Van Reviewer is recognising the best new vans and pick-up trucks the market has to offer. These are the best commercial vehicles we think you can buy right now in the UK in 2026.
The Van Reviewer Awards 2026 mark the first year of celebrating the vans and pick-ups buyers should consider when making their next commercial vehicle purchase.
The Van Reviewer What To Buy Awards span every segment of the light commercial vehicle industry, from car-derived vans to large vans, across both combustion-engine and electric drivetrains, while also recognising future models with the Best Van To Wait For and Best Pick-Up Truck To Wait For awards.
Best Van Awards
Best New Van
Best Van To Wait For
Best Small Van
Best Medium Van
Best Large Van
Best Small Electric Van
Best Medium Electric Van
Best Large Electric Van
Best Converted Van
Best Pick-Up Truck Awards
Best New Pick-Up
Best Pick-Up To Wait For
Best Work Pick-Up
Best Lifestyle Pick-Up
Small vans have to do a lot with very little, and this one absolutely nails it. Compact on the outside but cleverly packaged within, it’s easy to drive, cheap to run and tough enough for the daily graft. It proves you don’t need big dimensions to get a serious job done.
Its clever redesign delivers impressive carrying capability in a compact footprint, while car-derived handling and comfort make it ideally suited to busy urban businesses.
The Ford Transit Courier sets a new standard in the small van sector, combining class-leading load space with exceptional driveability and value. Add in modern technology, strong payload options and Ford’s proven reliability, and the Transit Courier stands out as the most complete, forward-thinking small van on sale today.
The Transit Courier really shows how far small vans have come. What impressed us most is just how complete it feels. It’s practical, easy to live with and genuinely good to drive, while offering a level of space and usability you simply wouldn’t expect from a van this compact. Everything about it feels well thought through, from the load area to the driving experience, and that’s what makes it stand out.
This is an electric van that finally makes sense for small businesses. With a usable real-world range, smart charging options and no compromise on payload or practicality, it fits seamlessly into everyday work life.
Small electric vans have to balance efficiency, usability and real-world capability, and this one gets it spot on. Compact, quiet and effortless to drive, it’s equally suited to city life or a more mixed diet, offering the toughness and practicality businesses expect.
The Ford E-Transit Courier sets a new benchmark for small electric vans, combining impressive load space with refined electric drive and excellent value. Its smart packaging delivers genuine working-van practicality in a city-friendly footprint, while instant torque, car-like handling and a comfortable cabin make it easy to live with day-in, day-out.
Add in strong payload capability, modern tech and Ford’s growing electric van expertise, and it stands out as the most complete small electric van package on sale.
The E-Transit Courier shows just how well electric power suits a small van. It’s quiet, smooth and effortless to drive, yet still feels every bit as practical and hard-working as its diesel counterpart. What really impressed us is how seamlessly the electric drivetrain fits into the overall package. It’s easy to live with, cleverly designed and offers the kind of space and usability you don’t expect from something this compact.
The medium-van sweet spot is fiercely competitive, but the Ford Transit Custom just seems to get everything right. It’s comfortable, hugely practical and offers the kind of versatility that suits everyone from sole traders to large fleets. Strong engines, clever tech and excellent load space make it the van that works just as hard as you do.
Medium vans sit at the heart of the UK's working world, and Ford's Custom continues to prove why it’s the benchmark others are measured against. Supremely versatile, it's refined far beyond what most expect from a working van. The sales figures tell the same story, and despite challenges over their wet belt engine, it's still just as popular now as the day it was launched.
The Transit Custom sets the standard in the medium van sector by delivering outstanding all-round ability with no obvious weaknesses. Its latest update brings improved efficiency, a more comfortable and tech-rich cabin, and the same class-leading practicality that has long defined the model.
The Transit Custom shows exactly why it remains the go-to choice in the medium van sector. It combines superb practicality with impressive refinement. Everything about it feels well judged, from the driving experience to the load-carrying ability, and that’s what keeps it at the top of its class. For us, it still sets the benchmark others are trying to match.
Electric vans don’t come much more convincing than the Ford E-Transit Custom. It delivers the range, charging speed and carrying ability businesses actually need, not just what looks good on a spec sheet.
