drivetrain: RWD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 9.0-15.5 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 1,200kg (at 3.5 tonnes)
Maximum towing capacity: 3,500kg
Price from: £48,460*

Find a Mercedes Sprinter for sale near you

1. Volkswagen Transporter

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The Volkswagen Transporter taking top spot away from the Sprinter is a huge deal, and well worth celebrating, but it is not a drastic rise to the top from nowhere – it finished second five years out of the previous six.

This performance is all down to the T6 and T6.1 model, but that will change from he start of 2025, when the new model is launched. This version is essentially a Ford Transit Custom with a VW twist on it. It will be interesting to see if this has an impact on the model’s performance.

Variants: two trim levels, two lengths, one roof height
Engines: 2.0-litre turbodiesel (90-204hp)
Drivetrain: FWD, AWD, manual and automatic
Load volume: 5.8-6.7 cubic metres
Maximum payload: 1,279kg
Maximum towing capacity: 2,500kg
Price from: £28,020*

Find a VW Transporter for sale near you

*All prices not including VAT and correct as of November 2024.

And what is the most reliable brand overall?

There has been consistent change at the top of the charts in recent years, with Volkswagen taking finishing number one in the latest list. Last year’s winner Ford drops to second and Mercedes rounds out the top three. This reflects the model list, with Ford and VW both having two models in the top five and Mercedes just the one with the Vito not even making the top 15 this time around.

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Ford’s recent efforts around its Ford Pro offering has borne out in the list of the best van dealerships, too, with the brand taking top spot once again.

What’s the Parkers verdict?

While it is fascinating to see a new name at the top of the list of the most reliable vans, the usual suspects are all there or thereabouts, which is good news and vindication for the likes of Mercedes. It will be fascinating to see if the Ford-based VW will perform as well in the coming years when the new Transporter is launched.

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Best vans for reliability over time

For further reassurance and comparison, these are the top 10 most reliable vans going right back to 2014.

Most reliable van manufacturers

Ford has taken top spot in the brands list for the first time since 2016, breaking the Mercedes/VW hold on the title. The pair have to be satisfied with spots two and three on the podium instead.

Citroen has fallen from fourth to ninth in the list, while Peugeot has had a rise from eight to five.

Best van dealers

The fleets that complete the FN50 survey are also asked to rank dealers for performance, and here we have results for the last 10 years (the data stops at 2015 for this one). Ford has consolidated its win last year, holding onto its top spot.

There is some shuffling in the top 10, with the most notable change being Maxus entering the list for the first time