Ford still miles ahead in Irish van market despite myriad and stiff competition
Ford has 24% of the market with Volkswagen claiming 20%. But automakers offer something to suit everybody’s needs, writes .
After the first two trading months of 2018, just three brands were responsible for six out of every ten registrations of light commercial vehicles.
Ford is again substantially at the top of the ladder, its 2,287 units rolling off dealer forecourts representing 24% of the market, with a strong follow-up from Volkswagen with 1,886 units and 20%.
A really punchy performance from regular third-placer Renault saw the French brand register 1,345 units in January, giving it a 14.5% market share, up from under 12%.
Filling out the top five were Toyota (915/9.8%), and Peugeot (544/5.8%). Much of the Renault gain came from share slippage by each of the other four marques. Just around a quarter of LCV sales in the period were shared between 19 other brands.
The biggest selling van model in the period was again the Volkswagen Caddy with 673 units of the small van registered, followed by the Ford Transit Custom (667), Ford’s small van Transit Connect (584), Renault’s medium Trafic (528), and Volkswagen’s Transporter (463).
In segment terms, the biggest selling car-derived van is the Volkswagen Golf, the same brand’s Caddy is the top small van, Ford’s Transit Custom is the best-selling medium van, with Ford’s Transit large van topping its class. Toyota still tops the SUV commercial space with its Land Cruiser, while Ford rides high on the pick-up trail with its Ranger.
Five car-derived vans recorded registrations on the 2018 market, 10 small vans, 10 medium models, 11 large vans, 26 SUV commercials, and eight pick-ups.
Here is what the main brands are offering in 2018:
CITROEN
This French maker’s best seller is the almost ubiquitous Berlingo small van, very popular with the small craftsperson owner-operators. Available in 560kg-850kg payload variants, it also offers power from 75hp/100hp diesels, with prices from €12,964 plus Vat.
The Dispatch medium van is well-considered as a solid workhorse and very nice drive in its current fairly new generation. Three wheelbases and payloads ranging from 1,100kg-1,446kg, power availability is 95hp/115hp/120hp diesels. Prices from €17,517 plus Vat.
Citroen’s Relay is its large van contender, in three lengths and three heights with payloads from 1,155kg-1,865kg. Power is from 110hp and 130hp diesels. Chassis cabs and crew cab versions are available. Prices from €18,899 plus Vat.
DACIA
The sole commercial vehicle from this cheerful budget branch of the Renault empire is the Duster SUV Van, which combines a smart and practical design with straightforward all-you-need capability. Power from a 1.5 110hp diesel, with an AWD version and two grades. Price from €13,769 plus Vat.
FIAT
This Italian brand’s biggest seller is its big van, the Ducato, which comes in a range of three wheelbases and three height options. There are crew and dropside variants.
With GVWs from 3t-4.25t, the 2.3 diesels are available in enough power outputs between 130hp-180hp to comfortably pull any of them. Price from €23,280 plus Vat.
The Doblo Cargo small van is among the brand’s most popular LCVs, available in two lengths, two heights, and with pick-up and dropside platform cab variants. There are 95hp/105hp diesel options, with prices from €13,295 plus Vat.
The Talento medium van comes with two length and two height options, as well as offering crew-cab versions. Power from versions of the 1.6 diesels range from 95hp-145hp, so there’s ample pulling ability for a variety of work applications. Price from €18,735 plus Vat.
The diminutive Fiorino seems a tad too small for Irish tastes but does very well in urban Europe. One size, one 80hp diesel. Price from €11,495 plus Vat.
Fiat entered the pick-up market a year or so ago with the Fullback, which hasn’t yet made a big impression here. But it is a very capable vehicle, powered by a 2.4 diesel in 150hp/180hp options. Price from €21,950 plus Vat.
FORD
The Transit Custom has recently gotten significant improvements in style detail, cabin and engines. It’s the top seller in the brand and in its segment, and the new version powertrains are 2.0 diesels in 105/130/170hp versions, with 6-speed manual and automatic choices. Price TBC, current version from €24,000 including Vat.
The Transit large van is what made it the segment nameplate and draws a wide range of users across the local logistics and business/craft. Mobile connectivity is a big feature, as is an extraordinary list of size and capacity variants. The 2.0 diesels are Ford’s latest in 105hp-170hp options. Price from €27,450 including Vat.
The Transit Connect small van comes in two lengths and in a smart style that offers a good ‘face of the business’ for owners from a variety of enterprise areas. The engine options are 1.5 diesels in 75hp/100hp/120hp versions. Price from €16,400 including Vat.
