Road Tests
Feeling Blue? VOLKSWAGEN CADDY BLUEMOTION - 03/08/2010Volkswagen’s Caddy van has proven a big hit in the UK, with both large fleets and retail customers taking on VW’s smallest commercial. Whether you opt for the short wheelbase low roof, or the long wheelbase high roof, Caddy provides a solidly-built van with enough Golf-inspired interior and positive road-holding traits to please most drivers.
Threesy does it: RENAULT KANGOO MAXI - 03/08/2010
There are quite a few high cube compact vans that come In two sizes these days, Ford’s Connect and VW’s Caddy to name just two. There aren’t that many that come in a choice of three capacities though, indeed it’s probably a niche that Renault can call its own, with the combination of Kangoo, Kangoo Compact and now the Kangoo Maxi.
ROAD TEST RENAULT MASTER Renault’s Master stroke - 05/07/2010
After all the hype earlier in the year, it was good to finally get behind the wheel of Renault’s new Master a couple of months ago. First impressions, formed during driving of both front and rear drive vans in the south of France, were very positive.
MITSUBISHI BARBARIAN Top pick - 05/07/2010
You have to hand it to Mitsubishi, the company certainly knows how to keep its customers coming back for more. At least that seems to be the case with the L200 pick-up range, which gains yet another variant this year, along with a midlife nip and tuck to keep it looking fresh.
CITROEN RELAY ENTERPRISE AND DISPATCH ENTERPRISE Spec Savers - 29/06/2010
Citroen has refreshed both its Relay and Dispatch ranges with new versions of the Enterprise editions of both vans. The two commercials are each available in two different models, covering the most popular weight and cubic capacity sectors
VOLKSWAGEN TRANSPORTER - Transporter of delight... at a price - 29/06/2010
Volkswagen’s Transporter has long been a favourite here at Van User. It’s combination of good looks, smooth, easy driving, and boxy load carrying ability make it a practical option for owner drivers and larger fleets.
Latest Cargo carries it off: FIAT DOBLO CARGO - 17/05/2010
At last, we’ve got our hands on the new Doblo Cargo with the chance to try it on UK roads. For a number of reasons we missed the initial launch of Fiat Professional’s latest addition, and colleagues have been telling me ever since how good the van is. Now finally, we can give a Van User opinio
Get a grip: PEUGEOT PARTNER - 17/05/2010
When Peugeot announced the option of a Grip Control system for the Partner van earlier this year, it seemed that the company was finally responding to sister company Citroen’s XTR+ enhanced traction version of the Berlingo.
LONG TERM ROAD TEST FORD FIESTA VAN - 10/03/2010
Boxing clever With the ever expanding crop of compact high cube vans that have arrived of late, you might be forgiven for thinking that there is no longer a place for the true car-derived commercial. Vans like the Nemo, Bipper, Fiorino and Kangoo Compact offer customers a boxy loadspace, with good carrying capacity and frugal running costs, all in a modern LCV package.
LONG TERM ROAD TEST: TOYOTA HILUX An automatic choice - 08/02/2010
Sometimes it’s a question of careful timing, other times its just luck. But having a four wheel drive truck on the drive for three months, during the worst winter in many years, falls squarely into the total fluke category. The fact that the truck was the latest Toyota Hilux Invincible, complete with 3.0 litre engine and automatic transmission, just made the good fortune even sweeter.
ROAT TEST: NISSAN NV 200 Small van, big space - 08/02/2010
Compact mid-weights are becoming an increasingly popular sector of the UK van market. With long wheelbase versions of Ford’s Connect, VW’s Caddy and the PSA Berlingo and Partner, there is certainly plenty of choice, not to mention the new Doblo Cargo seen elsewhere in this issue. Now with the arrival of Nissan’s NV200, that buying decision just got a little bit harder.
Facing the Daily grind: Iveco Daily 4x4 - 07/01/2010
There are plenty of light commercial users who need to be able to cross the odd bit of rough terrain. From farmers to construction companies, utilities to local councils, having the ability to move personnel and materials to remote locations is an essential requirement.
Road Test: Citroen Berlingo XTR+ - 07/01/2010
Just last month we reported on the arrival of the second generation Citroen Berlingo XTR+, with a first drive on a muddy off-road course in Berkshire. This month we’ve managed to get our hands on one of the first XTR+ models on the roads, to see if there is more to this compact Citroen than a sophisticated limited slip differential.
