What Is The Best Crew Cab Van To Buy In 2026?

What’s the best crew cab van to buy in 2026? We compare models from leading manufacturers to help you choose the right one for you.

So, you’ve decided you need a new crew van for your business, but you have no idea where to start. Choosing the best crew cab van for you can be tough, especially when you have no idea what you are looking for

It’s important to choose a van that best suits your needs. Different drivers and businesses use their vehicles in different ways. The first thing you should do when searching for a crew van is to make sure you’re looking for one that best caters to your exact requirements.

That’s why, in this post, we’ll be breaking down some of the leading double cab vans on the market and how they perform in these key disciplines: load space, payload, warranties and fuel efficiency. All of which are important factors to consider when choosing a new commercial vehicle.

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Here are our four contestants:

• Ford Transit Custom L2H1

• Citroen Berlingo XL

• Ford Transit L3H2

• Renault Trafic LWB

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best crew cab van models to buy in 2026 and beyond.

Load Space

First up: load space.

Having a van with a load area big enough to transport all necessary tools, equipment, or produce is vital to most van drivers.

By choosing a crew van over a panel van, you’re sacrificing a lot of load space.

However, you might find that being able to transport all of your crew is more important than having a larger load area. Still, having more load space is always a bonus.

Here is how our contestants compare in terms of their load area:

Ford Transit Custom

Max Length: 2,004 mm

Max Width: 1,777 mm

Max Load Volume: 4.3 cubic metres

 

Citroen Berlingo

Seats up:

Max Length – 1,450 mm

Max Load Volume – 1.8 cubic metres

Seats down:

Max Length – 2000 mm

Max Load Volume – 3.9 cubic metres

 

Ford Transit

Max Length: 2,488 mm

Max Width: 1784 mm

Max Load Volume: 7.6 cubic metres

 

Renault Trafic

Max Length: 2,423 mm

Max Width: 1775 mm

Max Load Volume: 4.3 cubic metres

 

Specifications for the Renault Trafic and Ford Transit Custom crew vans will be based on the latest L2H1 models. The Ford Custom also comes in an L1H1 variant, but the Trafic doesn’t anymore, so it’s only fair to compare them in as similar a size as we can.

Meanwhile, the Berlingo only comes in an XL size option, so that’s what we’ll be using.

For the Ford Transit, we’ll be using the L3H2 variant to represent a larger-sized option, as it’s the most popular, in our experience.

 

Load Space Summary

It’s no surprise that the Ford Transit wins this category, being the only large-sized van on our list.

If you need as much load space as possible, the Ford Transit is the best crew cab van option for you.

They’re big, powerful and make for the perfect utility vehicle for environmental engineering services and other tough jobs.

With our medium-sized candidates, the Custom and Trafic both come in at 4.3 cubic metres. So not much separates them.

The Berlingo also deserves a special mention.

With fold-away seating to allow up to 3.9 cubic metres of load space, its flexibility makes it a very strong choice, especially if you can get away with a smaller-sized vehicle.

If you like the design of Citroen’s Berlingo but need something slightly bigger, the Citroen Dispatch could be worth looking into.

Payload

Next up: payload.  Payload is the maximum weight you can legally carry in your vehicle. It’s calculated by subtracting the vehicle’s kerb weight from its gross vehicle weight (GVW).

For example, if a vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 2,500 kg and a kerb weight of 1,500 kg, the maximum payload would be 1,000 kg.

It can be an important factor if you plan on transporting heavy goods or tools.

Alternatively, if you plan to use your crew van on family getaways, being able to carry a whole range of camping equipment, bikes, etc., can also be handy.

Here is each vehicle’s average payload:

 

Ford Transit Custom: 778 – 1,295 kg (1,036.5 kg average)

Citroen Berlingo: 840 kg

Ford Transit: 1310 – 1,415 kg

Renault Trafic: 978 kg

 

 

Payload Summary

Again, it’s unsurprising to see the Ford Transit come out on top by a comfortable margin.

With a payload ranging between 1,310 kg and 1,415 kg, you’ll be able to transport well over a tonne of goods at once – but that’s to be expected with a vehicle of that size.

 

 

Warranties

One of the main advantages of buying new instead of used is that you benefit from the full manufacturer’s warranty.

Used vans that are only a few years old may still have some warranty time left. But that will depend on how old the vehicle is, as well as its mileage.

Warranties are important for covering any manufacturing defects free of charge.

Such defects include the replacement of faulty parts, damage caused by manufacturing faults and any labour costs for repairs.

However, manufacturers’ warranties only apply to the base vehicle.

Any special fittings, conversions or additional bodywork is not covered under warranty. Here’s how each manufacturer’s warranty matches up:

 

Ford: 3 years or up to 100,000 miles

Citroen: 3 years or up to 100,000 miles

Renault: 3 years or up to 100,000 miles

 

Warranties Summary

This category is a tie.

