What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide

Lack of supply kept used small van residuals buoyant in May, according to MyCarCheck.com’s latest survey of LCV dealers.

“There is still a shortage of stock and prices are steady,” said David Hill, the vehicle valuation specialist’s light commercial expert. “The better the specification, the easier it is to sell, but you still have to give all the money to buy this stock.”

He said that the Citroen Nemo and its Peugeot and Fiat equivalents, the Bipper and Fiorino, were all doing well and had been joined by the Ford Transit Courier to form a new niche in the market.

Hill said the Renault Kangoo, notably long-wheelbase Maxi variants with twin sliding
doors, was also attracting interest. However, the Mercedes Citan, essentially a badge- engineered Kangoo, is a rarity in the open retail market: “Even some Mercedes dealers have lowered prices to move them on,” said Hill.

However, the bigger Mercedes Vito remains a popular used proposition, if mileage and
price are correct, demand for the Toyota Hiace is strong, and the sector-leading Volkswagen Transporter is attracting healthy sales, notably in Highline and Kombi trims.

The recently launched Ford Transit Custom, which is narrower than previous Transit panel vans and is a direct Transporter rival, is attracting strong residuals in used form.

According to Hill, there continues to be “huge demand’”for larger vans such as the Renault Master and Vauxhall Movano. The supply of Mercedes Sprinters is good, but there is currently a shortage of long- wheelbase Ford Transits.