Delivery Vans - Closed Box

Closed box delivery van belongs to the group of light commercial vehicles that in the international system are marked as LCV.

Vehicles belonging to this group are widely used for cargo and passengers transportation especially on in-city and intercity routes. According to transportation means’ classification closed box delivery vans may have N1 category (freightage) as well as M1 and M2 categories (passengers transportation) wherein for M2 category total weight shouldn’t exceed 3.5 tons.

Ones of the main technical features of closed box delivery vans are compactness and dynamic. Chassis of this kind of vehicles are equipped with turbo diesel power units to provide high capacity and fuel economy.

The major manufacturers

About 90% of European closed box delivery vans sales fall on the top 10 manufacturers:

1. Renault
2. Volkswagen
3. Ford
4. Peugeot
5. Citroën
6. Fiat
7. Mercedes-Benz
8. Nissan
9. Opel
10. Iveco
It should be mentioned here that brands’ location in the top depends on regional market, van type and model. Top 10 list of closed box delivery van models in the European market is the following:
1. Ford Transit
2. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
3. Volkswagen Transporter
4. Citroën Berlingo
5. Renault Kangoo
6. VW Caddy
7. Fiat Ducato
8. Peugeot Partner
9. Renault Master
10. Renault Trafic

When analyzing passenger segment of the above mentioned models it should be pointed out that Volkswagen sells relatively high percentage of passenger versions of its models (more than 45% for Caddy and more than 40% for Transporter) while Mercedes-Benz sells mainly Sprinter cargo versions (94% of total sales). All the represented closed box delivery vans’ models could be divided into 3 groups:

1. Compact
2. Larger
3. Large among light

In the first group the most outstanding European representatives are Citroën Berlingo, Renault Kangoo, VW Caddy, Peugeot Partner. Mercedes-Benz Citan manufactured on Kangoo base, which is the first product of German and French Concerns cooperation, also belongs to this group. All models based on its compactness have similar characteristics and reviews. Owners mention the combination of working endurance, comfort, good maneuverability, and easy managing ability suitable for work (small business) and for family rest. At the same time, of course, the operating features of each model stand out but they have a personal and relative character.

In the second group of closed box delivery vans a multidiscipline Ford Transit has been leading for many years. Ford Transit Van has 3 varieties of wheelbase and 3 types of body height. It is characterized as a superreliable commercial vehicle with the optimal price. In the line of Ford Transit, Ford Transit MiniBus (the leader in the class minibuses) is also very noticeable, which is perfectly suitable for passenger transportation.

VW Transporter is also notable for its multifunctionality, all varieties of which are available in 2 versions of bases (short and long). There are also 3 variants of the top. There is a choice also in the range of both diesel and gasoline engines .

In the third group Mercedes-Benz Sprinter deserves special attention, represented by 2 generations (1 generation got the adding of Classic to the name). It is worth to mention broad opportunities of the current 2nd generation, which can be selected depending on the individual tasks. If it is necessary, you can even order a four-wheel drive with off-road features (drivedown and mud tires).

The things to consider when buying a delivery van

Now let’s consider the problem of the purchasing of a suitable closed box delivery van (because if you have your own business, then a van can be a valuable assistant). For this you need to answer four important questions:

1. What can I afford? (here it is necessary to take into account two components: the cost of the van and running costs)
2. Where will I go? (think about the distance and the area where you are going to use a van)
3. What / who will you carry? (if its passengers then you need to consider the convenience and safety; if cargo, you should pay attention to its features to deal with the configuration of the machine: removable seats, number and type of doors, etc.)
4. What is the amount of cargo space required? (depending on the variety of cargo and its weight)