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Van Specifications

Naturally, your ideal van will depend on the type of job you have in mind. Unfortunately it is common for different vehicle makers to measure their vans differently. This means that comparing different vans to understand things like your storage area, is not always easy.

To straighten things out we’ve grouped together the most popular van types by size, and translated all of their respective measurements into an easy to understand metres-big reference. We’ve also catalogued their maximum loads into kilograms. We’ve also noted their passenger seating and fuel economy for you.

So if you’re not sure of your millimetres from your inches, or your cubic feet from your cubic metres, this should be just the job!

It’s worth noting that as new van models are released, their measurements and fuel efficiency may change. Please treat this guide as an indication of their general size and performance. Any questions you have can be easily answered by contacting the van hire company.

One more thing to remember: The space between the rear wheel arches of most vans will be narrower than the given interior width (usually by around 40 centimetres).

Compact Vans

Most compact vans are no bigger than your average hatchback. They are deceptively small but can carry a surprising amount, and are not at all daunting to drive. They are perfect for whizzing around the city to make shuttle-runs and light deliveries.

These compact vans (below) are actually exactly the same vehicle. The only differences are the branding and the type of engine.

Compact van models

Citroen Nemo
Peugeot Bipper
Fiat Fiorino

Typical Specifications:

Load Space
Length: 1.5m
Width: 1.4m
Height: 1.2m
Carry Load: Up to 600kg
Seats (inc. driver): 2

Small Vans

A small van might be right up your street if you are transporting bulkier items, like a washing machine, or part of a household. These vans are typically the same size as a medium saloon car and they can even handle like one, even with a full load. Most van hire companies stock plenty these vans so they can be easy to find, and usually work out to be the cheapest option for hire.

Small van models

Ford Transit Connect
Volkswagen Caddy
Vauxhall Combo
Renault Kangoo
Citroen Berlingo
Peugeot Partner

Typical Specifications

Load Space:
Length: 1.7m
Width: 1.5m
Height: 1.2m
Carry Load: Up to 900kg
Seats (inc. driver): 2
MPG: 40 – 50mpg

Medium Panel Vans

When it comes to the medium panel van category, variety is the spice of life. A medium van can often maximise the capacity of your budget, and these usually cost only a little more to rent than a small van. They might appear more difficult but appearances can be deceiving. Most medium vans handle like an large saloon or estate car. Whats more, they can be stuffed with the complete contents of a small flat, or more if you opt for one of the larger variants like the high-roof or long wheel-base. Access can be made easy with the sliding side panel as well as the swing doors at the rear. They even come with an extra seat in the cab, allowing 3 people (including the driver) to come along for the ride. Perfect for bringing your friends along to help unload!

Medium SWB van models

Ford Transit SWB
Mercedes Sprinter SWB
Volkswagen Transporter
Vauxhall Vivaro
Renault Trafic
Mercedes Vito
Citroen Relay SWB
Fiat Ducato SWB
LDV Maxus SWB

Typical Specifications

Load Space:
Length: 2.4m
Width: 1.7m
Height: 1.4m or 1.65m (with medium roof)
Carry Load: Up to 1200kg
Seats (inc. driver): 3
MPG: 30 – 40mpg

Long Wheel Base Vans

If you are moving anything larger or heavier than a smaller van can take, or if you have a lot of stuff, then a long wheel-base (LWB) van would be worth a look. Most of these come with a high roof and you can carry a good sized household inside. Due to all of the extra room, it’s worth taking a little more precaution and securing your load with bracing straps to prevent any of it moving during transit. Driving should be no more trouble than it would be with any medium van. However, you should also take a little more care when driving one of these as they are larger than almost anything else on the road, so be sure to use a little less speed.

Long wheelbase van models

Ford Transit
Mercedes Sprinter
Renault Master
Citroen Relay
Fiat Ducato
LDV Maxus

Typical Specifications

Load Space:
Length: 3.4m
Width: 1.7m
Height: 1.7m
Carry Load: 1500kg

Seats (inc driver): 3

MPG: 30 – 40mpg

Extra Long Wheel Base Vans

Just as the name suggests, the extra-long wheelbase (XLWB) van is an extended version of the long wheelbase van. Few other vans are available to drive without a special driving license that are as big as this. While they have a tremendous haulage capacity their total carry-load (maximum laden weight) is slightly lower than a long wheelbase van. This is due to their own larger body weight. What makes up for this is an extremely wide and long internal space, fit for carrying almost any household in a single trip.

Extra-long wheelbase van models

Mercedes Sprinter
Ford Transit Jumbo

Typical Specifications

Load Space:
Length: 4.1m
Width: 1.7m
Height: 1.8m
Carry Load: 1500kg
Seats (inc driver): 3
MPG: 28-35mpg

Luton Vans

The Luton van derives from the town in which it was first designed and built. Nowadays the term refers to all box-body vans. This means that the loading compartment is fitted seperately onto the chassis. Unlike other vans, the load compartment is directly above the rear wheels, meaning you lose none of the storage space. Due to their body being wider than the cab, they can be more tricky to drive and awkward to park. They can however offer the biggest possible load capacity. So, if you are moving home, you can take all of your belongings, the kitchen sink and probably your neighbours too.

As an additional point to note: If you are thinking about hiring a Luton van, try to find one with a tail lift. Some Luton vans do not have this as standard, which can cause problems if you are loading heavy items due to the difference in height from the ground to the loading bay.

Luton van models

Ford Transit
Mercedes Sprinter
Renault Master
Fiat Ducato
Citroen Relay

Typical Specifications

Load Space:
Length: 4m
Width: 2m
Height: 2.2m
Carry Load: 1200kg
Seats (inc driver): 3
MPG: 20-30mpg

Top City

van-hire-comparison.com is a price comparison website. We display the price and availability information from our van hire partners. Responsibility for the correctness of all pricing and availability information is that of our van hire partners. We do not offer vehicles for rent directly