Built on the UK’s most trusted van platform, it combines familiar practicality with a refined, confidence-inspiring electric drivetrain. The Ford E-Transit Custom sets the benchmark in the medium electric van sector by offering genuine working-van credentials alongside a polished electric driving experience.
Add in composed road manners, a well-designed cabin packed with modern technology, and Ford’s deep understanding of commercial users, challenging the norms with its squircle steer wheel to eat your lunch off, and it's little wonder why this electric Transit has proven a hit.
The E-Transit Custom feels like a van that’s been designed properly from the ground up for electric use, rather than adapted as an afterthought. It delivers the space, versatility and usability you expect from a medium van, but with the added benefits of smooth, refined electric performance. It's the best van to drive on the market and one of the most comfortable too.
Large vans spend long hours on the road, and the Volkswagen Crafter is engineered to make those miles feel effortless by delivering a level of ride comfort that’s rare in the large van sector.
Where size matters, the Crafter van also delivers in spades, with an enormous loadspace and sizeable payload carrying abilities. Volkswagen does functionality well, and the Crafter interior blends practicality with style. It feels less like a traditional workhorse and more like a premium tool, fit for any job.
The Volkswagen Crafter raises the bar for large vans by pairing outstanding ride quality with a genuinely premium driving experience. Its suspension smooths out poor road surfaces with ease, while light, precise steering and excellent visibility make it surprisingly easy to drive, despite its size.
Inside, high-quality materials, intuitive technology and car-like ergonomics create a refined working environment, without sacrificing the serious load space and payload capability at the business end. The result is a van that blends comfort and capability better than anything else in its class.
The Crafter really stands out for the overall sense of quality it delivers. It’s exceptionally comfortable for a large van, and is calm and composed whether you’re covering long motorway distances or loading it up to full weight for a hard day’s work. It’s a van that’s genuinely easy to live with day after day, and continues to set the benchmark for ride comfort and refinement in the large van sector.
Large electric vans have a tough brief, needing to deliver zero-emission running without losing the carrying ability that businesses rely on. Fortunately the Renault Master E-Tech rises to the challenge.
Purpose-built as a "multi-energy vehicle" with the electric van front and foremost in the plans, it can tackle long-distance just as well as inner-city life. Renault are no strangers to the electric van segment, in fact they pretty much pioneered it, but the Master E-Tech is a step-change in efficiency, packaging and performance for a large electric van.
The Master E-Tech stands out in the large electric van sector by offering genuine heavy-duty practicality alongside an advanced electric drivetrain. Multiple sizes mean there’s plenty of storage space in the van’s load area, but also with a payload that remains competitive for its class. It delivers the usability expected of a large van, with potential TCO savings and zero-emissions on top.
Renault’s experience in electric vehicles gives customer’s confidence to turn to the Master E-Tech as a mature and reliable solution to electrification. Big electric vans used to feel like a compromise. Not anymore. The Renault Master shows just how far the technology has come, offering proper range, rapid charging and no loss of usability. It’s a genuine alternative to diesel for all types of customers and a clear sign of where large vans are heading next.
It shows that Renault engineered the Master E-Tech with electric use firmly in mind. It delivers the space and practicality you expect of a large van, but with the added benefits of a smooth, quiet electric drive, great handling and excellent comfort. What really stands out is how confidence-inspiring it is to use day to day, range anxiety is a major concern for van drivers thinking about switching to EVs but we’ve found that the Master E-Tech can comfortably do a day’s work with plenty of charge left in the battery.
Manufacturer-developed converted vans are becoming an increasingly important part of the commercial vehicle landscape, offering businesses practical alternatives to traditional vans by repurposing proven passenger vehicle platforms. When done properly, these OEM conversions combine everyday usability and full manufacturer approval, delivering compact, efficient and often highly specialised working vehicles without the compromises of poor quality aftermarket solutions.
Built on a compact electric platform, the Citroën ë-C3 Van brings zero-emission capability to the smallest end of the van market without sacrificing practicality, proving that even the tiniest electric vans can be serious tools for business.
The ë-C3 Van stands out as the pick of the numerous car to van conversions of the past year due to its overall quality and surprisingly capacious load area. Although a small van by anyone’s standards, the popular ë-C3 electric platform lends itself well to a compact city runabout, ideal for urban deliveries. With a 1.3m3 load space and a 300kg maximum payload, not to mention low running costs thanks to its excellent overall efficiency, the ë-C3 Van is affordable to own and operate and practical with it.
