Thinking of upgrading or enlarging your business fleet? We've researched which vehicle options are making waves with UK businesses, from vans and light commercial vehicles to company cars.
Light commercial vehicles make a significant contribution to many businesses of all sizes and to the overall UK economy by keeping products and services mobile and servicing the customer when and where they need it. These vary from sole trader ‘one man bands’ through to larger concerns which operate whole fleets of vans as part of their day-to-day businesses.
It is not straightforward to find a definitive answer to what is the UK’s favourite commercial vehicle, as this will very much depend upon which website you visit or which survey results list you believe most. However, many of these lists do reveal a pattern of the most popular vehicles.
Starting with vans, the Ford Transit is synonymous with the light commercial sector in the UK and has been a popular choice since the range was first launched back in the 1960s. The term ‘Transit van’ virtually enjoys a generic product status in the same way as Hoovers have in the vacuum cleaner market. It is used to describe a particular type of vehicle that might not necessarily be a Ford or a Transit.
The smaller version of the vehicle, the Transit Custom, inevitably features strongly having been the top seller in its class in 2018. Including all the best equipment Ford has to offer, this small, compact van has proved its worth with many companies.
Ford’s varied range continues to impress with the Transit Connect, enjoying the same design and technical specification as the Transit Custom, the Connect is a small van that is quickly making its mark. For those wanting a pick-up style vehicle, the Ford Ranger comes in a number of different versions and it has much to offer.
The Mercedes Sprinter comes in five different models and enjoys a strong reputation with commercial van drivers and operators. Boasting all the best in German design and technology, it has established a real ‘niche’ for itself with UK drivers and operators.
In the same vein as the Transit Custom, the Vauxhall Vivaro also combines compact design with a spacious interior with some interesting and desirable technology, including a rear view camera system.
Other vehicles that feature highly in the popularity stakes are the Volkswagen Transporter, Peugoet Boxer, Renault Trafic and Mercedes Vito.
Next looking at company cars, again defining the most popular model is not easy, but some of the leading choices are the Toyota Corolla hatchback, BMW 5 Series, Jaguar I-PACE SUV, Peugeot 3008 SUV, Hyundai Kona Electric, Volvo XC60 T8, Land Rover Discovery SUV, Volkswagen Golf hatchback, BMW 3 Series saloon and the Lexus IS saloon
It is reported that approximately 50% of new cars registered in the UK are for company car fleet use. Traditionally for many years, the fuel of choice was diesel, as it was believed to be the most economic option. But in recent years the fuel has fallen out of favour and now incurs an additional 4% Benefit in Kind (BiK) charge when compared to petrol.
The UK market enjoys a wide range of excellent commercial vans and company cars with plenty of choice to suit all business requirements and budgets. When looking for a new vehicle, it is probably a good idea to look around take plenty of test drives to make sure you find the one that best suits your needs and those of your teams and drivers.
