Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

Talento

Of all the things to name a van after, an ancient coin would not normally be a front runner – but then again, the Fiat Talento is not a typical van.

Launched in 2016, the Talento is a rebadged version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/trafic/van/review/n18803">Renault Trafic</a>, which, despite being launched two years earlier, is still one of the best mid-sized vans in the segment.

Everything except the grille and badges are shared parts with the Renault, which means that when the Trafic gets an update, so too does the Talento. New for the 2020 model year, the medium-sized Fiat van gets a new engine and revamped interior to ensure that it stays up to date when compared with key rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/dispatch/van/review/n18249">Citroën Dispatch</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a>.

The previous 1.6-litre engine, which was available with either single or twin turbochargers, has now been replaced by a 2.0-litre engine producing up to 167bhp.

The larger engine now has only a single variable-geometry turbocharger&nbsp;and, as a result, produces roughly the same power and torque; there are 117bhp, 143bhp and 167bhp options, producing 236lb ft, 258lb ft and 280lb ft respectively. It is also up to 2% more efficient, according to Renault.

Renault and Fiat also differentiate their offerings by selling them with different equipment options, chief of which is that the Talento is not sold with the option of an automatic gearbox, instead coming only with a six-speed manual.&nbsp;

Buyers can choose from low and high-roof vans, plus crew cab and platform cab versions. There are also two body lengths and two different wheelbases, enabling up to 8.6m3 of load capacity.

As well as a base model called Standard, there are also SX and Tecnico trims. The Sportivo option gives customers a three-tiered choice of what options and accessories they want on their van.

The Talento is no longer available from new, but this review will give you a good idea of what it's like as a used buy. If you're not sure which medium&nbsp;van&nbsp;to buy, then our run-down of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans/n20726">best medium vans</a>&nbsp;is well worth reading.

Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

Renault-based van offers great value for money and impressive support from the dealer network

Fiat Talento van

Medium Van

A new version of the UK’s best-selling vehicle is a big deal – and when the new model is the Ford Transit Custom it’s arguably even more important.

The Transit Custom has been one of the best-selling vans since its launch, and is part of more than half a century of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a> dominance at the top of the commercial vehicle bestsellers list.

Ford has built this latest-generation Custom on new underpinnings that are lighter than before, with a longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and back wheels), to make more space for batteries in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-electric-vans/n21136">electric van</a> version – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2023-ford-e-transit-custom-electric-van-revealed-price-specs-and-release-date/n24525">Ford E-Transit Custom</a>. The revised front end is said to be 13% more aerodynamic than the previous version's, to aid efficiency.

The range includes a panel van in two lengths (L1 and L2), a double cab-in-van version and a new derivative called MultiCab that allows you to transport up to five people but still move larger items in a self-contained loadspace.

So&nbsp;does the new Ford Transit Custom remain top dog in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans/n20726">medium van class</a>, beating rivals including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Mercedes Vito</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/trafic/van/review/n18803">Renault Trafic</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro/van/review/n18281">Vauxhall Vivaro</a>? Read on to find out...

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/van-awards">Read more: The best vans in every class</a>

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

TRANSIT CUSTOM

The latest Transit Custom&nbsp;is great to drive and includes some welcome innovations

Ford Transit Custom

If you’ve been to London at any point over the last two years, the face of the LEVC VN5 electric van will probably be familiar to you. That’s because it’s based on the TX electric taxi, and shares that machine’s front-end design. Rather than transporting commuters and tourists around city streets, though, the VN5 is designed to haul cargo instead – and all using electric power.

Just like rivals that include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kangoo/van/review/n20116">Renault Kangoo E-Tech</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/berlingo-cv/van/review/n20217">Citroen Berlingo Electric</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/townstar/van/review/n26092">Nissan Townstar EV</a>, the VN5 runs on electric power all of the time. Unlike those vans, though,the VN5 also has an ace up its sleeve for when its battery runs out of juice. That ace is a small, 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that can act as a generator for the battery. That engine never directly powers the car’s wheels, so the VN5 is, in fact, a range-extender van, making it a unique proposition for city-based drivers.&nbsp;

Indeed, LEVC envisions the VN5 as being perfect for companies that are located close to major cities where clean air zones could make delivering to urban centres using a non-electric van prohibitively expensive.&nbsp;

And don’t go thinking that practicality has been overlooked, either; the VN5 can do most of what rival electric models can do, such as take two Euro pallets in its cargo bay. You can even load it from the side, thanks to its sliding door.