We were really impressed by the overall package of the Citroen ë-C3 Van. It goes to show how versatile a small electric van can be when you start with the right base. By removing the rear seats and opening up that space, Citroën has created a compact commercial that’s genuinely useful for local deliveries and light work. Its electric powertrain has the benefit of low running costs and zero-emission operation, making it an interesting choice for owner-drivers or fleets that operate in our congested towns and cities.
The Isuzu D-Max is a pick-up that never forgets its day job. Tough, dependable and engineered to cope with hard use, it has serious off-road talent and the durability the utility end of the pick-up market requires. With the tax spotlight having been turned on double cab pick-ups, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Commercial has boldly stepped into the limelight as a unashamedly working vehicle, navigating the taxation landscape and delivering a proper work tool built to earn its keep without any additional tax.
Work-focused pick-ups need to be tough, practical and genuinely capable on the job but they also need to make financial sense. The Isuzu D-Max Commercial shows exactly how to balance those demands. Built with real commercial intent, navigating the last year’s double cab pick-up truck tax changes, it combines serious payload and towing figures with even more practicality from a secure loadspace in place of the second row of seats. Isuzu UK has seen a challenge and boldly stepped up to the task of making the D-Max Commercial a must-have pick-up for anyone who is serious about using their pick-ups solely for work.
Isuzu’s quick response to the government’s tax changes for pick-up trucks has led them to produce a superb working truck. What stands out about the D-Max Commercial is how honest it feels. The V-Cross trim is exactly what pick-up truck customers have come to expect, and there’s nothing overcomplicated about it. The D-Max Commercial is built to be a tough, honest pick-up and it’s a job that it does extremely well. The workmanship of the conversion is top-notch and tax rules aside, for those that don’t need a second row of seats, it’s an absolute no-brainer.
Pick-ups don’t have to feel agricultural, and this one proves it. With standout styling, a comfortable cabin and impressive road manners, it blends the working toughness of the Ranger family with everyday premium SUV vibes. It can be a worker during the week and an adventure at the weekend, doing both with ease.
The Ford Ranger Platinum stands out as the most convincing lifestyle pick-up on sale by successfully combining genuine working ability with true luxury car comfort. It retains the Ranger’s strong towing and load-carrying credentials, while adding high-quality materials, advanced technology and a quiet, refined driving experience that makes it just as suitable for family duties as it is for business use. Confident road manners, an upmarket interior and everyday usability make it a standout choice for buyers who want one vehicle to do it all.
As the pick-up market is changes, buyers are increasingly looking for vehicles that can perform dual roles. This one embraces that shift better than anything else in the segment, blending serious capability with a level of comfort and sophistication that would have been unthinkable for a pick-up not so long ago. It proves that practicality and premium appeal are not mutually exclusive.
The Ranger Platinum really captures where the pick-up market is heading. It still feels capable and purposeful when there’s work to be done, but it’s the level of comfort, refinement and quality that really impresses. It drives more like a premium SUV than a traditional pick-up, yet never loses sight of its practical roots. For anyone looking for a single vehicle that works just as well for family life as it does for business, it hits the sweet spot.
Some vans are worth holding out for, and the Renault Trafic E-Tech is one of them. The chance to start with a blank sheet of paper has meant that the next Renault Trafic is set to be one of the most important medium vans coming to market this year. Promising improvements in efficiency, technology and usability, it will raise the bar when it arrives.
The next-generation Renault Trafic E-Tech signals a fundamental shift in how commercial vehicles are designed, developed and used. Built on an electric-first platform, it reflects a move towards software-defined vehicles where hardware, software and services are developed as a single ecosystem. If you’re planning a new purchase the Trafic E-Tech is a model that deserves your patience.
The Trafic E-Tech stands out its 800V electrical system which will enable ultra-fast charging and the fact that it has been designed to support continuous over-the-air updates, for advanced connectivity and future digital services. It’s a van which promises to evolve over its lifespan, and one which is significantly more advanced than most electric cars.
Taking one of the most trusted pick-up names in the world and reimagining it as a battery-electric vehicle is a huge risk, but the Toyota Hilux BEV still manages to embody the strength of the Hilux legacy.
