Ford takes poll position as UK's most reliable van manufacturer

Ford has climbed to the top of the FN50 reliability index this year, relegating last year’s champion Mercedes-Benz Vans to second place.

The blue oval’s rise to victory has been gradual, with it accommodating third position in our league table last year. Ford last topped the list in 2016.

Britain’s biggest van manufacturer has been through a significant overhaul over the past two years as it readies itself for a new era of electric vehicles (EVs).

Ford re-launched its commercial vehicle division, in 2021, under the name Ford Pro and has since introduced a suite of new services to support its customers beyond simply supplying vehicles. These include connected uptime management systems that seek to proactively address vehicle issues to prevent breakdowns.

The Ford Transit has leapt to third place in the most reliable van index, reflecting the changes.

Further boosting Ford’s score is the addition of the compact Transit Connect into seventh place, after not ranking last year. The best-selling Transit Custom also moved up the table, snatching ninth place.

Most reliable van manufacturer:

*2022 position in brackets

Fleet News asked leasing companies to consider the brands and vans they had on fleet over the previous 12 months and list the most reliable ones based on the average number of days off the road with unplanned mechanical problems (but not including punctures). 

Click here to read the full FN50 analysis.

Previous reliability champion Mercedes may have slipped into second position this year but its flagship Sprinter model remains the UK’s most reliable light commercial vehicle overall.

A favourite among supermarket delivery fleets, the Sprinter’s reliability performance has been unrelenting – making it an undefeated champion in the sector. The Mercedes Vito fared less well, dropping six places to 10th.

Gallery: 2023's most reliable vans

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Beneath Mercedes sits Volkswagen. The German brand has tussled with Mercedes for the number one position for the last five years, but slips into third this year.

Like the Sprinter, the VW Transporter was able to retain its position from 2022, ranking second. While the vehicle nears the end of its life, it remains both a strong seller and a dependable workhorse.

The next generation Transporter is due to launch in 2024 and has been co-developed with Ford, as part of a collaboration agreement between the two giants. Ford is leading the project and both vehicles will use the same powertrains.

Less successful this year is the Volkswagen Crafter, a key rival for the Sprinter. It drops out of the Top 15 altogether. The Caddy, meanwhile, was replaced in 2021 with an all-new model.

The latest version is based on underpinnings derived from VW’s passenger car range, allowing for improved refinement and advanced driver assistance systems, but has not paid dividend when it comes to reliability as the van slips to sixth place.

Most reliable vans

*2022 position in brackets

The fourth most reliable van in this year’s FN50 is the Toyota Proace. The multiple Fleet News award winner accelerates to the top half of the table this year, surpassing its Stellantis siblings.

The Proace is a badge-engineered version of the Stellantis medium van and is essentially the same vehicle as the Vauxhall Vivaro (fifth) and the Peugeot Expert (15th).

Stellantis brands Vauxhall and Peugeot have elevated their respective positions this year with Vauxhall sitting in fourth and Peugeot claiming fifth. Citroen has gone the other way, falling from fourth to ninth. Fiat Professional rounds off the Top 10 list this year.

While Ford sells the most vans as an individual Marque, Stellantis is the UK’s largest van producer by volume. It is also the only brand to offer electric versions of all its vans.

Japanese manufacturer Nissan is the only manufacturer to retain its position year-on-year, staying in the seventh. The brand, which operates in collaboration with Renault, has recently launched the new Townstar van. The Townstar is a platform share with the Renault Kangoo and the Mercedes Citan. It is offered with petrol, diesel and electric powertrains. The electric Townstar will replace Nissan’s popular yet ageing NV200.