In this review we'll see if the VN5 has what it takes to be considered among the best electric vans on the market.

Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

LEVC

An electric van with the flexibility of a&nbsp;range extender engine.

LEVC VN5 van

You have to feel for the Mercedes Vito. Here it is, working away to earn itself buyers in the face of strong competition in the medium van sector, while at the same time it's slightly overshadowed by a&nbsp;larger Mercedes stablemate.

Indeed, the Vito arguably has a tougher job than the bigger&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sprinter/van/review/n18217">Mercedes Sprinter</a> – which tends to get all the glory – because it&nbsp;goes&nbsp;up against&nbsp;big-selling rivals. They include heavyweights including&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">VW Transporter</a>.

The Vito has a&nbsp;reputation for being expensive to buy and run, and its&nbsp;model line-up isn’t quite as wide-ranging as its rivals.

You do get the choice between panel&nbsp;and crew van body styles, as well as three body lengths, but there’s only one body height, and only two equipment levels – entry-level Progressive and more upmarket Premium.

So, is the Mercedes Vito a worthy rival to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans/n20726">best medium vans</a>? Read on to find out...

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">Read more: How we test vans</a>

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

VITO

The Vito is&nbsp;pricey&nbsp;but if brand and image are your thing it's head and shoulders above the rest

Mercedes Vito

Citroën holds an odd place in the Stellantis quartet of van brands. It leads the compact sector with its Berlingo van, outselling the Ford Transit Connect and Vauxhall Combo, but fades away when stepping up a size to this, the Citroën Dispatch panel van.

The Dispatch edges out the mechanically identical Fiat Scudo, reintroduced to the UK relatively recently after a six-year absence, but manages less than a quarter of the sales of the closely related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro/van/review/n18281">Vauxhall Vivaro</a>&nbsp;and can’t get near the UK’s best-selling van, the (unrelated)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a>.

The whole Stellantis-built&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans/n20726">medium van</a> range – also including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/proace/van/review/n20243">Toyota Proace</a> –&nbsp;has been refreshed for 2024, and&nbsp;Citroën has leaned into its French history to separate the Dispatch&nbsp;from its siblings and try to gain an edge against its&nbsp;rivals.

It starts with style. The Dispatch has Citroën’s new "old"&nbsp;logo, with a bold badge on the grille that harks back to the 1919 original found on the front of the Type A road car. The grille is a narrow slot linking the headlights, which contain eye-catching vertical and horizontal LED daytime running lights. There’s a more thorough update inside, with the cab getting a significant makeover with new tech and a more practical interior.

Read on to find out how we rate the new Citroën Dispatch against the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans/n20726">best medium vans</a> you can get, and which version we recommend...

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

DISPATCH

The Dispatch is an attractive option as a medium-sized panel van&nbsp;but there are some compromises

New Citroën Dispatch

It’s no secret that the Vauxhall Vivaro Diesel&nbsp;shares almost all its parts with a range of other vans from parent company <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-stellantis/n26975">Stellantis</a>.

Indeed, you'd be hard-pushed to tell the difference between a Vivaro with its Vauxhall badges covered up&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/dispatch/van/review/n18249">Citroën Dispatch</a>, Fiat Scudo or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a>.

To keep it fresh against rival&nbsp;medium vans, Vauxhall has given the Vivaro a significant facelift for 2024. As part of that, the brand’s "vizor"&nbsp;grille design&nbsp;has been grafted on to the van’s nose to bring it into line with new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/vauxhall">Vauxhall car models</a>.

There’s also a new dashboard and tech inside, but no significant mechanical changes. (The other Stellantis models and the closely related&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/proace/van/review/n20243">Toyota Proace</a>&nbsp;get similar updates.)

So, how do we rate the latest Vauxhall Vivaro against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans/n20726">best medium vans</a>&nbsp;and is it a better choice than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Mercedes Vito</a>, Nissan Primastar, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/trafic/van/review/n18803">Renault Trafic</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">VW Transporter</a> – or indeed, any of its "twins"? Read on to find out...