Transit Courier is Ford’s small van in a smart package that has recently been upgraded. With three grades, there’s a choice from 75hp/95hp diesels. Price from €15,000 including Vat.
Top of its segment Ranger is a well-established pick-up nameplate globally and doing the business well for Ford here. A solid working vehicle, it is also well fitted for lifestyle use, with a big emphasis on connectivity. Power is from 130hp/160hp 2.2 or 200hp 3.2, both diesels. Price from €29,650 including Vat.
FUSO
The Canter light truck is a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz and provides a range of options, including a diesel hybrid engine. Box, dropside and flatbed versions can be provided to order. POA.
HYUNDAI
The Tucson SUV is based on the best-selling SUV passenger car and comes with all the comfort conveniences and safety technology of the car. With 1.7 and 2.0 diesel engine choices. Price from €24,222 plus Vat.
The Santa Fe is the brand’s larger SUV, and also brings to the commercial version the high levels of comfort and safety of its passenger car version. Power from 2.2 diesel. Price from €28,816 plus Vat.
ISUZU
The D-MAX is a long serving pick-up nameplate from this Japanese maker. It has a reputation for toughness and reliability and is available in both single and double cab versions. The latest iteration is powered by a 1.9 diesel outputting 164hp, and there are 2WD and AWD options. POA.
The N Series light trucks have a global reputation and are found in modern urban spaces and also serving communities in some of the most remote and difficult terrains. In 3t-11t GVWs, with a wide range of body variants possible on the base platform. POA.
IVECO
The Daily large van is the only light commercial vehicle currently sold in Ireland from this maker, which has a global base in heavy trucks. Panel van, crew cab and chassis cab versions, from 3.5t GVW. POA.
LDV Back on the market for the last few years, an old name has new product with its V80 range of vans in low-, medium- and high-roof versions, with crew cabs and chassis cab options. Two wheelbases extend the variety of applications. A 2.5 diesel powers, and there’s also a fully electric version. POA.
MERCEDES-BENZ
The large van Sprinter is the current best-selling model in the range from the three-pointed star here. With a brand new generation version coming in the summer, there is likely good value in specification to be had from the current well-considered version. There’s a very wide range of variants, including four possible lengths and four heights, in panel, crewcab and chassis versions, and a range of 2.3 diesels. Price from €24,667 plus Vat.
The medium Vito is a good-looker, good to drive, and offers a wide range of payload capabilities in its segment, from 829kg-1324kg. With FWD, RWD and AWD versions. There are 1.6 and 2.0 engines available from 88hp-114hp. Price from €17,995 plus Vat.
The X-Class is a new development for Mercedes-Benz, the first pick-up for the marque and offering both a tough workhorse and a premium lifestyle vehicle. All double-cab, with 2WD and AWD options. Power by a 2.3 diesel in 163hp and 190hp versions. Price from €33,394 plus Vat.
MITSUBISHI
The Pajero has long been the brand’s workhorse vehicle as a commercial and is still key to Mitsubishi’s place in this arena. It comes in SWB and LWB versions, the longer one in Executive grade trim. Price from €30,891 plus Vat.
The Outlander Business is one of those SUVs that’s as comfortable as the large car that it also is. In the commercial business version, it retains that ethos. The 2.2 diesel is smooth and tractable. Price €26,260 plus Vat.
The L200 pick-up is one of the classic nameplates in the genre and in its current much more stylish guise still has the rugged underpinnings that have sold the various versions of the model to many generations. The price is from €25,271 plus Vat.
NISSAN
The NV300 medium van is so far this year the best-selling van for Nissan, which has a long and respected history in LCVs. In van crewcab and chassis options, there are two lengths and two heights. Power from a smooth 1.6 diesel in power outputs ranging from 95hp-145hp. Price from €22,995 including Vat.
The NV400 large van offers four length options, three roof heights. There’s also an RWD version, extending the range of applications where the van can be useful. Payload 1620- 2134kg. The engine is a 2.3 diesel in 130hp/145hp/170hp versions. Price from €27,750 including Vat.
The small van NV200 is a really pleasant and practical contender in its very competitive segment. Economy is a strong point, reliability unquestioned. A payload 793kg and a reliable and thrifty 110hp 1.5 diesel, as well as a proven fully electric version. Price from €17,400 including VAT.
The Qashqai and X-Trail SUV commercials are both based on the five- and seven-seat passenger vehicles, with 1.2 petrol and 1.5 diesels (Qashqai) and 1.6 diesels (X-Trail), and automatic and 4x4 options. Smart lookers and good drives. Price from €26,970/€33,100 respectively.
