Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is most reliable van in FN50 survey

Caption: The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter range

Mercedes-Benz has yet again dominated the FN50 van reliability survey, continuing its reign as the leasing industry’s most reliable van manufacturer.

Its Sprinter continues its stronghold as the most dependable van, too, ranking first.

Part of the driver for the brand’s success is its focus on uptime.

Mercedes Pro Connect provides real-time updates directly from the vehicle that can be used to plan maintenance and monitor key criteria.

If things do go wrong, operators also benefit from Mobilovan, a free breakdown and repair service operated by the brand, and 24-hour dealer support.

Steve Bridge, managing director of Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, said: “We are so proud that our vehicles deliver the promise we make to our customers; we work hard to keep their businesses moving, so to be acknowledged as the most reliable manufacturer and have the most reliable van proves that we deliver on that promise.”

The closely-fought battle at the top of the table sees Volkswagen and Ford swap places, taking second and third respectively.

Mercedes-Benz launched an all-new version of the Sprinter this year, although these figures will relate to the previous model. Next year’s survey should gauge whether the Sprinter has managed to retain its winning formula.

The new model has improved infotainment, better fuel economy and greater payloads.

Volkswagen’s Transporter rises to second place in the most reliable van rankings.

The Commercial Fleet Award-winning van maintains a top three position in the reliability index year after year.

Mercedes-Benz has a second model at the top of the table this year, with the Vito taking third place.

Another strong performance is the rise of the Vauxhall Vivaro to fourth. Now in its final production year, the British-built model will be replaced in 2019 with an all-new version build under the PSA Group alliance.

In fifth place – and the only French model to feature in the top five – is the Citroën Berlingo.

As with the Sprinter, the Berlingo’s result will be based on the outgoing model rather than the newly introduced version that is set to go on sale before the end of the year.

It shares a platform with the Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo, both of which are also new and feature a range of driver assistance systems and technologies not usually found in this segment.

French manufacturers have had a better result this year overall, with PSA Group partners Peugeot and Citroën ranking fourth and fifth respectively in the manufacturer rankings.

Volkswagen achieves a top 10 hat-trick this year with its Crafter taking sixth place and the Caddy ranking 10th.

The Crafter was replaced in 2017 and it no longer shares Mercedes-Benz underpinnings.

While those were never enough to earn it a chart-topping position in the FN50 reliability survey – it didn’t make the top 10 last year – the new vehicle has certainly improved its score.

It now shares a platform with the MAN TGE, a vehicle that comes with a true truck-focused aftersales approach.

The Caddy clings to 10th place, having held second last year – a dramatic shift for the popular model.

Completing this year’s top 10, Ford’s Transit Connect enters in seventh while the Transit slips to ninth from fourth.

Japanese brands Toyota and Nissan both climb the manufacturer rankings, with Nissan placing seventh and Toyota pushing Mitsubishi out of the tenth spot.

By contrast, Renault and Fiat both descend the table, filling eighth and ninth respectively.

> The van reliability results were announced at the FN50 Dinner on November 6, 2018

>  Mercedes' double win was announced at the FN50 Dinner held on November 6, 2018.

> Pictures from the 2018 FN50 Dinner