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

VIVARO

The Vivaro Diesel medium van delivers a competitive&nbsp;payload and some useful new driver tech

New Vauxhall Vivaro van

The Nissan NV300 is the replacement for the Primastar, which went off sale in 2016. While the name might be different, much is the same – in principal at least. Like the Primastar, the NV300 is a joint-engineered version of the Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivaro. It’s built in the same factory as the Primastar was and it’s doing the same job as the Primastar did.

That job is to compete against the Ford Transit Custom, Citroen Dispatch and, of course, it’s brothers and sisters that are based on the same underpinnings – the Trafic, Vivaro and Talento. You might think that not much has changed then, apart from the name? Wrong. But first, a little about that new name…

Nissan’s naming structure is simple. NV stands for Nissan Van and the numbers then refer to the size of the van. So, there’s the junior city-van NV200, followed by the NV300 middle-child and, finally, the big daddy NV400. But it doesn’t stop there. Nissan NT stands for Nisan Truck and NP is Nissan Pick-Up, so&nbsp;there are&nbsp;the NT400 and NT500 chassis cabs as well as the rugged NP300 Navara.

Back to vans, and the NV300 is powered by a 1.6-litre diesel made by Renault and shared across the partner vans. It’s the same engine used in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a> and is available in four different outputs, with 94bhp and 119bhp from a single-turbo engine, or 123bhp and 143bhp form a twin-turbo unit.

No automatic gearbox option is currently available, although Nissan is considering adding one. Other versions include a double cab van with as much as 4m3 load space and six seats, or a minibus with space for up to nine.

Whilst the NV300 is made using a shared platform, crucially there is one major difference to Nissan’s offering:&nbsp;the NV300 comes with a five-year, 100,000 mile warranty that includes roadside assistance and is transferable between buyers.

Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

NV300

Great value for money and a five-year warranty make the Nissan NV300 a van that everyone should consider. The engines are strong, cabin comfortable and the load space functional.

Nissan NV300 van

A few years on from its introduction in its current form, the Peugeot Expert has been given its most significant update yet.

The most obvious difference between the latest&nbsp;Expert and the pre-facelift model is the dramatic new front end&nbsp;adorned with a large Peugeot shield – and it's fortunate the manufacturer's badge is big enough to stand out.

Why? Well, in many ways the Expert is identical to three other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-stellantis/n26975">Stellantis</a> models – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/dispatch/van/review/n18249">Citroën Dispatch</a>, Fiat Scudo and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro/van/review/n18281">Vauxhall Vivaro</a>&nbsp;– as well as an equally similar non-Stellantis model, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/proace/van/review/n20243">Toyota Proace</a>.

They've all been updated for 2024, and in the Expert's case changes also include a new high-tech dashboard. The suspension, gearboxes and choice of diesel engines remain the same as&nbsp;before the update. There are two body lengths (regular and long) and two trim levels, and as well as a panel van, you can have a crew cab with a second row of seats.

So does all that make the facelifted&nbsp;Peugeot Expert a strong contender among the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans/n20726">best medium vans</a>&nbsp;and its many rivals, which also include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Mercedes Vito</a>, Nissan Primastar, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/trafic/van/review/n18803">Renault Trafic</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">VW Transporter</a>? Read on to find out...

Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Expert

The Expert is one of the most economical and&nbsp;practical medium vans on the market

Peugeot Expert van

Evolution might be a slow process for some, but the Renault Trafic shows that it’s possible to accomplish a lot in a short timeframe.

Indeed, regular incremental updates have been key to the Trafic’s success since it replaced the ageing Estafette in the UK 40 years ago. Over its four decades on the road, the Trafic has adapted and kept with the times, and this latest version is no different.

True, the Trafic is regularly out-ranked in the sales charts by its key rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">Volkswagen Transporter</a>, but it’s still a healthy earner for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/renault">Renault</a>.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FRhIzXz1-WM?si=6zZYzLMAVXxwCyE4" width="560"></iframe>

As&nbsp;is becoming commonplace in the van world, the Trafic can also be found in other guises from different manufacturers. In this case, the Trafic shares many parts with&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/talento/van/review/n21781">Fiat Talento</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/nv300/van/review/n18189">Nissan NV300</a>.

