Best 3.5-tonne large vans ranked by payload

Most light commercial vehicles on UK roads sit in the 3.5-tonne weight class. And sitting at the top of the light commercial vehicle range are large vans, the biggest in terms of physical size. They’re capable of carrying substantial payloads, depending on engine type and axle strength, making them the go-to choice for businesses that regularly transport large or bulky loads. However, their size also means they’re not as easy to manoeuvre or park as smaller vans, but that’s kind of the point.

To work out the payload of any van, you need the vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) – how much the vehicle can weigh at its absolute maximum when filled with all the cargo, passengers and fluids it can take – and its kerb weight – how much it weighs completely empty of everything. Then all you need to do is take the kerb weight away from the GVW, and what’s left is the maximum payload the vehicle can carry.

Most manufacturers list payloads in their brochures, but who wants to trawl through brochures trying to work out which van will carry the most weight? That’s why we decided to do the research for you and rank the top five 3.5-tonne large vans that can carry the most weight. This list is correct at the time of publishing.

It’s fitting that the UK’s best selling large van holds the top spot in this list, specifically the 350 L3H3 manual diesel rear-wheel drive version of the Ford Transit. The modern Ford Transit is a great balance of driver-focused comfort and business-focused capabilities and pricing. Many operators will get their first Transit and never look at another van again, with good reason.

It’s the medium wheelbase diesel version that provides the top payload in 2025’s 2025’s International Van Of The Year. Even while carrying its top payload, the van is praised for its manoeuvrability, excellent cabin comfort and fuel efficiency. Vans don’t win awards for nothing, so the seal of approval from the IVOTY team is worthy of significant consideration.

The L2H1 manual diesel-engined versions of the vans listed above will net the impressive 1500 kg payload. This impressive figure is available on the current generation of the vans, but you can check out reviews of the Vauxhall Movano, Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Boxer right here to get a feel for what they offer drivers. These are no-nonsense vans, tough and durable with functional interiors and cavernous load spaces. Definitely worth checking out, if only because of their popularity with big fleets.

The L2H2 diesel model of this sister vehicle to the Renault Master (ranked at number two on this list) can’t carry as much, but still sits comfortably in the top five. Check out the award wins for the Renault Master and you’ll get a taste of why the Interstar is worth considering too.

There are just too many derivatives of the Iveco Daily Iveco Daily to nail down specifically which version it is that will nail this impressive payload. However, it’s an official figure quoted in the marketing and getting it will largely depend on the combination of configurations and engine of the vehicle you choose. The Daily is the epitome of ‘tough as nails’ coming from a manufacturer that’s as comfortable making military vehicles as it is commercial vans.

We recently ranked the best electric vans by range. You might also want to have a look at our article about the best electric pick-up trucks currently available if you need something to drive for business and pleasure.

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