Best medium vans to lease in 2024

These are the best medium vans to lease in the UK right now, as chosen by Select Van Leasing.

Medium vans find the sweet spot between being compact enough to drive and park with ease, yet also having better load-lugging capabilities than smaller light commercial vehicles.

In this category you’re looking at a payload of up to 1,500 kg and a towing capacity of around 2,500 kg.

But your medium van leasing options run deeper than that. Which vans have the best equipment at entry-level? Which gives you the best wheelbase and height choices? And which medium vans are the most affordable?

Read on to find out:

Citroen Dispatch (lease from £262 per month, ex VAT*)

The Dispatch is Citroen’s medium sized van, sitting between the smaller Berlingo and larger Relay.

It’s produced by global giant Stellantis, so you can consider it a sibling car to rivals like the Peugeot Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro and Fiat Scudo, with Stellantis overseeing all of those brands.

Why choose the Dispatch over those alternatives? Price is a big one. 

We’ve got a great deal on the Dispatch right now where you can lease one with Select from £262 per month (ex VAT, on Finance Lease, with a £3,144 initial payment).

A diesel engine provides power of up to 145 hp while entry-level Enterprise models are loaded with kit as standard - including a 10-inch colour touchscreen, 10-inch digital cockpit, and rear parking sensors.

• Payload: Up to 1,384 kg
• Braked towing capacity: Up to 2,500 kg
• Wheelbases options: Two, M and XL
• Height options: One
• Latest entry-level models come with: 10-inch colour touchscreen, 10-inch digital cockpit, rear parking sensors, advanced emergency braking system

Ford Transit Custom (lease from £280 per month, ex VAT*)

It looks good, it drives like a car, and it’s got a class-leading load area - there’s a lot to love about the ever-popular Ford Transit Custom.

The diesel-powered panel van seats either two or three people and you can expect a payload of up to 1,327 kg, depending on which variant you lease, as well as 6.8-cubic metre load area and a 2,800 kg max towing capacity.

There’s a strong choice of powertrains, with diesel and plug-in hybrid engines to go at, while you can also lease a Ford Transit Custom with practicality-boosting all-wheel drive.

The range-topping MS-RT models bring sporty performance to the panel van class, coming with 19-inch alloys, aggressive exterior styling and an uprated interior.

• Payload: Up to 1,327 kg
• Braked towing capacity: Up to 2,500 kg
• Wheelbases options: Two, L1 and L2
• Height options: One, H1
• Latest entry-level models come with: 13-inch touchscreen, 12-inch digital instrument cluster, rear view camera, front parking aid.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo (lease from £241 per month, ex VAT*)

Is the battery-powered VW ID. Buzz Cargo the panel van to persuade you to go electric? It just might if you give it chance.

Because the ID. Buzz Cargo has to carry a heavy battery around there’s a slightly reduced payload and load area compared with other similarly-sized medium light commercial vehicles.

But you still get a 607 kg payload and 3.9 cubic metres of load space and the ID. Buzz comes with a wealth of standard equipment that other midsize lease vans can only dream of.

That includes heated front seats, 10-inch colour touchscreen, front and rear parking sensors, and autonomous emergency braking.

A 77 kWh battery also translates to a range of up to 254 miles between charges, which should be ample for most.

• Payload: 607 kg
• Towing capacity: Up to 1,000 kg
• Wheelbases options: Two, long wheelbase to arrive later this year
• Height options: One
• Entry-level models come with: 10-inch touchscreen, front and rear parking sensors, autonomous emergency braking, heated seats.

Renault Trafic (lease from £322 per month, ex VAT*)

Versatility is the name of the game with the Renault Trafic.

Unlike lots of rivals, the Trafic is available to lease with two different wheelbases as well as two heights, which unlock varying amounts of payload and load space.

The Long Wheelbase High Roof variant, for example, comes with a whopping 8.9 m3 of load area while the Long Wheelbase Low Roof Trafic gets a max payload of 1,251 kg.

The Trafic is known for its refined ride quality and quiet cabin, which should take the stress out of longer journeys.

There’s also decent performance to be had from the range of diesel engines, with power of up to 170 PS.

• Payload: Up to 1,251 kg
• Towing capacity: 2,500 kg
• Wheelbases options:Two, SWB and LWB
• Height options: Two, Low Roof and High Roof
• Entry-level models come with: Rear parking sensors, emergency braking system, 8-inch touchscreen, steel bulkhead with load-through.

Volkswagen Transporter (lease from £361 per month, ex VAT*)

Not sold on the electric VW ID. Buzz Cargo (see above)? The Volkswagen Transporter will no doubt be on your leasing wishlist instead.

To say the Transporter is a bit of an icon doesn’t really do it justice and it has long been one of Britain’s most popular medium panel vans.

There are two wheelbases to choose from with a payload of up to 1,278 kg and 6.7 m3 of load volume.

The entry-level ‘Startline’ models come equipped with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, and a host of safety-boost tech, including crosswind assist and brake assist.

A 2.0 litre diesel engine also gives ample power of up to 204 PS.

• Payload: Up to 1,278 kg
• Towing capacity: 2,500 kg
• Wheelbases options: Two, SWB and LWB
• Height options: One
• Entry-level models come with: Adaptive cruise control, crosswind assist, leather steering wheel, 6.5-inch touchscreen.

* *Prices exclude VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 02/07/24.

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