Smiling man driving a white van
Back to Living and Lifestyle

The most economical vans of 2018

Living and Lifestyle | By Sonia | 19.10.2018

Is it time to trade in your existing van and upgrade to a new van? Perhaps the van you currently drive isn’t very economical and you’re finding you’re at the garage filling up more than you’d like or perhaps you’ve only just passed your test and are looking to buy your first van. 

Whatever your reason for buying a new van, this guide should help. Read for our list of the most economical vans of 2018, according to their type[1]. 

Most economical small vans

Ford Transit Courier 1.5 TDCi Econetic Start+Stop SWB – 76.3mpg

Fiat Fiorino Cargo 1.3 Multijet 80 Start+Stop – 74.3mpg

Renault Kangoo ML19 dCi 110 Energy Business+ – 64.2mpg 

Most economical mid-sized panel vans

Citroen Dispatch 1.6 BlueHDi (115) Start+Stop XS – 55.4mpg

Volkswagen Transporter 2.0 TDI (102) BlueMotion T27 SWB – 51.4mpg

Fiat Talento 1.6 Ecojet (125) Start+Stop L1H1 10 – 47.9mpg 

Most economical large panel vans

Citroen Relay 2.0 BlueHDi (130) Start+Stop 30 L1H1 – 48.7mpg

Fiat Ducato 2.0 Multijet (115) SH1 33 SWB – 47.9mpg

Peugeot Boxer 2.0 BlueHDi (110) 330 L1H1 – 47.1mpg 

Most economical car-derived vans

Ford Fiesta Van 1.5 TDCi (95PS) ECOnetic diesel – 88.3mpg

Vauxhall Corsavan 1.3 CDTi 16V 95PS ecoFLEX Easytronic Start+Stop – 88.3mpg 

Most economical pick-up trucks

Nissan Navara 2.3 dCi King Cab 2WD - 44.9mpg

Fiat Fullback 2.4D (150) Double Cab SX 4WD - 44.2mpg

Mitsubishi L200 2.4 DI-D Double Cab 4LIFE 4WD - 44.1mpg 

Most economical commercial SUVs

Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial 2.0 PHEV auto GX3h+ 4WORK - 148.0mpg

Dacia Duster Commercial 1.5 dCi 110 4x2 - 56.5mpg

SsangYong Korando Commercial 2.0D CS - 47.1mpg 

Are you insured?

Whichever van you choose, you must ensure that you can afford to insure it. The average cost of a comprehensive van insurance policy for men is £1,206, and for women, £1,025[2]. It usually costs more to insure a van than a car because they typically have larger engines and more cargo (e.g. tools and supplies). 

There are ways to save money on your van insurance policy. These include: 

  • Having a sign for your business on your van. This reduces the chances of it being stolen, which is looked on favourably by insurers.
  • Being honest about what you use the van for. If you don’t use it for business use, say so. This could reduce your premium. Never lie to your insurer or you could find your policy is invalid if you make a claim.
  • Not presuming that third party or third party fire and theft cover is cheaper than comprehensive cover. Often, comprehensive cover can be the cheaper option.
  • Choosing a smaller van with a smaller engine.
  • Letting the insurer know if you belong to any trade bodies. Some will give you a discount if you’re a member of the Federation of Master Builders, Federation of Master Craftsmen, The FPDC or the NICEIC.

You don’t need to actually own the van before you can get insurance quotes, you can start shopping around now. Some insurers will allow you to transfer your no-claims discount from your car insurance policy, which is good to know.