CAR DERIVED VANS
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sers of CDVs, whether small tradesmen or delivery drivers, are demanding ever-increasing levels of comfort and equipment. It's no surprise that this sector has become immensely competitive.
The Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa belong to the smallest class of commercial vehicles, the "hatchvan" sector, in which comfort and image are arguably as important as the traditional concerns of payload and load. Each is based on a highly successful hatchback car, with no external modifications beyond blanked-out rear side windows. Internal changes are confined to the lemoval of the rear seat and the fitting of a bulkhead. Mind you, Renault didn't try too hard with its bulkhead, which consists of a six-inch-high lip. The loadspace is carpeted, too: the Clio is hardly aimed at the greasemonkey end of the market.
The Renault might be a bit of a lightweight in the load department— payload is typical for the class at just 365kg—but it has plenty of muscle. A 1.9litre, 65hp (471(W) diesel makes it one of the most flexible vans around, able to carry on the noble French tradition of producing the fastest vans on the autoroute. It's comfortable, attractive, and handles superbly, with exceptional steering.
Best of all, the Clio is cheap—or rather, it's inexpensive: build quality doesn't betray the fact that the Renault costs substantially less than most of its rivals. The diesel model is listed at £6.300 (ex-VAT), a worthwhile £200 more than the 1.2-litre petrol model.
Another van that offers plenty of metal for your money is the latest Fiat Fiorino. The Brazilian-built high-cube mates the Uno's front end with a colossal load compartment: at 3.2nf it is the largest in its class by almost 20%, yet it is just about the cheapest. Build quality is fine, the payload is a respectable 545kg, and load access is good—our test vehicle had the optional hinged load flap above the twin rear doors.
Another plus is Fiat's new warranty, offering two or three years' cover according to mileage.
The Fiorino's 1.7-litre diesel complies with new emissions legislation, but offers nothing special in the way of refinement or performance, and the driving compartment is pretty basic; vehicles such as the Nissan Sunny and Vauxhall Combo have raised standards in the class.
Vauxhall's other baby is the Corsavan, another straightforward hatchback conversion. It's much dearer than the Clio— our 1.7-litre diesel came in LS (rather than Merit) trim, and sells for £7,550 (ex-VAT). But its features help to justify the cost: deadlocks all round, a driver's-side airbag and a substantial bulkhead are all standard.
Central locking, a fair payload (400kg) and a purposeful loadspace boost the Corsa's commercial credibility, and Vauxhall is keen to supply racking kits for specialist uses. Economy is good, too: users should average around 50mpg.
All productivity and no comfort would make Corsa a dull van indeed, so the excellent Corsa/Combo cab, as well designed as any, is more than welcome. It has masses of oddments space—though, as with most small vans, tall drivers may wish for somewhere to stow their knees.
Each of these vans has plenty to , offer, and it's not easy to name a winner. The Fiat has an impressive load space and price but it offers little that is new The others are more difficult to separate: each is comfortable and well-made. The Clio is more fun than any van has a right to be, with a terrific engine and exceptional handling—and it is excellent value for money. The Vauxhall Corsa costs a lot more, but leads the class in many ways. It has welcome safety and security features, good fuel economy and a good payload: residual value should hold up, and drivers will like the cabin. In short, it's a worthy Testers' Choice.