If you’re interested in a Renault Trafic crew van, it’s also worth noting that Nissan’s Primastar comes with a five-year warranty up to 100,000 miles.

The Primastar is built on the same platform as the Trafic, even in the same factory – the only differences are a different badge and a better warranty.

All vehicles we’re comparing come with what we believe is a sufficient warranty plan.

You’ll be saving yourself a lot of money within those three years than if you had to pay for all the maintenance yourself.

That’s why we advise van buyers to seek new vehicles instead of used ones if possible.

 

Fuel Efficiency

Last, but by no means least, is fuel efficiency.

Getting your money’s worth when buying a van is important. So, getting one that’s efficient in fuel consumption is a must.

Fuel efficiency and miles-per-gallon (mpg) figures are never guaranteed.

There are a number of factors, such as driving style, gross vehicle weight and maintenance, that can affect a van’s fuel economy.

Nevertheless, knowing the fuel efficiency of different options on the market is still useful, even if the numbers aren’t 100% consistent.

Here’s how our contestants compare:

 

Ford Transit Custom: 39.2 mpg

Citroen Berlingo: 50.2 mpg

Ford Transit: 40.9 mpg

Renault Trafic: 40.3 mpg

 

Fuel Efficiency Summary

NOTE: These figures are for the diesel variants only. All four of our options also come in all-electric versions, with some, such as the Custom, also having hybrid options. 

But diesel is still the most used fuel type by UK van drivers. So it makes sense to use diesel vans for our fuel economy comparison. 

At over 50 mpg, the Citroen Berlingo tops the charts. Fitted with a smaller, more frugal 1.5-litre engine and a much lighter GVW than the others, this was very much to be expected.

Despite being the largest van in our list, the Transit is the second most fuel-efficient, according to figures from Ford. Which is very impressive.

Between the two medium vans, the Transit Custom wins. But the real-life difference will be pretty negligible.

If fuel economy is the single most important factor in your van-buying journey, we’ve also written a guide comparing the most economical vans in each size category.

We recommend checking that out.

 

What’s The Best Crew Cab Van For Family Use?

So what’s the best crew cab van for family use? We believe an L2H1 Ford Transit Custom is the best fit.

If you’re using a crew cab as a family wagon, your buying criteria will be slightly different. 

Work-focused features such as payload become less important. Safety and comfort now become the priority.

In our experience, families look for these features most when shopping for a new crew van:

• Isofix points
• Safety
• Load space
• Comfort features
• Reliability

 

The Ford Transit Custom ticks all of these boxes. The DCIV variant includes two ISOFIX points in the rear to secure child restraints. Plus the ‘captain’s chair’ in the single passenger seat models makes it easier to check on your little ones while travelling. 

In terms of safety, the Transit Custom excels. The latest model earned five stars in Euro NCAP testing, scoring full or nearly full points in all disciplines.

By comparison, the Renault Trafic/Nissan Primastar and Stellantis mid-sized vans earned just four stars. They only performed ‘adequate’ or ‘below par’ in the crash avoidance category, whereas the Transit Custom scored nearly full marks.

L2H1 variant of the Transit Custom adds additional load space. The short wheelbase version has a load volume of approximately 2.5 cubic metres. The L2’s load volume is approximately 3.5 cubic metres. 

That’s an extra whole cubic metre for bikes, scooters, suitcases, and other cargo you’d need on a family outing.

Customs also come packed with comfort features as standard. Even the lower ‘Trend’ trim comes with automatic air conditioning, parking sensors, and CarPlay as standard.

Upgrade to a ‘Limited’ trim and enjoy a full colour-coded exterior, alloy wheels, automatic heated mirrors, and more. 

Finally, reliability. 

Reliability is at the forefront of buyers’ minds these days when looking for a car or van. No one wants an unexpected breakdown, especially while trying to enjoy some time with the family.

Luckily, the Transit Custom shines yet again when it comes to reliability. 

According to the latest FN50 report, the Custom is the third most reliable van model on the market today. 

The only two vans ahead of it were the Mercedes Sprinter and VW Transporter — which it now shares electrical and mechanical components with anyway. All new Ford vans come with free breakdown cover as well through Ford Assist.

If you’re looking for the best crew cab van for family use, the Ford Transit Custom is our pick.

 

What Is The Best Double Cab Van?

If we had to choose our favourite all-rounder, the Ford Custom would be our pick for the best crew cab van you can buy right now.

It just ticks so many boxes, and looks great doing it. No wonder it’s the most popular van in the UK, according to SMMT.

Other models might be better suited to your needs, though. 

Constantly stuck in stop-start traffic? An automatic crew van might be kinder on your left leg.

Want a smaller vehicle to reduce cost because you don’t need as much load space? The Citroen Berlingo crew cab will do the job perfectly.

Always do your research to make sure the crew cab van you’re buying best suits your needs. 

Hopefully, this guide has made your decision a little bit easier. We’re happy to answer any further questions in the comments below.

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