This latest Renault Trafic has been treated to a heavier update than might usually be expected in the middle of a model's life. That includes giving it a more&nbsp;angular and chiselled front-end design, a more high-tech interior and new engine options and safety gear.&nbsp;

Customisation remains the order of the day, and there are now 44 variants of Trafic to choose from, so the chances are there’s at least one model that suits your needs. They&nbsp;include a passenger version, which we’ll cover in a separate review soon.

Here, we’ll let you know how this latest Trafic compares with its rivals in terms of performance, interior quality, day-to-day usability and, of course, load-lugging ability. We'll also let you know whether it should be on you or your company's shopping list.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">Read more: How we test vans</a>

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

Trafic

The Trafic is a well priced medium van that's also good to drive.

Renault Trafic van

Toyota isn’t a name often associated with vans. People largely think its commercial vehicle repertoire begins and ends with the Toyota Hilux pick-up truck, but Toyota has a long tradition of making light commercial vehicles, particularly those in the mid-sized sector. 

The Toyota HiAce was introduced in the 1960s and there have been many other "Ace" versions since, and while the Toyota Proace is in no way a relative or even a descendant of models from the past, the name certainly sets it out as a Toyota van.

Of course, the Proace isn’t exclusively a Toyota product – few vans these days are unique to one manufacturer. The Toyota Proace shares most of its mechanicals with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/dispatch/van/review/n18249">Citroën Dispatch</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro/van/review/n18281">Vauxhall Vivaro</a>.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZR_kGIs--6U?si=Hhi1m9_Guox85ZCo" width="560"></iframe>

The current Proace is based on the third and most recent generation of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-stellantis/n26975">Stellantis</a> medium van platform which underpins those models,&nbsp;and is a rival to&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Mercedes&nbsp;Vito</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">VW Transporter</a>.

Like the other vans, the Proace gets its own individual styling as well as a shared interior and cleaner engines.&nbsp;Shared parts between the Partner, Dispatch, Vivaro and Proace include everything from the bonnet backwards, with only the front two panels and headlight clusters varying between each of the vans. The rear portion is an updated version of the outgoing van, while the front is based on the Efficient Modular Platform 2 (EMP2) that Peugeot and Citroën both use for their passenger cars. 

There are two engine options, the smaller of which also originates from the passenger car world. The 1.5-litre unit is available with either 100bhp or 120bhp and is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. A more powerful 2.0-litre engine also comes with 120bhp or 174bhp options but it is only the bigger of the two that is available with an eight-speed <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/automatic-gearboxes-everything-you-need-to-know/n17022">automatic gearbox</a>. Unlike the other vans from Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall, there is no middle (147bhp) power rating for the 2.0-litre engine.

The Proace has Compact, Medium and Long body lengths, but there is no option of a high roof model. Trims range from the entry-level Active to the top-spec Design option. There is also an Icon trim level in between. Toyota also produces a combi van version of the Proace that can seat up to nine people.&nbsp; 

Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

Proace

The Toyota Proace is one of the most economical and practical medium vans on the market

Toyota Proace van

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">Volkswagen Transporter</a> is something of an icon, having stood the test of time since 1950. However, the world moves on,&nbsp;and as emissions regulations tighten&nbsp;and a&nbsp;proposed ban&nbsp;on combustion engine sales looms,&nbsp;change is inevitable. Volkswagen’s response to this is a new all-electric model – the Volkswagen ABT e-Transporter 6.1.

First announced in 2018, the ABT e-Transporter&nbsp;has been developed in partnership with electric specialists ABT – a German tuning company better known for their Formula E racing team’s partnership with Audi.

It’s based on the newest version of the Transporter, the&nbsp;T6.1. Visually, at least, the most significant change is a revised front grille. Where the e-Transporter is truly&nbsp;different, though, is the drivetrain, with an 83kW electric motor and 37kWh battery pack replacing the engine and fuel tank.

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Competition in the medium-van segment is heating up and rivals to the VW e-Transporter include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro-e/van/review/n22197">Vauxhall Vivaro-e</a>, Citroen e-Dispatch, Peugeot e-Expert and the Maxus eDeliver 3.