Feeling Blue... Vanuser gets behind the wheel of the VW Crafter BlueTDI to see how the new Euro V engines perform. - 11/11/2009
Euro V emissions legislation is just around the corner for heavier vans, and manufacturers have started introducing their latest engines to meet this regulation. The good news for customers, is that while there will no doubt be a rise in purchase costs to cope with the new technology, Euro V engines seem to be offering improved fuel consumption along with the exhaust gas reduction.
New look Connect - 20/10/2009
Ford’s Transit Connect has been one of our favourite high cube middleweights since it was launched. Though not the most powerful van on the market, the combination of entertaining handling, sturdy build and reasonable specification levels have made Connect a popular van with larger fleets and retail customers.
Kangoo with a bit more oomph - 20/10/2009
Renault’s second generation Kangoo has become a more familiar sight on our streets since we first tried it towards the end of last year. Our first test of the van involved the mid-range 85hp version of Renault’s 1.5dCi engine. This time however we’ve gone to the top of the range, and got our hands on the 105hp motor.
VW T5 TRANSPORTER - Making an appearance - 10/09/2009
There is little doubt that Volkswagen’s T5 Transporter has been a big hit with customers across Europe. The firm’s announcement last month that it had built the one millionth T5 is evidence enough of that.
Supertrucks branches out with its latest conversion - 10/09/2009
Supertrucks, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of glass carrying van and truck conversions, is branching out into the dry freight market.
MITSUBISHI L200 - Long Bed fits the bill - 10/09/2009
Does 180mm of extra load bed length make any difference? Certainly in appearance you do notice that the back end of the new Long Bed Mitsubishi L200 looks slightly extended, but can you really make good use of that extra capacity?
Top of the pick-up pile - 17/08/2009
Toyota’s 3.0 litre Hilux Invincible v Mazda’s 3.0 litre BT-50 Intrepid... You might think that these two double cab 4x4 pick-ups would be pretty similar to drive. They are both powered by top-of-the-range 3.0 litre engines, and they drive through automatic transmissions. So you could be forgiven for assuming that there would be little more than cosmetic difference between the two.
Worth a closer look - 17/08/2009
It’s been a big month for testing commercials with up to five seats here at Van User. The two double cab pick-ups seen elsewhere in the issue need little explanation, but Volkswagen’s Caddy Maxi window van is worth a closer look.
Wagon rolls on - 09/07/2009
For many people, no matter what arguments you come up with, there will never be a vehicle to replace their trusty Land Rover Defender. Whether it is ultimate off-road capability, or that 3.5 tonne towing capacity, the Defender continues to have a place in the hearts and fleets, of farmers, construction firms, utility contractors, forestry workers and exhibition unit hire companies.
The ultimate Transit - 09/07/2009
LONG TERM ROAD TEST: Ford Transit SportVan An air of gloom has descended on the Van User office, now that the Transit SportVan has had to be returned to Ford. The black and silver van made a good initial impression on arrival and got better during its time with us. I was sad to see it go.
One giant leap - 09/07/2009
It’s not hard to see why the Fiat Scudo, and its PSA cousins, walked away with the International Van of the Year title last year.
Remember me? Vauxhall Combi gets a make over - 10/06/2009
There have been so many new and upgraded vans over the last couple of years that it can be all too easy to forget very capable vehicles that are already on sale. This is certainly true in the high cube market, where new Kangoos, Caddys, Partners and Berlingos focus the mind on the latest equipment.
A touch of flair - 20/05/2009
With Citroen’s Nemo van now establishing its place in the the company continues to make the C2 Enterprise. After all, the arrival of the Kangoo Compact has seen Renault drop the Clio van from its UK line-up.
An Urban delight - 21/05/2009
Dan Gilkes road tests the Renault kangoo
A little something extra - 09/09/2008
We’ve already driven Citroen’s Berlingo, both in France and in the UK, and last month we featured its sister van, Peugeot’s Partner in a UK road test. That said, though there is barely more than badging to choose between the two, the Berlingo that arrived at our offices recently could not have been more different to the Partner from last month.
SSANGYONG KYRON - 09/09/2008
The 4x4 van market may be quite a small sector of the UK commercial vehicle business, but this month we’ve managed to get our hands on two new contenders. Elsewhere in this issue you can see how Land Rover’s latest Freelander 2 measures up as a van.
MERCEDES VITO - 09/09/2008
The trend towards double cab in van designs, where there is a second row of seats and windows behind the driver within a standard panel van body, seems to be growing. As does the number of sporty derivatives on the market.
