Top 5 vans by mpg

Many factors will affect the van you choose for your business, including price, payload carrying capabilities, maintenance costs, cabin experience and fuel efficiency. It’s that last one we’re going to focus on because it can make a huge difference in ongoing cost savings, sometimes mitigating potentially higher acquisition costs.

Before we get going, the mpg figures used were correct as of September 2025 and are the official WLTP combined mpg figures quoted by manufacturers in the most recent brochures or price lists we could access.
Thanks to the industry’s heavy use of platform sharing between brands, you’ll see there are way more than five vans named on this list, so there’s plenty to choose from. You’ll also notice that this list only contains vans that include a fuel engine in their powertrain, so it’s hybrids and ICE vehicles only while we put together our ‘best electric vans by range’ article!

While we’ve not had the fortune to review a Ford Transit Connect PHEV yet, we have reviewed its platform-sharing relative – the Volkswagen Caddy Cargo eHybrid. This pair of vans boast the unbelievably high 565 mpg rating thanks to their hybrid powertrain; a combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor/battery. While that enormous figure is dependent on consistent charging and effective use of the 70-mile electric range and 300-mile petrol range, if you do it then it’s not hard to see how you COULD achieve it.
However, the hybrid models of this small van are slightly more expensive than conventional fuel models and payloads are slightly less, ranging from around 640-740 kg depending on which length and trim level you choose, which is lower than the diesel-powered models (but still practical if you don’t mind a compromise). It drives smoothly, happily switching back and forth from engine to motor as it sees fit with little impact on drive quality. We think vans like these two present drivers with an interesting bridging vehicle to use for a few years before making the switch to fully-electric models.

With an equally impressive mpg rating comes the LEVC VN5 range-extender electric van… did you notice how much like a London Cab it looks? That’s because it’s made by the same company. It’s not quite a proper electric van because it has a 1.5-litre petrol engine included in the system, with the engine only acting as a generator to create electricity to drive the motor. Very clever stuff.
Undoubtedly the vehicle’s jewel in its crown is the mesmerising 10.1m turning circle, which allows you to turn on a dime around incredibly tight corners. Payloads range across trims from around 680-830kg, but make sure to check which specification vehicle you’re choosing if you do need to carry nearer the top end. It’s not a cheap van by any stretch, so look for good finance or a competitive lease deal if the huge mpg rating and tiny turning circle have piqued your interest.

In our Ford Transit Custom PHEV first drive article, the van was praised for offering one of the best light commercial vehicle driving experiences of 2024 – and it’s yet to be beaten. The Transit Custom needs little introduction. Its reputation and status as the UK’s best-selling van is deserved thanks to the excellent combination of competitive pricing, outstanding cabin experience and abundant practicality.
The powertrain features a 2.5-litre petrol engine working in harmony with an electric motor with the vehicle deciding the best power source in real time, usually dictated by how much battery power is left. It only offers up a max electric range of 25-35 miles, so keeping it charged is a must if you want to experience a good return on investment.

Despite sharing a platform with the Nissan Townstar and Renault Kangoo, the Mercedes-Benz Citan actually beats both of them in the mpg rankings if you choose the model marketed as the ‘110 L1 Manual’ in Base trim fitted with the 1.5-litre diesel engine providing just over 55 mpg.
It’s a shame this van is being discontinued, but you’ll still be able to pick up a pre-loved version of the latest generation on the used marketplace – so why not start your search on the Autotrader marketplace? It may be more expensive and carry less than the Renault Kangoo in the back, but being slightly more efficient and wearing the three-spoke badge has to count for something. It does offer up a lot of equipment and safety systems for the cash, which is just as well.

What do the Citroen Berlingo, Fiat Doblo, Peugeot Partner, Toyota Proace City and Vauxhall Combo have in common? They all share the same platform and powertrain, using the same 1.5-litre diesel engine to achieve a strong 54.4 mpg rating. The models you’ll want to pick are either the long or short wheelbase versions, but they must be those fitted with the 100 bhp engine and manual transmission to achieve that figure.
These are a great bunch of vans to choose from, with some slight differences on price between the brands. The Peugeot and Toyota vans have the better cabins, but the Vauxhall and Fiats are often available on solid lease deals, and the Citroen is the one with the best equipment levels. There’s little to choose between them, some can carry over 1000kg in the back, they all work the same and they’re all just as practical as each other.

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