With continually rising fuel costs and greater levies being placed on polluting vehicles, more companies are starting to consider the impact on the environment when looking for transportation. This has led to commercial vehicle manufacturers continually looking at ways to improving their vehicles fuel efficiency whilst reducing the emissions in the process. The battle for most fuel efficient van changes with each van update and currently the most fuel efficient small van is the Ford Fiesta Van Econetic 1.6 TDCi.
| Top 5 Most economical small vans | |||||||
| Load Height | Load Length | Gross Vehicle Weight | Payload KG | Load capacity | CO2 | MPG | |
| Ford Fiesta Van | 806 | 1296 | 1550 | 492 – 513 | 1m3 | 95 | 85.6 |
| Fiat Punto Van | 935 | 1200 | 1690 | 520 | 1m3 | 90 | 80.7 |
| Vauxhall Corsa Van | 924 | 1257 | 1740 | 550 | 0.92m3 | 95 | 78.3 |
| Peugeot Bipper SE | 1181 | 1523 | 1750 | 660 | 2.5m3 | 109 | 68.9 |
| Fiat Fiorino Cargo | 1205 | 1523 | 1700 | 610 | 2.5m3 | 113 | 67.3 |
Ford Fiesta Van Econetic 1.6 TDCi
The Fiesta van makes use of start stop technology** to make its engine more fuel efficient its design is based on the fiesta car with a well laid out cockpit that is available in a choice of 2 trims (including a sports design) and 9 different colours. Like the fiesta car it’s a pleasure to drive with a powerful 1.6L engine that’s available with or without a diesel particulate filter that burns of particles or converts them into CO2 or water. Just like other models with the Ford badge it offers a high quality build that is expected to retain 34 – 38% of its initial value after 3 years.
Fiat Punto Van 1.3 Multijet 85 S/S
The Fiat Punto Van is a great compact lightweight van that’s cheap to run and look stylish and is based on the Punto car body with the back seats removed and the rear windows replaced with panels. It’s available with just one engine size but a choice of three power outputs 75, 85 and 95bhp, of which the two more powerful versions come with start stop technology like the Fiesta. The resale value for older model Punto vans isn’t as good as the Fiesta, but then again you can expect to pay around £1000 less.
Vauxhall Corsa Van 1.3 95 Ecoflex
The Vauxhall Corsa van is What Van 2012 small van of the year. It’s a powerful little diesel that again makes use of start/stop technology and has aerodynamic wheel covers which improves air flow and inevitably fuel efficiency. To improve the vans fuel efficiency a step further Vauxhall have introduced optimised gear ration to enable the van to cruise at the optimal speed, with a “shift up” indicator featured on the dashboard advising drivers when to change gear. The Corsa is a comfortable van to drive with plenty of leg room for such a small van and comes with a load of safety features as standard. It’s available in a choice of 3 engines, 1.4 Cdti – 70hp, 1.6 Cdti – 95hp and a 1.25L Petrol 82hp van.
Peugeot Bipper SE HDi 75 S/S EGC
The Peugeot Bipper offers a larger load capacity than the first 3 vans it’s also less like a car than the first 3 options and has a very basic interior which reflects in the vans cost. It comes in a choice of two engines 1.4L Diesel 68bhp and a 1.4L petrol 73bhp engine which isn’t as economical as the diesel managing just 40 mpg. Like the interior the standard safety kit that comes with the van is basic consisting of just driver’s airbag and ABS although there are plenty of extras available for higher spec models.
Fiat Fiorino Cargo 1.3 Mjet C’matic
Fiat Fiorino looks just the same as the Citroen Nemo and the Peugeot Bipper as it was developed by a joint venture between the three companies. Each model will have its own refinements and in the case of the Fiorino the cab interior offers a much higher finish than the Bipper as it’s based on the Panda and Grand Punto car models. There are also plenty of adjustments for both the seat and steering wheel to make the driver as comfortable as possible, which is especially important for long journeys and something that’s lacking in the basic Bipper model. Both the Bipper and the Fiorino have a 2.5m3 storage capacity which can be increased to 2.8m3 by folding down the passenger seat. The van comes with a choice of 2 engines a 1.4L Petrol engine (capable of managing 41mpg) and the more popular 1.3 Multijet diesel with 75bhp. As regards safety the van comes with a full height steel ladder bulkhead that protects just the driver’s side, ABS, EBD and dual stage driver’s airbags as standard.
When looking for a small van the model you choose will very much depend on the load being carried versus budget. Choosing a more economical van can save a considerable amount in fuel costs over the course of the vans lease/use especially if you are running a fleet of vans. Where as smaller vans based on car bodies may be ideal for businesses who just want the convenience of a van for carrying limited loads, others may require a van that’s able to carry a substantially bigger or heavier load. What every your requirement At Quadrant Vans we have years of experience and can advise a range of vans to suit your budget and requirements so give us a call on TEL: 0845 838 1144 and let us find the most economical van for your needs.
** What is start stop technology?
Start stop technology automatically shuts down the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop to reduce idling. When force is applied to either the accelerator or clutch pedal the vehicle automatically restarts within milliseconds. The technology is thought to make engines up to 15% more fuel efficient and completely cuts out the C02 emissions produced at traffic lights or traffic jams. Although starting and stopping the engine was once thought to place unnecessary wear and tear on the engine this is no longer the case with start stop enabled engines. They have a much more powerful/longer lasting starter motor and are also fitted with a heavy duty extremely powerful dense battery that is capable of withstanding multiple start stop events.
Danger of overloading a van