At Used Van Finance Deals, we don’t just pride ourselves on our unmatched financing services and knowledge of the fiscal issues and tips surrounding used vans. We make it our business to have a much deeper understanding of the market and the vehicles themselves, allowing us to offer used van finance deals in the UK you will struggle to find elsewhere. In this article, we would like to share our thoughts and findings regarding the most economical vans available in the UK and the factors affecting them.
How are MPG and other engine-efficiency calculations made?
The World Harmonised Lightweight Vehicles Test (WLTP) is now the UK standard in testing and reporting engine performances, miles per gallon (mpg) etc.
The test measures a vehicle’s individual CO₂ value under realistic conditions of varying speeds with incidences of acceleration, braking, and other typical actions of a vehicle driven on normal roads.
What specific factors affect a used van’s fuel economy?
A wide range of factors affect how fuel-efficient any vehicle is, to the point where it can be very difficult to make accurate comparisons. The most economical vans tend to be the lightest, requiring less horsepower to move, thereby reducing engine size and fuel consumption. However, the story does not end there, as less weight and pulling power reduce the versatility of the vehicle as a working unit. If smaller engines are forced to strain under full exertion to move a specific weight, the advantages over a larger engine, able to move it easily with much less exertion, are reduced. However, this does not outweigh the energy-saving advantages, and you will note from the list below that the best-performing vehicles are the ones with smaller engine capacities. Some other factors affecting fuel economy include:
- Driving style
Aggressive driving will usually involve higher revs and more violent bouts of acceleration/deceleration. This all puts a strain on an engine and significantly reduces its efficiency. Modern passenger vehicles often have dashboard displays showing when the driving is being executed smoothly and economically. This applies equally to the fuel economy of used vans, where consistent, non-aggressive driving reduces fuel consumption. It is one reason why so many companies now monitor these figures, insisting employees adjust their driving styles to improve fuel economy and save money.
- Weight
An obvious factor, but a very real one nonetheless: the more of its own weight a van has to drag around, the less fuel-efficient it is likely to be. Any additional weight, such as additional passengers or the payload itself, all have to be moved by that same engine, forcing it to work harder and expend more fuel.
Facts and figures
The days of people demanding huge, wildly inefficient engines are, hopefully, drawing to an end, and it is a much better look for manufacturers to create low-emission, fuel-efficient engines. Any figures we quote are based on the manufacturer’s numbers, according to their in-house testing procedures. In the modern era, they must purport to create the most economical vans on the market, in terms of government regulations, potential financial penalties, and general public relations.
Although bound by the WLTP regulations, the testing conditions they use are designed to maximise the consumption-to-output ratio in any given circumstance, allowing them to report impressive numbers. Drivers will find it almost impossible to replicate those conditions and results when driving the vehicles daily.
Nevertheless, these figures act as a rough guide and can be used along with anecdotal evidence to draw reasonable conclusions. According to our research and first-hand experience, the following 15 vehicles are the most economical vans on the market:
The most economical vans
- Citroen Berlingo: 1.6L – BlueHDi – 100 S&S M Enterprise/Driver = 67.3 mpg
- Peugeot Partner: 1.6L – BlueHDi – 75 Standard S/Professional = 67.2 mpg
Out ahead of the pack, it is hard to find any real difference between the Berlingo and the Partner. Built around the exact same chassis, they both represent a superb, practical, and versatile used van provided the smaller size is suited to your payload purposes. - Renault Kangoo: 1.5L – ML19 Energy dCi 75 = 65.7 mpg
- Mercedes Citan 1.5L – 109 CDI Long = 65.7 mpg
- Fiat Doblo Cargo: 1.6L – MultiJet II 105/120 E6 DPF with S&S = 62.8 mpg
Here we have seen the top 5 vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency that are fairly similar in their numbers, all averaging between 62-68 mpg. From this point onwards, that is no longer true and the following vehicles are significantly less efficient, although still comparable with many modern passenger vehicles. - Toyota Proace: 1.6L – 115hp Turbodiesel = 54.3 mpg
- Ford Transit Custom: 2.0L – TDCi Ford EcoBlue/105 PS ECOnetic = 49.6 mpg
- Renault Trafic: 1.6L – Energy dCi 125 = 47.9 mpg
- Fiat Ducato: 2.0L – MultiJet 115bhp = 47.9 mpg
- Citroen Relay 30: 2.0L – BlueHDi 110 L1H1 = 47.1 mpg
- Peugeot Boxer 330: 2.0L – BlueHDi 110 L1H1 = 47.1 mpg
- Ford Transit: 2.0L – TDCi Ford EcoBlue 105 PS = 42.2 mpg
- Nissan NP300 Navara: 2.3L – dCi Single Turbo 2WD King Cab = 46.3 mpg
- Isuzu D-Max: 1.9L – Utility 4×2 RWD Single Cab = 45.6 mpg
- Ford Ranger: 2.2L – Duratorq TDCi 160PS 4×4 = 43.5 mpg
Contact us
If you would like to speak with one of our van finance experts and discuss the most economical vans we provide financing for or any other aspect of our services, please get in touch today. We will gladly provide you with an obligation-free quotation and help get you smoothly on the road to owning a quality used van in no time, at prices we think you will find very enticing.