OPEL
The Vivaro van is Opel’s commercials breadwinner with two lengths and two heights available in a good-looking vehicle that will advertise the company of any owner. There are full van double cab and platform cab variants, and a grade up adds a bunch of sporty features. Payloads range 1075-1280kg, and the engine is a 1.6 diesel in 95hp/120hp versions. Price from €23,245 including Vat.
The Movano large van has a strong front personality and wide range of sizes and formats make it a good consideration for applications from intercity freight to construction crew use. Four lengths and three roof heights, and there’s a rear drive version. Power is a 2.3 diesel. Price from €26,100 including Vat.
The Combo small van is a venture with Fiat, based on that company’s Doblo. comes in a choice of two lengths, with three heights. In the segment they don’t come more flexible. Payload is 750kg and engines are diesel 1.3 and 1.6. Price from €16,285 including Vat.
The Astravan and Corsavan are factory-produced derivatives from the cars of the same name, and have similar features and powertrains. Prices from €13,095 including Vat for the Corsa vehicle.
PEUGEOT
The Partner small van is a solid seller for the French brand, a badge sibling to the Berlingo from Citroen. Available in two lengths and with a payload range 648kg-856kg. Power is from a 1.6 diesel. Price from €16,055 including Vat.
The medium Expert is new generation and a very smart looking vehicle as well as being a very comfortable drive. Twin sliding doors, and room for three up front, as well as two wheelbase options. Payload range 1099kg-1487kg and engines are 1.6 and 2.0 diesels in a range of powers. Price from €21,520 including Vat.
The Boxer large van is a companion build to Citroen’s Relay and Fiat’s Ducato, with the same range of sizes. Well built throughout and a comfortable and practical finish for the operator’s area. Payload range 1150kg-1525kg and power is from a 2.0 diesel. Price from €23,575 including Vat.
RENAULT
The Trafic medium van is one of the brand’s commercial vehicles that keeps it at the top end of the LCV business both across Europe and in Ireland. It comes in two lengths and two heights as well as crew van, and platform cab. Payloads range from 1075kg to 1280kg, and power is a 1.6 diesel. Price from €23,645 including Vat.
The Kangoo small van is also a very solid performer for Renault, available in two lengths and also in a crew-cab version. Very comfortable on poor roads. Payload range 650kg-800kg and engines are 1.5 diesels. There’s also an electric version. Price from €16,590 including Vat.
Renault’s Master garners a respectable share of the large van market here, with a good range of lengths and heights and a RWD version. Payload range 1593kg-2151kg and power is from a varied outputs 2.3 diesel. Price from €23,150 including Vat.
TOYOTA
Toyota’s medium van comes with a choice of two wheelbases and two heights. There’s also a crew cab version. All are highly specified, including double sliding doors. Payload from 1185kg and engines are 1.6 or 2.0 diesels. Price from €21,245 including Vat.
The Hilux is another of those legacy pick-ups that have consistently retained reputation and ability down through many generations. In Ireland it is available in single and double cab formats. All powered by a 2.4 diesel. Price from €29,250 including Vat.
The Land Cruiser Commercial has long been an underpinning of Toyota’s commercials business here. It comes SWB and LWB versions. All are powered by a 2.8 diesel. Price from €43,950 including Vat.
The Auris car-derived van is a popular model in its segment here. There’s just one version, powered by a 1.4 diesel. Price €18,500 including Vat.
VOLKSWAGEN
The Caddy small van is the jewel in Volkswagen Ireland’s commercial crown and a consistent favourite with small businesses and craftspeople. The sole trading contractor looks first to Caddy, knowing that when it comes to changing it will have held its value well.
Payload 762-832kg and power from 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4 petrol, and 2.0 diesel. Price from €15,765 including Vat.
The Transporter medium van is a modern icon renowned for rugged and frugal powertrains and plenty variety in length and height. Payloads 1171kg-1331kg. Engines are 2.0 diesels. Price from €25,620 including Vat.
The Crafter large van was completely new last year, with smart big looks and a high level of comfort and technology. Expect long distance work as its forte, and there’s full comfort for three up front. Payload 735kg-1293kg. Engines are 2.0 diesels. Price from €27,570 including Vat.
The Amarok pick-up is new since last year, a big car that offers big performance. Powered by 3.0 diesels with outputs up to 224hp and with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Price from €37,215 including Vat.
