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

As the days get longer, the weather gets warmer and the UK begins to open up again, there’s plenty to do to get our parks, gardens and public spaces ready. Naturally, the IVECO Daily Mission Awards are branching into the forestry and grounds maintenance sector. IVECO Daily is ready for any challenging mission away from the beaten track, offering rear-wheel drive or an extremely capable 4x4 across the 3.5t–7.2t weight range. Twin rear wheels are available on all vehicles to spread the weight on unstable ground with optional Traction+, hill descent control and locking rear differential supporting rear-wheel drive models when the going gets tough. For more extreme work, Daily 4x4 offers front, centre and rear-locking differentials, up to a mountainous 255mm of ground clearance (when loaded) and a low-range transfer box giving 12 forward gears in manual and 16 via the self-shifting Hi-Matic. Having carefully pruned the entries, these are the three in bloom.

Glenside Commercials – Griffith Memorials

Griffith Memorials specialises in the design and installation of granite headstones and memorials across the country. IVECO makes up two-thirds of its LCV fleet, with a Daily 70C21 Crew Cab dropside with 750kg Dhollandia tail lift recently joining the team. The Daily was chosen for its class-leading payload, as well as its ability to comfortably accommodate up to seven crew members and tow 3.5t with a smaller footprint and better fuel economy than a traditional 7.5t truck. The 210hp/470Nm 3.0F1C diesel engine with Hi-Matic transmission offers smooth performance with fragile loads, while a Telma Electromagnetic retarder keeps the mass in check, minimising brake wear. An on-board monitor ensures the vehicle is never overweight, business exclusive pack boosts driver comfort and a 1800W inverter powers floodlights on site. Covering only 8,000 miles annually, it is expected to remain in service for 10 years. The judges were impressed with the carefully tailored specification to perfectly match the business’s needs, highlighting the Daily’s dexterity, robust capability and TCO.

South West Truck & Van – Bath & North East Somerset Council

Working within a beautiful, historic area known for its steep terrain, Bath & North East Somerset Council has reinforced its fleet with another 7.0t GVW 70C18 Hi-Matic Daily 4x4. Complete with tool storage, heavy-duty winch and aluminium tipping arboriculture body, Daily 4x4s are chosen as the only vehicle that can meet the requirements for payload and off-road agility, spending 50% of their time away from the tarmac. The vehicles are used to maintain parks and public spaces but are often called out to support the local area, removing fallen trees and road blockages. Impressed with the durability of its previous Daily 4x4s, the council was keen to add navigation, the eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic, weight-spreading twin rear wheels and four-way HD camera system to its latest vehicle to maximise driveability, stability and safety. This focus impressed the judges, demonstrating competency of vehicles and commitment to public and employee welfare.

Guest Truck & Van – GT Access

Reaching for the stars from the lighter end of the Daily range is GT Access’s new 35S14 arial platform. Based upon the 3.5t GVW chassis cab, it allows a greater number of staff to drive, as most employees in its particular sector would not ordinarily hold anything beyond the standard C1 driving licence category. With a reputation for customer service, the vehicles need to be reliable so as not to impact on service levels. The business’s previous experience of the Daily build quality has given it the confidence to run them for seven years onwards at 20,000 miles annually, maximising its impressive TCO credentials. The judging panel took particular note of the GTA’s safety emphasis, ordering wide-arm mirrors and an electric parking brake to ensure ultimate manoeuvring visibility and stability when the cherry picker is extended. The judges also highlighted the sheer depth of extra working at height safety training that staff must complete.