WHAT VAN ? - The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work takes the green award at this years awards.

• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work wins Green Award at 2017 What Van? Awards for providing the “best solution for environmentally-conscious operators.”
• Businesses benefit from low running costs and 100% capital allowance in the first year
• Priced from £22,879 (excluding VAT and including £7,255 grant – based on GX3h)

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work has scooped the What Van? Green Award for 2017 at the special awards luncheon in central London. 

Based on the UK’s best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work offers the same style, comfort, equipment and technology as the passenger version, but with a load volume of 1,603 litres (measurement up to roof) and a payload of 495kg. 

There’s also easy access to the flat load area via the rear tailgate and rear side doors.

Unlike diesel- and petrol-powered vans, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Commercial is at its most efficient and environmentally-friendly in urban areas thanks to its electric range of up to 32 miles, but for longer journeys or on occasions when a rapid charger isn’t available there’s the backup of a 2.0-litre petrol engine which helps give the Outlander PHEV a total maximum range of 541 miles. It’s also extremely capable in the toughest of weather conditions with on demand all-wheel drive and S-AWC (Super All-Wheel Control) to assist the driver while cornering in low-grip situations, plus the added security of M-ASTC (Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control).

From the operator’s point of view, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work offers a comfortable car-like driving experience and the convenience of an automatic transmission; cruise control, speed limiter, dual zone climate control, Bluetooth hands-free and auto dimming rear view mirror, while businesses benefit from its low running costs – it has an official combined-cycle fuel economy figure of 156mpg – and 100% capital allowance in the first year and reduced National Insurance contributions.

Editor of What Van? James Dallas commented, "The Outlander PHEV 4Work remains the best solution for environmentally-conscious operators who require more range than an electric van can offer. It rides and handles well on road and offers operators the capability of venturing off the beaten track. It also makes sense from an economic and environmental point of view with official fuel consumption of 157mpg coupled with CO₂ of just 42g/km.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK said, “Whatever segment the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV competes in, it’s a winner. We’re delighted that the What Van? editorial team appreciates the environmental and commercial benefits of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Commercial and has seen fit to bestow the vehicle with its prestigious Green Award for 2017. Plug-in hybrid vehicles can deliver huge savings for private and commercial users and represent a key stage in helping to move motoring towards a cleaner future.”

The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was launched in the UK in 2014 and since then over 25,000 has been sold, making it the best-selling plug-in hybrid in the UK. Two versions of the  Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4Work are available, the GX3h priced from £22,879 (excluding VAT and including the £7,225 grant), and the GX3h+ version which adds an electric pre-heater, smartphone app and heated front seats for £23, 512 (excluding VAT and including the £7,425 grant). Grants are based on 20% of the vehicle list price, up to a maximum of £8,000.

WHAT VAN ? - The Ultimate award goes to not one, but three models, all made on the same underpinnings.

The Citroen Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Toyota Proace are the 2017 What Van? Light Commercial Vehicles of the Year. It is the first time the award has been shared between three outstanding vans.

Citroen, Peugeot and Toyota collected the coveted trophy at the exclusive What Van? Awards luncheon held in partnership with Truckman, FORS (the Fleet Operators Recognition Scheme), Crystal Ball and Trucksmith at the Brewery in central London on 13 December.

The models also jointly won the won the Medium Van of the year Award.

PSA Peugeot-Citroen builds the new Dispatch, Expert and Proace at its Sevelnord plant near Lille in northern France and What Van? Editor James Dallas said:

“The vans represent a significant step up in terms of quality, practicality and economy compared with their predecessors.”

The trio have entered the biggest-selling sector of the UK light commercial market and one that is extremely competitive with high-quality models such as the Ford Transit Custom, Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro, Volkswagen Transporter and Mercedes Vito all vying for attention.

Dallas added: “The PSA pair and Toyota needed to up their game – and with the new generation models they most certainly have done.”

There were two new inductees into the What Van? Hall of Fame, Dave Petts of Ford, who has done so much to establish the Transit as the UK’s most famous and biggest-selling van brand, and What Van? magazine itself, which was originally known as the Good Van Guide and is celebrating its 30^th anniversary before undergoing a major redesign in the New Year.

