5 of the best large vans to lease

Five of the top large vans available to lease 

The humble large van.

The backbone of so many companies up and down the country.

No matter your requirements, if you’re after something that could comfortably cart a baby elephant up and down the country, you’ll be on the market for a large van. And it is a large market.

There are even more choices to make when you’ve found the right make of van, with a myriad of different shapes and sizes available, including short wheelbases, long wheelbases, body lengths and roof heights, along with variants like tippers, dropsides, and chassis cab variants ready for conversion.

And if that wasn’t enough, most large vans also come in multi-seat crew van and minibus guises, if you need to lug around people rather than cargo.

The main thing to remember when you’re pondering your next lease is that only vans with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to 3.5 tonnes can be driven on a standard UK licence. Anything heavier than this – and most of the vans on this list are available with a higher GVW for an increased payload – will need a C1 licence, as well as equipment like a tachograph.

But with so much variety, it can be tricky to pin down the right van make and model for your business.

So, we’ve rounded up five of the best large vans to make that decision a little easier.

And if you’re still unsure? Our expert team are on hand with all the answers to your questions, so you can make sure your next large van lease is spot on for your business.

Vauxhall Movano

Though the sheer size of the Vauxhall Movano range can be overwhelming at first glance, the ability to customise the van to suit your needs makes it perfect for a whole range of different companies.

Offered in four body lengths and three roof heights, the Movano provides cavernous load volumes of between 7.8m3 and 17m3. And if you need something a little more sophisticated than a big box on wheels, the Movano also comes as a tipper, dropside, chassis cab, or crew cab.

The cargo area of the Movano is also customisable, with protective floor coverings or anti-slip floors on offer, as well as built-in fixing rails, side wall anchor rails, movable partitions, and a telescopic blocking bar system that improves load retention.

And if you need even more load-carrying capacity, there’s the option to fit roof bars and roof tray racks for an additional 200kg of roof space.

Need to shift around more people? Vauxhall also offers the Movano in a double cab variant with seven seats in total, or the Combi version with second and third rows of seating for three – providing space for six or nine people – and with the additional ability to remove the extra space when you need more cargo space.

Vauxhall hasn’t let the quality slip with the cabin, either.

The interior is up there with the best large vans in the class: commanding driving position, comfortable cab, solid interior, more storage than you’ll ever need, and Bluetooth connectivity to keep you entertained and connected on the go.

If you’re after a large van that’s easy to live with, a Vauxhall Movano lease is worth serious consideration – once you’ve found your way around all the different options.

Citroen Relay

Sharing the same platform as the Fiat Ducato and Peugeot Boxer, the Citroen Relay is a very good, very large van.

If you’re weighing up your options between the three sister vans, Citroen’s focus on the long-term running costs is a bonus, and there are plenty of clever touches that make the Relay an affordable van lease in the long run.

For example, the front bumper has been designed to split into three separate sections, so if one is damaged, it’s only that small section that needs replacing.

Even the tyres have been chosen carefully, with Citroen using tyres that are a common and cost-effective size. A van with a puncture won’t be off the road for long, reducing vehicle downtime and minimising costs.

The Relay is a versatile beast, too.

Available in four lengths and three roof heights, the capacity of the Relay ranges from 8m3 in the L1H1 variant to 17m3 in the L4H3 van, while the payload ranges between 1,125kg to 1,870kg.

If you’re after something a bit more specialist, the Relay is also available in a range of formats, including a chassis cab, tipper, crew van, dropside, and Luton, plus Citroen has a whole host of Ready To Run conversions so you can get behind the wheel of the right van for you without having to wait as long as a specialist conversion would take.

With a solid equipment list, practical cabin, excellent capacity, and plenty of driver aids (including stability control, hill start assist, and ABS), a Citroen Relay lease offers something versatile and good value for your hard-earned cash.

Ford Transit

There’s no van that can quite match the iconic Ford Transit for longevity.

In a tumultuous world, the Transit remains steadfast and reliable. There’s a reason it’s consistently topping the best-selling lists.

The Ford Transit does come in smaller guises now if you’re after something a little unwieldy, including the Transit Courier and Connect (think post van) and the Transit Custom (slightly larger – more of an ice-cream van).

But if you’re after a very good, very big shed on wheels, you can’t go wrong with the original Ford Transit.

