Its double tops for the Ford Transit at the Business Van of the Year Awards
Ford Transit Courier voted Best Small Delivery Van
Ford Transit Custom voted Best Small Trades Van
Independent Business Van of the Year Awards run by Business Vans
Supported by Vanarama, an award winning supplier of van leasing to SMEs
The Transit badge has to be the most iconic and recognised in commercial circles, with the Ford celebrating its 50th birthday in 2015. And in 2016, the Transit has won the Best Small Trades Van and Best Small Delivery Van at the Business Van of the Year at the Business Van of the Year Awards.
Now in their third year, the Business Van of the Year Awards, sponsored by van leasing experts Vanarama, are the premier awards for the light commercial vehicle industry. And this year competition was even fiercer as the manufacturers battled it out for the top honours.
Best Small Delivery Van: Ford Transit Courier 1.0-litre Ecoboost Trend
The Transit Courier's compact dimensions are perfectly suited to urban environments, where it slides into tight spaces. But with its 2.3 cubic load area and 660kg payload, it's certainly no lightweight. In fact it almost matches that of vans from a class above, reckoned the award judges, but all underpinned by low running costs with over 50mpg fuel economy.
Ford also offers exceptional aftersales support from its Transit centres and a strong warranty package too, which are hugely important considerations for all businesses in these challenging times.
Judge, Eddie Parker from GE Capital Fleet said: "The Courier takes a new stance to a small van, bringing a successful formula into a new sector. It's also jam packed with options such as, Ford's in-car connectivity system Sync, with emergency assist and Applink on the Trend trim, sat-nav, cruise control and reversing camera."
Best Small Trades Van: Ford Transit Custom 2.2 TDCi Trend
The Custom is the mid-sized Transit and adds this award to an impressive back catalogue dating from its launch in 2013. It has built a reputation for being great to drive, affordable to run, practical and safe. Little wonder the judges thought it was the right van for small trades.
Judges praised its appearance, car like drive and great cargo carrying ability: the Custom in L3 form has a practical load volume of 6.0 cu m with a 1357kg payload, and can take three Euro pallets with a one-metre high load. The 125PS 2.2-litre TDCi also boasts a 36.2 mpg combined fuel consumption figure.
One of judges, Jayson Whittington, manager, commercial and leisure vehicle valuations at Glass's summed the Transit Custom up: "The Transit Custom boasts fresh looks, combined with practical load space."
Martyn Collins, editor of Business Vans, said: "Choosing the right vehicles for the job is a serious business and one which many van operators get wrong - sometimes with costly consequences. So these Awards highlight the best vans, financing and business support programmes for traders, small businesses and small fleet van operators in the SME sector."
The Business Van of the Year Awards were judged by an independent panel of experts:
Dave Bowen, managing director, BT Fleet - chair of the judges.
Andy Alderson, managing director, Vanarama
Duncan Ward, regional operational director, BCA
Jayson Whittington, manager of commercial vehicle and leisure valuations, Glass's
Eddie Parker, fleet CV consultant EMEA, GE Capital Fleet
James Davis, director of commercial vehicles, Manheim
Business Vans serves the small business, trades and SME van fleet sector with information on business vans. The news portal and e-newsletter specialises in talking to micro business (fewer than 10 employees) to the larger small enterprise with more than 25 vans on its books.
Click here for full details of the Awards go to: http://www.businessvans.co.uk/van-news/business-van-of-the-year-2016-van-news/
Contact:
Ralph Morton, editorial director
07970 165 328