Fiat Professional scooped both the Small Van and Light Van of the Year prizes for its respective Fiorino and Doblo Cargo vans while the Iveco Daily was crowned Large Van of the Year.

The Nissan Navara took the Pick-up Award and Volkswagen was recognised for having the best website.

Other winners included Dacia, Renault, Vauxhall, Mitsubishi, FORS, Trucksmith and MediaFleet WrapidCoat.

“The last 12 months have been exceptional in terms of the outstanding new product that has come to market,” Dallas said, “so it’s a pleasure to be able to recognise the best in the business.”

WHAT VAN ? - The British Built Vivaro takes the Best Used Van Title for the 2nd year running.

Vauxhall has picked up another award to round off a highly-successful year, with the Vivaro being named as What Van? Used Van of the Year for the second year in a row.

Now in their fourth year, the prestigious What Van? awards celebrate the best of the best in the LCV sector, with all 14 winners receiving their gongs at the awards lunch this afternoon. 

The Brit-built Vivaro was again recognised at the awards, successfully defending its title as ‘Used Van of the Year’.

“The Vivaro has again proven itself to be the most thought-out and user-friendly medium van on the market, and that combines with its stylish appeal and best-in-class Bi-Turbo engines to create an appealing proposition,” said What Van? Editor James Dallas. “The fact that it’s British-built and supporting the UK economy is the icing on the cake of a well-thought-out light commercial vehicle proposition.”

This year has seen Vauxhall’s trophy cabinet fill considerably, with the manufacturer receiving multiple awards for models across its commercial vehicle and passenger car ranges. For its CV range, Vauxhall has been recognised by Trade Van Driver, Fleet World, and Business Van magazines, among others, in a year that has also seen Vauxhall’s Luton plant – where the Vivaro is made – receive awards for health and safety.

Steve Bryant, Vauxhall’s Head of Commercial Vehicle Brand, said: “The Vivaro is a model we are very proud of, and to build it in the UK is something that is very important to us. To see it recognised yet again is great to see, as it continues to prove itself to CV operators with its style, practicality, comfort and efficiency.”

What Van? offers light commercial vehicle buying and owning advice, and the awards are decided by its expert editorial panel comprising decades of experience in the industry.

WHAT VAN ? - The Nissan Navara takes the best pick up award in this years awards ceremony.

The all-new Nissan Navara has been named Pick-Up of the Year by leading title What Van?

The honour adds to the already impressive haul of awards claimed by the market-leading model, including the coveted International Pick-Up Award 2016.

What Van? judges praised the Navara for setting a new segment benchmark for quality, refinement and technology while still offering the pulling power and payload expected of a pick-up.

James Dallas, Editor of What Van?, said: “With its combination of on-road refinement and off-road capability, the Navara is simply the best pick-up available in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”

Anthony Jones, Navara Product Manager at Nissan Motor (GB), said: “The Navara has completely redefined the pick-up sector since its launch and builds upon Nissan’s 80 year pick-up heritage to set new standards across the board.

“This latest award is another major endorsement of the Navara’s product quality; delivering crossover-inspired comfort and technology both on and off-road, while high powered, economical engines provide an incredible  towing capacity and payload.”

Navara’s leading features include multi-link rear suspension, forward emergency braking and around view monitor. Many safety features are available across the range including Forward Emergency Braking on all double cab models; driver, passenger, side, knee and curtain airbags; electronic Limited Slip Differential (eLSD); Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control (on 4WD models).

Priced from £23,520 RRP, the Nissan Navara can be specified with either a double cab or a king cab and a 190PS twin-turbo or 160PS single turbo version of the 2.3-litre dCi engine. There’s also a choice of two or four-wheel drive and a 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic transmission.

Also benefiting from competitive financing and servicing offers, combined with Nissan’s LCV 5 Year / 100,000 mile warranty, the Navara gives owners the ultimate peace of mind.

WHAT VAN ? - The New Citroen Dispatch takes it's first two UK awards at the Van of the year ceremony.

New Citroën Dispatch has just picked up its first UK accolades since it was launched earlier this year.

The new mid-size panel van was named joint winner of both the overall Light Commercial Vehicle of the Year prize and the Medium Van of the Year trophy at the 2017 What Van? Awards. 