The Toyota Hilux BEV is the most important pick-up truck on the horizon, combining zero-emission capability with the core values that have defined the Hilux for decades. It gives buyers an electric pick-up option without downgrading its off-road ability, yet still delivering a usable payload and sensible driving range.
As the segment takes tentative steps towards zero-emissions, the Hilux BEV is reassurance that a trusted model is walking the path as well. Although not an out-and-out winner in terms of on-paper specifications, it is a pragmatic approach to delivering a battery electric pick-up that can still perform to the requirements of a high proportion of Hilux customers. With a new front-end design, more modern interior and enhanced tech, the electric Hilux is undoubtedly a pick-up truck to wait for.
What makes the Hilux BEV so significant is not just that it’s electric, but that it’s a Hilux. Toyota has approached the tricky task of electrifying a pick-up truck and stayed true to its beliefs and those of its customers, that the Hilux is a tough and uncompromising off-road vehicle. Adding a battery hasn’t changed that. The Toyota Hilux BEV is without doubt a truck that buyers should be considering this year and a pick-up to wait for.
New pick-ups are increasingly being asked to cover multiple roles, and a hybrid Ranger arrives as a clear response to that shift. By combining electrification with proven working capability, it offers a new way of using a pick-up day-to-day. Quieter, cleaner and more flexible, without losing any of the important requirements of a commercial vehicle, it represents a significant step-forward for the segment.
The Ford Ranger PHEV stands out as the most important new pick-up to reach the market by successfully integrating plug-in hybrid technology into one of the class’ most capable platforms.
It promises moderate electric-only driving for urban and local use, alongside the reassurance of a petrol engine for longer journeys and heavier workloads. Crucially, it retains the Ranger’s core strengths, including strong towing ability, practical load capacity and effortless on- and off-road performance.
The Ranger PHEV feels like a genuinely well-judged step towards electrification for pick-ups. Rather than compromising its working ability, the plug-in hybrid system adds flexibility, allowing it to operate quietly and efficiently when that matters, while still delivering the capability buyers expect from a Ranger. It’s a thoughtful, practical solution that reflects how pick-ups are actually used, and it makes a strong case for electrification in this segment.
New vans rarely arrive with the ambition to rethink an entire segment, but the Kia PV5 has been different from the outset. Electric-only, connected and modular, the PV5 offers solutions that customers didn’t know they needed, by introducing a new way of approaching commercial vehicle design.
The Kia PV5 stands out as the most significant new van of the year thanks to its clean-sheet approach and Kia’s wider Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) strategy. With a PV5 Cargo and PV5 Passenger already on sale, it's been engineered to support multiple body types and conversions based on the upcoming Chassis, as well as advanced digital services. The software-led architecture also underpins its connectivity which will see over-the-air updates and seamless integration with fleet systems. The electric drivetrain has already proven itself with a Guinness World Record, but it’s the attention to detail in producing a stunning debut commercial vehicle which has really got people talking.
The Kia PV5 has been designed from the ground up around electrification and software, underlining the forward-thinking nature of the whole PBV concept. To produce a van of this quality, and with such clarity of purpose, the first time of asking shows how seriously Kia has taken their entry into the light commercial vehicle market. The PV5 has impressed at every opportunity and the bar has been set very high.
That concludes the Awards. Congratulations to all of the winners. These truly are a collection of great vans and pick-ups, and the best commercial vehicles you should think about buying in 2026.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best New Van | Kia PV5 |
| Best New Pick-Up | Ford Ranger PHEV |
| Best Van To Wait For | Renault Trafic E-Tech |
| Best Pick-Up To Wait For | Toyota Hilux BEV |
| Best Small Van | Ford Transit Courier |
| Best Medium Van | Ford Transit Custom |
| Best Large Van | Volkswagen Crafter |
| Best Small Electric Van | Ford E-Transit Courier |
| Best Medium Electric Van | Ford E-Transit Custom |
| Best Large Electric Van | Renault Master E-Tech |
| Best Work Pick-Up | Isuzu D-Max V-Cross Commercial |
| Best Lifestyle Pick-Up | Ford Ranger Platinum |
| Best Converted Van | Citroën ë-C3 Van |
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