Ford claims there are over 450 different configurations of the Transit available, so once you’ve worked your way through all the different options, including wheelbases and roof heights, there’s a solid 99% chance you’ll find a Transit van lease that suits your business.

Variants include a chassis model that can accommodate a flatbed or tipper section, single and double cab models, and you can also get the Transit as a minibus, should you need to cart an entire football team around.

There’s a good amount of tech on offer too, both in the guise of active safety and cruise control systems, as well as the tech in the cabin itself, including the infotainment system.

And it’s a well-thought-out cabin.

There’s plenty of space in the door bins for a flask or water bottle, the cupholders are the perfect size for a takeaway coffee, and the tray in front of the middle passenger seems almost purpose-built to hold your lunch.

It really feels like the interior was built by the people who use the van every day, and each touchpoint has been carefully thought out. If you’re often out on the roads for hours, a Ford Transit lease is exactly what you need.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Now over 20 years old, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter stands up as one of the finest large vans on the market.

Like every other big van, the Sprinter has a myriad of options to choose from so you can configure the perfect van lease for your business: four body lengths and three roof heights, along with crew cab, chassis cab, dropside, and minibus variants.

Alongside this, there are also three trim levels available (Pure, Progressive, and Power), as well as optional packs including Driver, Comfort, Premium, Active Safety, Lane Tracking, and Comfort Plus.

In other words, with this world of choice, there’s bound to be a Sprinter variant that’s perfect for you and your business.

But the Sprinter doesn’t sacrifice anything to offer you this much choice.

The steering is fantastic – heavy, but well-balanced – and Mercedes claims the Sprinter is the most well-connected van on the market with the addition of Mercedes Pro and the MBUX infotainment system.

And when it comes to stashing your cargo, the Sprinter does an excellent job at being a big empty box.

Offering load volumes of up to 17m3 and payloads of up to 3,175kg (the max GVW extends as far as 5.5 tonnes), it’s a supremely practical vehicle. The regular 3.5-tonne van has a 1,200kg payload and can be driven on a standard licence, while all vans come with double rear doors and a left-hand sliding door for ease of access.

Step inside the cabin, and the picture is just as nice.

Entry-level vans get a 7in touchscreen, while higher-spec vans get a 10.25in screen. The cabin storage is very good, with plenty of space for all your snacks/your laptop/your boots/whatever else it is you need to get the job done.

For a more premium van experience, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter lease is an excellent option.

Volkswagen Crafter

Though the Volkswagen Crafter lived in the shadow of the mighty Sprinter for some time (the two shared the same platform), these days the Crafter stands on its own four wheels, with VW having pumped 2 billion euros into designing an all-new version.

As before, it’s available in several guises so you can craft your Crafter: panel van, single and double-cab, chassis cab, three body lengths, three roof heights, the options list goes on.

The cabin is spacious and well-thought-out, with VW aiming to reduce stress on the driver.

This means there’s a much greater emphasis on ergonomics, with a comfortable driver’s seat and plenty of usable space, including storage for both driver and passengers.

The infotainment screen is crisp and logical, while the entry-level Startline trim gives you storage under the passenger seat and a fold-down tray in the backrest to turn the cab into an on-the-move office.

Upgrade to the Trendline trim and you’ll get an even more comfortable driver’s seat with two-way lumbar adjustment, an armrest, cruise control, a multifunction steering wheel, electric heated door mirrors, and an upgraded 6.5in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.

The configuration of the van can get a little confusing though.

The Crafter starts with the L3 length (short wheelbase), with the L4 (long wheelbase) and L5 (extra-long van) providing additional length if you need it. The L1 and L2 lengths only apply to the VW Transporter, so you won’t find them here.

The roof heights work in the same way, with the H2 being the low-roof option, the H3 the standard roof, and the H4 the high-roof variant.

All of this means the Crafter can transport volumes ranging between 9.9m3 in the L3H2, and up to 18.4m3 for the very biggest L5H4, while payload ranges between 784kg and 2,621kg.

And because the Crafter is one of the latest van designs to hit the big van market, it comes packed with some of the latest tech and advanced safety features, including Cross Wind Assist, Lane Assist, Rear Traffic Assist, and Side Assist.

If you’re shopping around for your next large van, a Volkswagen Crafter lease is one to consider.