The Volkswagen Crafter has taken the highest accolade in the van category of the 2019 Parkers New Car Awards.
The large van took the title for the second successive year, having also picked up the award in the Awards’ first year in 2018, but it faced even stiffer competition this time around.
The launch of the new Mercedes Sprinter in the last 12 months meant that the Crafter faced a strong challenge from its German rival. A heavily revised Ford Transit Custom, Britain’s biggest selling van, is no mean competitor either.
Why the Crafter won
The Crafter’s depth of talent saw it win through, though. It offers an excellent blend of talents, making it a brilliant all-rounder. Not only is it wonderfully easy to drive, with a fantastic cabin area that is really well thought out, but it is also really practical.
Its sheer size, versatility, and everyday usability make it an excellent proposition that will fit the needs of customers with aplomb, while it has a range of advanced safety features, with crosswind assist, autonomous emergency braking and post-collision braking all included as standard.
The Sprinter made it into second place, also boasting a brilliant level of new safety equipment and technology, much of which will be familiar to those who have spent any time with the brand’s premium passenger cars. It also won praise for its comfort and long-distance driving ability.
The Transit Custom was also named a runner up, with the nation’s biggest selling van benefiting from a wide range of recent updates. These have only made a popular van even better, with arguably the best all-round medium van offering a significantly upgraded cabin with modern looks and features.
Parkers New Car Awards 2019 – Best Van
Parkers New Car Awards 2019 – Best Van Runners-Up
Mitsubishi L200 named best pickup
The pickup category of the Parkers New Car Awards was another hotly fought one, with many worthy contenders battling it out to take the top prize.
In the end, the title went to a worthy all-rounder in the form of the Mitsubishi L200.
The market has been taken upwards in the luxury stakes with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class and the Volkswagen Amarok offering buyers a touch of the premium, but the L200’s ability and value make it the overall winner.
The Mitsubishi’s capability and value for money is complemented by a generous level of equipment across the range. It’s capable on and off road, and a recent update means that it is now able to tow up to 3.5-tonnes, giving it a notable practicality boost.
Two of the most premium models in the class, the Mercedes X-Class and the Volkswagen Amarok, took the runners’ up spots in the pickup category. The newly launched X-Class made a bit of a stir when it arrived on the market, as it was the first truck from a premium manufacturer, and came with the levels of luxury you would expect as a result.
The Amarok isn’t far behind on the luxury stakes, and the powerful V6 diesel engine makes it a really compelling choice.
Parkers New Car Awards 2019 – Best Pickup
Parkers New Car Awards 2019 – Best Pickup, Runners-Up
More on the Parkers New Car Awards 2019
Find out what took the top awards in all of the categories in the 2019 edition of the Parkers New Car Awards by clicking on the picture below:
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