The honours were presented at the prestigious What Van? Awards luncheon in London earlier today.

What Van?’s panel of experienced judges considered the model to be “an outstanding new van that has come to the market this year”, adding that the New Dispatch “breaks new ground in the largest and most important sector of the market.”

James Dallas, Editor of WhatVan?, commented; “The Citroën Dispatch represents a big step up compared with its predecessor in terms of quality, refinement and practicality. It should propel the brand to the forefront of what is a very competitive market sector. The new Dispatch brings useful innovations to the market and it now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best medium vans on offer.”

The What Van? Awards are voted for by an expert panel of judges who use their combined decades of experience to decide the winners. The awards highlight the best products, companies and services in the industry, and reward those making the biggest difference to van operators and drivers across the UK.

The design of the New Citroën Dispatch was inspired by the world of passenger cars and SUVs. Its styling is fluid and practical, with the all-new modular platform allowing New Citroën Dispatch to be available in three lengths. Its practicality is illustrated by an optional hands-free function for the sliding side doors and numerous improvements in the cabin that make the life of the driver significantly easier.

Besides useful everyday functions like hands-free entry and start, New Citroën Dispatch also features technology such as Mirror Screen smartphone connectivity that brings the van right up to date.

Jeremy Smith, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Sector Operations, said; “We are delighted that the New Citroën Dispatch has been voted as the best new light commercial vehicle on the market by What Van? magazine. To gain industry recognition on such an important new product, in a highly competitive market, is very important to us. We are confident that new and existing customers will be equally impressed when they get behind the wheel to experience the new van for themselves.”

WHAT VAN ? - Mercedes takes teh safety award for the seventh and every year its been around.

What Van? has once again honoured Mercedes-Benz with the Safety Award for 2017 – an accolade that the manufacturer has held for a record-breaking seventh consecutive time.

In fact, since the Safety category was added to the What Van? Awards, Mercedes-Benz has received the honour each year.

This year, there was a special mention for the Blind Spot Assist system. Blind Spot Assist enables the driver to monitor those areas that are not easily visible. 

The system utilises two near-range radar sensors in the rear bumper and covers the area to the left and right in adjacent lanes. If these sensors detect a vehicle in the blind spot while driving, a red hazard warning triangle lights up in the relevant exterior mirror. 

If the assistance system detects that the driver has activated the indicator and wants to change lanes anyway, an audible warning is issued and the red warning symbol starts to flash.

In addition to the Safety Award, Mercedes-Benz Vans was also highly commended in the Large Van Award category for Sprinter and also in the Website Award category.

The What Van? Awards are decided by its expert editorial panel comprising decades of experience in the industry. James Dallas, Editor at What Van, said: “A vast range of effective safety kit in its LCV line-up, including Blind Spot Assist, means Mercedes-Benz continues to be the clear leader in this vital area of the market.”

Steve Bridge, Managing Director, Mercedes-Benz Vans, added: “Blind Spot Assist is a fantastic example of how our safety systems benefit the businesses that use our vans – by helping to prevent accidents, the driver and other road users remain safe and the van remains on the road and earning its keep.

“It is a small system with a mighty impact and we are very proud to maintain our 100% success in this category.”

WHAT VAN ? - The VW Caddy & Amarok are highly recommended & the website wins too !

• Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles extends winning streak at What Van? Awards
• www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk claims Website of the Year Award 2017
• Volkswagen Caddy and Amarok ‘highly commended’ by What Van? judges

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has finished a very successful 2016 with more awards, this time courtesy of What Van?. The brand’s fully-responsive website claimed the ‘Website of the Year’ Award and both the Volkswagen Caddy and Amarok were highly commended.

The website – www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk – includes comprehensive overviews of the complete range of vehicles offered by the brand, along with links to downloadable brochures and price lists. 

The easy-to-navigate site also offers customers the ability to book vehicle services online and gives full details of offers and finance options available.

Customers can also find information regarding the brand’s conversion programme and available accessories for each model.

The brand’s website has received a number of updates during 2016, including the launch of a new online configurator and the introduction of a revised used vehicle section.

The online configurator offers new vehicle customers the opportunity to define the specification of their new vehicle from the comfort of their own office without the need for a pile of brochures or multiple website pages open. 

