Ford Transit TDCi 350 LWB high roof

Basic price: £21,854 (ex-VAT)
Engine: four-cylinder/2402cc
Max power: 137hp at 3800rpm
Max torque: 375Nm at 1800rpm
Weights: GVW 3500kg, payload 1400kg
Dimensions: Load space length/width/height 3.40m/1.76m/1.89m
Body volume:  9.69cu-m
Warranty/servicing: three years/100,000 miles
Oil change interval: 5000 miles

Where Transit scores is in the breadth of the range, covering both medium and heavy van sectors. Buyers have a good choice of engines, while body choices include three wheelbases and three roof heights for the van and a range of off-the-shelf body conversions including dropside, tipper and box bodies.
Popular engine choices include the 2.0-litre front-wheel drive diesel with or without common rail injection, or 2.4-litre variants of the same engine with rear-wheel drive. Petrol and LPG variants are also available.

The 2.4TDCi common rail 137hp Transit delivers an acceptable blend of performance and economy with refinement - the TDdi variant without common rail, less so.

A 1400kg payload falls midway up the 3500kg GVW payload spectrum.

Ford will doubtless have something up its sleeve when the new Mercedes Sprinter and VW LT appear next year. Expect a mid-life facelift to keep the Transit fresh in buyers' minds.

Citroen Relay 1800/Fiat Ducato Maxi/Peugeot Boxer 350

Basic price: £19,630 (ex-VAT) (Citroën Relay 1800 2.8 HDi LWB high-roof)
Engine: four cylinder/2798cc
Max power: 127hp at 3600rpm
Max torque: 300Nm at 1800rpm
Weights: GVW 3500kg, Payload 1450kg
Dimensions: Load space length/width/height 3.36m/1.56m/1.88m
Body volume: 12.0cu-m
Warranty/servicing: two years/unlimited distance or three years/100,000 miles
Oil change interval: 20,000 miles

All models are produced in the same factory and share the same drivelines, although the Fiat Ducato is available with a 2.3-litre common rail diesel in addition to the other engines.

Like the Transit, the PSA/Fiat models cover the medium/heavy van spectrum up to 3.5 tonnes GVW. Will Euro-IV bring the 3.0-litre Iveco-sourced common rail diesel to replace the current 2.8-litre? It weighs the same and, fitted to the Daily, is both more powerful and more fuel-efficient.

Otherwise, diesel choices encompass 2.0-litre 85hp, 2.2-litre 104hp and 2.8-litre 127hp common rail diesels at 3,500kg GVW. A 110hp 2.0-litre petrol engine is also available.

Citroën and Fiat have forged ahead with ready-bodied conversion programmes, offering such bodywork as Luton and tipper conversions and others direct from the dealer.

Long-wheelbase vans are equipped with either a high roof or extra high roof, giving up to 12.0m3 of body volume.

Iveco Daily 35S12 HPI

Basic price: £21,400 (ex-VAT)
Engine: four cylinder/2,287cc
Max power: 116hp at 3100-3900rpm
Max torque: 271Nm at 1800-3000rpm
Weights: GVW 3500kg, Payload 1320kg
Dimensions: Load space length/width/height 4.56m/1.80m/1.90m
Body volume: 15.6cu-m
Warranty/servicing: three years/100,000 miles
Oil change interval: 40,000km

Big news for the Daily is a new common rail 3.0-litre diesel, replacing the older common rail 2.8-litre engine. The new engine is available with two power outputs, 136hp and 166hp.

There's also the 2.3-litre diesel, badged HPI, and a petrol/CNG version. The 2.3-litre diesel has recently gained a 136hp rating to supplement the 116hp variant. This matches the lesser output from the 3.0-litre engine. Also new is the Daily Agile with six-speed automated manual transmission.

The new 3.0-litre is notably quieter than the 2.3-litre engine. Operators can shave a useful stack of kilogrammes off the Daily's kerbweight by opting for the new 2.3-litre 136hp diesel in place of the 3.0-litre 136hp unit. 1,320kg is still down compared with the lighter front-wheel drive vans at 3500kg GVW, but the Daily can offer a truly cavernous interior if you need volume rather than weight.

Inside, the Daily has kept pace with modern cab developments. It has a dash-mounted gearshift for ease of movement across the cab, while the dashboard curves gently around the driver, so all controls are within easy reach.

