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Best New Vans Coming Soon
There are plenty of new vans coming to market right now, and if you want to know what new vans are coming to the UK read this article to find out. Auto Trader’s Tom Roberts reports.
Words by: Tom Roberts
Published on 21 November 2023 | 0 min read
There are plenty of new vans coming to market right now, and if you want to know what new vans are coming to the UK read this article to find out. Auto Trader’s Tom Roberts reports.
New Vans
Vans and other commercial vehicles tend to go through longer life cycles than cars, purely because once a design for a hard-working commercial vehicle goes into production, it makes sense to refine that design rather than release endless new generations every two or three years.
You also see a lot of van brands sharing van platforms and rebadging vehicles. On the one hand, it is cheaper to share platforms than develop your own and those savings can be passed on to customers. On the other hand, it does mean that more and more vans are essentially the same vehicle – although Stellantis is very good at making each platform-sharing van feel a little different from the others. Some of the vans covered in this article have been in service for decades and are continually refined – the Stellantis large vans, for example, that have just received another facelift – while some are exciting brand-new models I can’t wait to see in person. We also have an article that we keep up to date with all the best van deals available now. Anyway, let’s get this show on the road and dive into the best new vans coming soon.
You also see a lot of van brands sharing van platforms and rebadging vehicles. On the one hand, it is cheaper to share platforms than develop your own and those savings can be passed on to customers. On the other hand, it does mean that more and more vans are essentially the same vehicle – although Stellantis is very good at making each platform-sharing van feel a little different from the others. Some of the vans covered in this article have been in service for decades and are continually refined – the Stellantis large vans, for example, that have just received another facelift – while some are exciting brand-new models I can’t wait to see in person. We also have an article that we keep up to date with all the best van deals available now. Anyway, let’s get this show on the road and dive into the best new vans coming soon.
NEW Stellantis Large Vans (Sort Of)
It’s official: the Stellantis-owned large vans, the Citroen Relay, Vauxhall Movano, Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Boxer, are getting updated. All other Stellantis vans have had new facelifts confirmed, so it’s only fair that the large vans follow suit.
First thing’s first, there’s no new van. It’s the same old and reliable platform with some new aesthetics at the front. Expect to see each brand get creative at the front of the vehicle but leave everything else as it is. Manufacturing is also being brought in-house to save money currently being spent on converters. It’s the electric versions that win out, with all being given a new 110kWh battery pack that ups the maximum range to around 260 miles – nearly 100 miles more than the models that came before – and payloads of up to 1500kg (which is mainly down to electric vans being allowed to weigh more than petrol/diesel vans in total because of the additional weight of the battery packs).
First thing’s first, there’s no new van. It’s the same old and reliable platform with some new aesthetics at the front. Expect to see each brand get creative at the front of the vehicle but leave everything else as it is. Manufacturing is also being brought in-house to save money currently being spent on converters. It’s the electric versions that win out, with all being given a new 110kWh battery pack that ups the maximum range to around 260 miles – nearly 100 miles more than the models that came before – and payloads of up to 1500kg (which is mainly down to electric vans being allowed to weigh more than petrol/diesel vans in total because of the additional weight of the battery packs).
NEW Toyota Proace Max Large Van
Sharply connected to the section above – Toyota’s long-running commercial agreement with Stellantis to use the company’s van platforms has reached its apex and will see Toyota releasing a large van: the Proace Max.
It stays faithful to the other vans it platform shares with, available as a panel, chassis or crew van in a variety of lengths and heights. It’s also available as an electric van – offering a top cargo capacity of 17 cubic metres and a range of up to 260 miles on a single charge! More details will be posted here as they emerge.
It stays faithful to the other vans it platform shares with, available as a panel, chassis or crew van in a variety of lengths and heights. It’s also available as an electric van – offering a top cargo capacity of 17 cubic metres and a range of up to 260 miles on a single charge! More details will be posted here as they emerge.
NEW Ford Transit Courier Compact Van
As part of a wider update of Ford vans, the Courier compact van is getting an all-new version. It will be significantly bigger than its predecessor, long enough to carry up to two Euro pallets and payloads of up to 845kg (not far off that of a small van).
When news of this all-new Courier hit publications, most of the coverage focused on the electric version. Since then, it’s been confirmed that a petrol version packing a 1.0-litre 125hp Ecoboost engine and a diesel version packing a 1.5-litre EcoBlue engine will also be available.
When news of this all-new Courier hit publications, most of the coverage focused on the electric version. Since then, it’s been confirmed that a petrol version packing a 1.0-litre 125hp Ecoboost engine and a diesel version packing a 1.5-litre EcoBlue engine will also be available.
NEW Volkswagen Transporter Medium Van
Okay, this one is interesting. Ford and Volkswagen are now a commercial vehicle team making new vans and pickup trucks together. We already know a lot about the new Ford Transit Custom – diesel, petrol, hybrid, mild-hybrid and electric versions, a steering wheel that turns into a desk (really), and more. We also know that both vans will be manufactured at Ford’s Turkish plant, meaning there’s likely to be a lot of similarities, bar the inevitable aesthetic differences.
So, there’s a lot of predictions and rumours here, not a lot of facts. As things become clearer, the facts will be posted here.
So, there’s a lot of predictions and rumours here, not a lot of facts. As things become clearer, the facts will be posted here.
NEW Renault Master Large Van
Renault has released images and details on the new Master van range. It looks like one of the most modern-looking large vans in a marketplace currently swelling with stalwarts and long-serving platforms. Here's some highlights of what's been revealed...
It will be available to pre-order from Q1 2025 with official ordering opening Q2 and customer deliveries from September. A fully-electric powertrain offering a range up to 256 miles (biggest battery option) can be chosen, or the same power train with a smaller battery offering 113 miles can be picked. It will also be available with one of four diesel dCi powertrains, which Renault say will consume less fuel and release less CO2 than the current powertrains. The new interior will feature a big 10-inch screen running Google apps as native, with Android Auto and Apple Car Play integration. Payloads of up to 1600kg in the electric on Cat B licence, and up to 2000kg on the ICE variants. This is incredibly exciting stuff - first Toyota reveal their new large van, and now Renault. I'd be bold enough to say there's yet to be a more modern looking large van on the verge of entering the market.
It will be available to pre-order from Q1 2025 with official ordering opening Q2 and customer deliveries from September. A fully-electric powertrain offering a range up to 256 miles (biggest battery option) can be chosen, or the same power train with a smaller battery offering 113 miles can be picked. It will also be available with one of four diesel dCi powertrains, which Renault say will consume less fuel and release less CO2 than the current powertrains. The new interior will feature a big 10-inch screen running Google apps as native, with Android Auto and Apple Car Play integration. Payloads of up to 1600kg in the electric on Cat B licence, and up to 2000kg on the ICE variants. This is incredibly exciting stuff - first Toyota reveal their new large van, and now Renault. I'd be bold enough to say there's yet to be a more modern looking large van on the verge of entering the market.