While each manufacturer is trying to establish its identity and competency in the electric van segment, buyers will ultimately compare these medium-sized electric vans on their ability to carry things and how far they can travel. With a claimed range of 82 miles, the e-Transporter is not only at the lower end when it comes to range – the Vivaro-e can cover as much as 205 miles – it is also only capable of carrying just under one-tonne.

Unlike the Mercedes-Benz eVito, rapid charging is available, though, with an 80% charge possible in just 45 minutes. It’s also important to note that the eTransporter does have the same volume carrying capacity as the diesel Transporter T6.1.

Competition is also not strictly limited just to pure-electric vans only, as a hybrid <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-connect/van/review/n20263">Ford Transit Custom PHEV</a> and a hybrid version of the London Taxi, called the LEVC VN5, are also available in the mid-size van segment – both of which promise more than 300 miles of combined combustion engine and electric-only driving.

The e-Transporter is no longer available from new, but you can find used examples. This review will give you a good idea of what to watch out for, and if you're still not sure if an electric van is right for you, then our feature on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-electric-vans/n21136">best electric vans</a> is well worth reading.

Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

ABT eTRANSPORTER 6.1

The all-electric Volkswagen ABT e-Transporter 6.1 is the marque's first battery-powered van, and has been created in collaboration with Formula E racing champions ABT. Does it meet VW's usual class-leading standards?

Volkswagen ABT e-Transporter 6.1 van

This is the Volkswagen Transporter T6.1. Don’t be fooled, though – that name doesn’t mean it has a 6.1-litre engine. Rather, think of that last bit as a version number, like you’d find in the tech industry.

It's not usually the done thing in the automotive world, but the ‘.1’ bit was added to the name of the facelifted Transporter to show that it’s an evolution of the sixth-generation model, which was already one of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-medium-vans-2023/n20726">medium vans</a> on the market.

The T6.1 has smaller headlights than the&nbsp;T6, and they&nbsp;flow into a&nbsp;revised grille and bumper up front. The facelift isn't purely cosmetic, though:&nbsp;under the skin, there’s a new electric power steering system&nbsp;similar to the one in the bigger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/crafter/van/review/n18277">VW Crafter</a>. The result is that the Transporter can now be fitted with updated driver assist features, such as lane-keeping assistance and crosswind assistance.

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Such tweaks were needed in order to keep it current against competitors including&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/trafic/van/review/n18803">Renault Trafic</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro/van/review/n18281">Vauxhall Vivaro</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/dispatch/van/review/n18249">Citroën Dispatch</a>.

Mind you, the VW Transporter isn’t quite as flexible as it used to be. There’s now only one roof height, rather than the three you used to be able to get, and it’s the lowest of the lot. If you want a van with a high roof, the Crafter might be a better bet.&nbsp;

Happily, you can still get short and long wheelbase versions of the Transporter. And, as has always been the case, there are lots of body types to choose from, including a&nbsp;standard panel van, a crew van (known as the Kombi), a full-on minibus&nbsp;and a plusher executive shuttle bus.&nbsp;There’s also the brilliant <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/california/mpv/review/n19868">VW California</a> camper,&nbsp;which we’ve covered in a separate review.

You can have your VW Transporter in one of three trim levels. The cheapest is Startline, which is a little utilitarian, and above that you'll find the more luxurious&nbsp;Highline and the sportier looking Sportline. The engine range consists almost entirely of VW's&nbsp;stalwart 2.0-litre diesel, in single&nbsp;and twin-turbo forms, and in a variety of power outputs.

The exception is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-electric-vans-2023/n21136">electric van</a> version. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/abt-etransporter-61/van/review/n22641">VW ABT e-Transporter 6.1</a>&nbsp;– which we've reviewed separately – is a conversion carried out by aftermarket tuner ABT&nbsp;but can be bought through <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> dealerships with the same after-sales backup as any other Transporter.

Here, though, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about the VW Transporter T6.1 range, including its loadspace and payload, driving dynamics, cab layout and passenger comfort.

Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/how-we-test-vans-at-what-car/n26797">How we test vans</a>

TRANSPORTER

Improved connectivity, bigger displays and more safety advancements than ever before make the Transporter&nbsp;an excellent prospect

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