LDV Maxus 3.5T 2.5 CDI 120hp XHR

Basic price: £18,995 (ex-VAT)
Engine: four-cylinder/2499cc
Max power: 120hp at 3800rpm
Max torque: 300Nm at 1800rpm
Weights: GVW 3500kg, Payload 1590kg
Dimensions: Load space length/width/height 3.35m/1.77m/1.71m
Body volume: 11.4cu-m
Warranty/servicing: three years/100k or four years/60,000 miles
Oil change interval: 20,000 miles

At last LDV has a comparatively modern van to replace the Convoy. The Maxus is front-wheel drive - a new departure for LDV. So far, the van has given a fairly good account of itself. It earns points for cab size and driver comfort and drives, rides and handles well too. The load space itself is toward the smaller end here at 11.4m3, although it's still a respectable size with the extra high roof.
 
The cab looks modern with its dash-mounted gear stick and central instruments, but build quality could be better. So could the dash layout: the central instruments should be angled towards the driver and the radio is placed low down on the centre section where it's hard to see from the driving seat.

But it's early days yet with more to come, including minibus and chassis-cab versions.

Maxus equipment includes a standard driver's airbag, Thatcham category 2 alarm and remote central door locking.

Nissan Interstar/Renault Master/Vauxhall Movano MWB

Basic price: Renault Master MWB Medium roof £21,545 (ex-VAT)
Engine: four cylinder/2463cc
Max power: 115hp at 3800rpm
Max torque: 290Nm at 1600rpm
Weights: GVW 3500kg, payload 1505kg
Dimensions: Load space length/width/height 3.71m/1.76m/2.14m
Body volume: 13.9cu-m
Warranty/servicing: three years/60,000 miles
Oil change interval: 24,000 miles

Like the Fiat/PSA vans, all three models here share the same basic body, interior and engine ranges. Models are available as a van with three wheelbase and three roof height options as well as chassis-cab and crew-cab models.

There are also ready-bodied models including fridge and tipper conversions.

All three models were revised in late 2003. Changes included moving the gear lever to the dashboard, introducing new engines and incorporating ABS brakes as standard.

Another engine has been added since - a 3.0-litre built by Nissan and also a rear-wheel drive variant.

All models offer the same broad engine range, which includes 1.9, 2.5 and 3.0-litre common rail diesels with power spanning 80hp to 156hp. The most recent addition is a six-speed automated gearbox.

Merc-Benz Sprinter 311 CDI LWB high-roof

Basic price: £21,285 (ex-VAT)
Engine: four-cylinder/2148cc
Max power: 109hp at 3800rpm
Max torque: 270Nm at 1400-2400rpm
Weights: GVW 3500kg, payload 1340kg
Dimensions: Load space length/width/height 4.25m/1.74m/1.86m
Body volume: 13.5cu-m
Warranty/servicing: three years, unlimited distance
Oil change interval: 14,000 - 25,000 miles

It's due for replacement early next year, but the Sprinter still has a lot to offer. For a start, it is one of the few vans to feature an electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard offering additional safety in slippery conditions.

Body styles include three wheelbase lengths and two roof heights. Engines include two common rail diesels with a total of four power ratings and one petrol. The petrol 314 is also available with an LPG conversion.

Standard transmission is a five-speed manual, although a six-speed automated box, tagged Sprintshift, is also available. Then there are four-wheel-drive models too.

Inside, successive facelifts have helped to keep the Sprinter abreast of the competition - the gear lever has moved up to the dashboard improving cross-cab access, while the instruments are similar to those in a Mercedes car.

VW LT 35 2.5 TDI

Basic price: £21,674(ex-VAT)
Engine: five-cylinder/2461cc
Max power: 95hp at 3500rpm
Max torque: 240Nm at 1900-2400rpm
Weights: GVW 3500kg, payload 1400kg
Dimensions: Load space length/width/height 4.21m/1.73m/1.86m
Body volume: 13.4cu-m
Warranty/servicing: two years unlimited distance plus third year dealer warranty/100,000 miles
Oil change interval: 10,000 miles

While the LT shares its body shell with the Sprinter, both manufacturers fit their own engines and transmissions.

In VW's Transporter this is either the 2.5-litre five-cylinder diesel producing 83hp, 95hp and 109hp, or a 158hp four-cylinder 2.8-litre common rail diesel sourced from Brazil. Both versions are rear-wheel drive.

The LT is not as well specified as the Sprinter, doing without standard ESP. The LT has to make do with ABS brakes and an electronic diff lock instead.

Like the Sprinter, the LT comes with three wheelbase lengths and two roof heights. Chassis-cab and double-cab options make up the model mix. GVW spans 2800-4600kg.

The LT cab is reminiscent of early Sprinters with the floor-mounted gear lever and earlier dash moulding. But the LT is still selling well, finding 5,200 buyers last year. Next year's replacement should only see the sales trend continue upwards.