Ford Transit Customized vs Vauxhall Vivaro: who makes the higher mid-size van?

Vauxhall and Ford are two manufacturers which were straight competing for UK van gross sales over a lot of many years. Right this moment, Ford’s Transit Customized is main the best way by not solely being one of many UK’s best-selling medium vans, but in addition one of many nation’s best-selling automobiles on the whole.

Is the Transit Customized really the higher van, although, or is it only a case of it having an even bigger title than the equal Vauxhall Vivaro? To settle this dispute as soon as and for all, we determined to place the 2 vans towards one another to find out which is one of the best purchase for your online business.

Vauxhall Vivaro

Ford and Vauxhall’s grasp on the passenger-car market stays robust, however each manufacturers are much more profitable with regards to gentle industrial automobiles. Between them, they occupy the top-four locations within the UK gross sales charts, with Ford’s primary, the Transit Customized, promoting nearly in addition to Britain’s best-selling automotive, the Puma.

The Transit Customized is a singular proposition on this section, however the Vivaro is intently associated to different Stellantis fashions. Other than their grilles and badges, the Vivaro is similar to the Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Knowledgeable, Fiat Scudo and Toyota Proace. No matter which you go for, all of them have one robust plus level in frequent. Beneath the pores and skin, the entrance of the van platform is predicated upon the EMP2 working gear that’s used within the Astra and Grandland. This implies the Vivaro advantages from the identical suspension, powertrains and infotainment and security tech as Vauxhall’s automobiles. 

This has had a pronounced profit on the Vivaro’s street manners. Anybody aware of the previous-generation mannequin will know the vagueness to the steering and the ponderous dealing with, however this model is so slick that it feels extra nimble than the Ford. This electrical mannequin is responsive at low speeds, however the silent powertrain solely highlights the street roar coming from the tyres. It’s responsive at low speeds and extremely easy to drive round city, however when you select to enterprise additional afield, the Vivaro’s vary of diesel engines might be a greater guess. With 5 totally different energy outputs, there’s just a little extra alternative than the Ford provides, however there’s no four-wheel-drive variant. 

Nevertheless, the important thing distinction between the 2 is cargo capability. The Vivaro’s most of 5.3 cubic metres is effectively behind the Ford’s quantity, whereas entry is trickier through the smaller doorways. 

Ford Transit Customized

The Transit Customized we now have right here is quickly to get replaced – actually, we’ve pushed its sensible new successor overseas already. The most recent mannequin will get angular new styling, however extra importantly it builds on the present mannequin’s plus factors whereas bringing in improved refinement and fabulous cabin tech – however its age hasn’t diminished why we discover it such a robust contender. 

For the basics on which a van needs to be judged – load house and carrying capability – the Transit Customized is in direction of the highest of the category. In base L1 H1 kind, it’ll maintain six cubic metres of stuff (that’s 0.7 cubic metres greater than the Vauxhall) weighing as much as 763kg. The sq., boxy form goes proper as much as the roof (an space that’s 2,554mm lengthy and 1,406mm excessive), which makes it straightforward to carry even the bulkiest of payloads into place. 

The mannequin we’re testing is the Double Cab Van five-seater, which makes an ideal no-nonsense MPV; there’s an enormous quantity of house for six folks, but behind the stable bulkhead is a 3,500-litre ‘boot’. 

On the street, the Transit Customized remains to be pretty van-like to drive. That isn’t a criticism; it implies that it feels secure, regular and strong, helped by some torquey diesels – energy ranges from 103bhp to 168bhp – and a alternative of handbook and automated gearboxes. Its substitute will add to the powertrain line-up with plug-in hybrid and fully-electric variants, too. The latter might be provided in two totally different outputs  – 134 and 215bhp – whereas larger- battery fashions promise a WLTP vary of 236 miles. Due to 125kW speedy charging, a 10-80 per cent battery top-up will barely occupy half a lunch break.

Outcomes

Our alternative: Vauxhall Vivaro

Tidy street manners and a broad line-up make the Vivaro a commendable alternative. Nevertheless, the identical might be mentioned of its badge-engineered siblings, so store round earlier than making a choice. As an total bundle, the Transit is stronger nonetheless.

Runner up: Ford Transit Customized

The Transit Customized has been king of the van section for so long as we are able to keep in mind, and its grip on the industrial class reveals no indicators of abating. This market-leading mannequin is ready to get replaced by one thing much more superior, refined and succesful.

Figures

Ford vs Vauxhall