The simple step-by-step feature helps the customer choose the right vehicle, specification and options using useful images and descriptions. 

Once completed, the system generates a unique code that can be saved, shared with friends or colleagues via email and social media or taken into a Van Centre for the sales team to make the purchase process more streamlined.

The new used vehicle website allows customers to search quickly and easily from around 2,000 vehicles online from across the entire network. 

Once the perfect vehicle is found, customers can access the contact details for the Van Centre that is selling it, or, new for 2016, ‘Reserve Online’ by making a deposit via PayPal or ‘Make an Offer’ – a simple to use contact facility to start a negotiation. 

James Dallas, editor of What Van? commented: “Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles was a clear winner of the ‘Website of the Year’ Award for 2017. 

The brand’s site is easy to use and offers a strong all-round package that competently covers a wide range of products and services.”

The What Van? Awards judges also highly commended the Caddy in the Small Van category and the Amarok in the Pick-up Category. Dallas added: “The Caddy features a commendably high level of safety features, rock solid build quality and first rate on-the-road performance, which impressed the judges. 

The Amarok offers blistering performance on road for a pick-up and is highly capable when venturing off the tarmac too.”

WHAT VAN ? - The Duster from Dacia wins for the second year running as best 4x4 van.

• Dacia Duster Commercial 4x4 wins ‘Best 4x4 Van’ for second consecutive year
• Robust commercial SUV praised for its grip, ruggedness and affordability
• Priced from £10,095 (excl. VAT) – Duster is the most affordable new commercial SUV in the UK

The Dacia Duster Commercial 4x4 has been named ‘Best 4x4 Van’ for the second consecutive year at the What Van? Awards 2017 at an awards ceremony held in London this afternoon.

Based on the popular Dacia Duster compact SUV, and launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show 2015, the Duster Commercial 4x4 was praised by judges for its off-road capability, driving style and value for money. 

The Duster Commercial offers the perfect package for many tradesmen – based on the passenger car version of the vehicle yet with a 1,604-litre maximum load capacity and cost benefits thanks to its classification as an LCV.

James Dallas, Editor, What Van? said: “The versatile Dacia Duster Commercial, which retains the award from last year, is an excellent value for money proposition for operators who need to tackle tricky conditions such as icy or muddy tracks.”

Louise O’Sullivan, Head of Dacia UK said: “It’s great to see the Duster Commercial 4x4 again holding its own in this category. The Duster Commercial 4x4 applies the Dacia philosophy to LCVs – providing a no-nonsense solution to businesses looking for an affordable and reliable vehicle that’s also capable of being rugged and heading off-road when needed.”

The Dacia Duster Commercial 4x4 has a flat load area in lieu of rear seats and a payload of 550kg. Available in two different trim levels – Ambiance and Lauréate – the Duster Commercial 4x4 receives Bluetooth connectivity, electric front windows and a heated rear screen even on entry level versions. The Lauréate version adds features such as cruise control, leather steering wheel, alloy wheels, air conditioning and electric heated door mirrors. 

The Duster Commercial is offered with one business-oriented diesel engine – the dCi 110 unit, the best-selling Groupe Renault diesel powertrain, either as a 4x2 or a robust, go-anywhere 4x4. The 4x2 dCi 110 returns up to 64.2mpg (NEDC Combined), with CO₂ emissions as low as 115 g/km and is available from £10,095 (excluding VAT) for the Ambiance entry level trim. Meanwhile, the 4x4 dCi 110 returns up to 60.1mpg (NEDC Combined), with CO₂ emissions as low as 123 g/km and is available from £11,795 (excluding VAT) for the Ambiance trim.

Dacia offers a comprehensive selection of low-priced option packs to help owners secure payloads and protect their vehicle during a life of hard work. There is a choice of steel or mesh bulkheads between the passenger and cargo areas; privacy film for the tailgate window and mudguards.

The What Van? Awards are decided by the expert editorial panel of What Van? Magazine, calling on their combined decades of experience in the light commercial vehicle industry. The What Van? Awards seek to reward the best products, companies and services in the industry for their ability to make life easier, cleaner, safer and more efficient for light commercial vehicle operators in the UK.