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Small vans
Page 42
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It's a sign of the times that when a new van arrives at the CM headquarters for testing we look forward to driving it. Not just to gauge its commercial credentials you understand, but also for its driving dynamics and general aesthetic appeal.
Like modern passenger cars, most vans are now foolproof in their design and driving experience — only the really poor or outstanding examples are going to grab A the headlines.
In the past year we've driven some of the best vehicles the light commercial category has to offer and it's clear that manufacturers are listening to their consumers. Of course it's not all perfect: build quality will always be an issue with some companies and includ ing a radio-cassette instead of a CD player is a definite no-no.
If manufacturers really want to stand out then one way to curry favour is to produce an attractive cabin.This needn't feature expensive swathes of wood and leather; a tasteful choice of colours and logical control layout will do nicely. White van man has feelings too, you know.
On the plus side.modern common-rail diesels have come on leaps and bounds.They now provide enough power compared with the petrol equivalent with obvious benefits in the fuel-economy stakes.And fillings are now left in teeth thanks to their improved running manners. A Vauxhall Combo: Best seller One of the most recent arrivals on the light van market is the Ford Transit Connect. The company had lost a lot of ground to the Vauxhall Combo in recent years and needed to produce something special.With the purpose-built Connect it has set the benchmark in the class with an exceptionally solid, well-thought-out vehicle that drives like a well-sorted hatchback.
Commercial success has not yet been forth coming, but for us it definitely hits the mark.The long-wheelbase version inherits all the qualities of the smaller model and avoids the need to upgrade to a larger vehicle. On the downside, all versions tip the scales at over 2.0(X)kg GVW, reducing their maximum legal speed on certain roads and theoretically hitting fuel economy, though not to a noticeable degree.
Speaking of the Combo, the latest 2000 version with its increased payload still cuts the mustard with good road manners. an attractive interior and excellent fuel consumption. Its a viable alternative to the Connect and was the country's best selling light commercial last year.
Another van that stands out in the highcube class is the revised Citroen Berlingo.We tested the 2.0HDI and electric variants and were impressed by its practical design. wellthought-out load area and flexible engine (in HD1 form). It's not as complete as the offerings from Ford and •••"Vauxhall but remains a strong contender which has gained something of a cult following, keeping the big two (Ford and Vauxhall) on their toes.
The electric version is ideal for urban deliveries, and if you take the plunge you'll be saving cash and the environment.
Down in the car-derived sector a couple of new entrants have created a niche for themselves. Rover has been re-branding itself at a prodigious rate recently, giving its passenger vehicles a sporty edge, and it's really gone left-field with its Commerce van, based on the established 25 hatchback.Not a real load-lugger. this stylish mini-van comes with sporty handling. And if you need to get there in warp drive time the MG version has a real kick to it.
Citroen has taken a different approach, removing the rear seats from its Xsara estate car and flattening the load area to produce a vehicle with all the attributes of an estate car such as decent driving environment and road manners, coupled with a reasonable load area.The passenger doors make access easy and your other half won't mind it being parked on the driveway.
With all these new high-cube vans and niche derivatives about it's good to know that one contender from the old school still survives in the form of the Astravan. Dating back to the early '80s. the estate-derived Astra still cuts a dash in a diverse market. A modern, powerful 2.0-litre common-rail diesel and inviting interior (especially in Sportive guise) are combined with an understated exterior.The unimpressive payload can be traced directly to its car roots but it still serves a purpose and, like the other vans we mentioned. is a standout in what was a solid year for the small van sector. •