Couriers in the UK keep the country ticking over, getting everything from your latest Amazon purchase to next week’s shopping delivered straight to your door when you need it. Their role at the forefront of everyday life was even more prominent during the recent pandemic when they quite literally kept the country going.
Couriers have to deal with a wide variety of parcels and packages, meaning they value size and versatility when buying a new van. To deliver a first-rate service, delivery drivers need to make sure they’ve got the absolute best van for courier work so that they can deliver parcels and shopping. We’ve come up with our favourite candidates that all couriers should consider.
Ford Transit Courier
First up on our list is one of the latest additions to a long line of quality vans for couriers. The Ford Transit has been a staple of UK roads since they were first launched in 1965 with the famous model having plenty of variations depending on your needs.
The Transit Courier is the perfect example of a smaller chassis van that is ideal for urban streets thanks to its shorter wheelbase. A smaller turning circle and improved handling mean you can zip between drop-offs easily. But don’t be fooled by its size, a 1.6 litre TDCi engine is available that gives drivers a performance boost if needed.
In the back, you’ll find an impressive 2.3m³ of storage space - around 10% more than other vans in the courier’s class. You’ll also be able to transport a total weight of 600kg and handle loads up to 2.59 metres long.
Vauxhall Vivaro
Next up is one of our favourite medium-sized panel vans, the Vauxhall Vivaro. It features an excellent build quality with noticeably durable plastics installed throughout the interior. Even the seat fibres fell well made and will allow for many years of hopping in and out to make deliveries before any wear and tear appears.
The loading bay is easily accessible and big enough to hold plenty of parcels, thanks to a back door height of 1.2m and width of 1.3m. You’ll be able to handle loads up to 2.8m long but even that can be increased to 4m if you have particularly long packages that need a delivery. Total payload stands at around 1415kg for the Vauxhall Vivaro with sliding side doors helping to make deliveries as quickly as possible.
The new and improved 1.5 litre diesel engine offers great fuel economy while not giving up too much in the way of performance.
Citroën Relay
While size isn’t always everything, when it comes to vans it can be pretty important. If you’re looking for one of the larger models on the market, there are few better than the Citroën Relay. It’s so good that if you’ve been considering a Peugeot Boxer or Fiat Ducato you’ve actually just been looking at a Relay.
This van is a real workhorse and while it is capable of carrying some of the heaviest loads in its class, running costs are some of the cheapest. This is something that Citroen are, understandably, very proud of along with the fact that this van underwent 4 million km worth of drive testing and over half a million door slams before it was released.
The total payload the Relay can handle is 1500kg with a back door that is over 2m tall and 1.5m wide. The sliding side door is 1.2m wide meaning you can access your cargo easily from all angles.
The 2.2 litre BlueHDI engine produces 140hp and is capable of up to 40mpg. The Relay represents great value for money in the modern market and is great for any courier who needs the best large van for delivery.
Leasing a new courier van has never been easier with Nationwide Cars. We stock the latest models from the best suppliers in the industry with a range of finance packages available to suit your commercial needs. Contact us today.
