Panel vans might not be the most exciting automotive niche, but they are incredibly versatile and are used by businesses the world over. Running costs are incredibly important to business owners, so today we will determine which one is cheaper to run between the Ford Transit Custom, the Opel Vivaro Cargo and Toyota Quantum.
The figures
|
|
Ford Transit Custom panel van 2.2TDCi 92kW LWB Ambiente |
Opel Vivaro Cargo 2.0TD panel van LWB |
Toyota Quantum 2.8 LWB panel van |
|
Engine size |
4-cyl, 2.2-litre turbodiesel |
4-cyl, 2.0-litre turbodiesel |
4-cyl, 2.8-litre turbodiesel |
|
Power/Torque |
92 kW/350 Nm |
110 kW/370 Nm |
130 kW/420 Nm |
|
Gearbox |
6-speed manual |
6-speed manual |
6-speed manual |
|
Seats |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Airbags |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Driven wheels |
Front |
Front |
Rear |
|
Load Capacity |
6830-litres |
6600-litres |
9800-litres |
|
Fuel capacity |
80-litres |
70-litres |
65-litres |
|
Claimed consumption |
7.3 L/100 km |
7.6 L/100 km |
8.7 L/100 km |
|
CO2 emissions |
192 g/km |
152 g/km |
165 g/km |
|
Service plan |
Optional |
3-year /60 000km |
9-service/90 000km |
|
Price |
R543 000 |
R590 900 |
R593 200 |
Related: The best Ford Transit Custom offers AutoTrader found advertised in 2022.
Comparing the trio
Purchase price
The models we have chosen for this comparison are competitors from a pricing and body-style perspective. Monthly instalments are calculated throughout 72 months with a 10% deposit and no balloon or residual. The interest rate is set at 11%.
Ford Transit Custom panel van 2.2TDCi 92kW LWB Ambiente
With the instalment parameters in place, the Ford will work out at R9 302 per month over 72 months.
Opel Vivaro Cargo 2.0TD panel van LWB
With the instalment parameters in place, the Opel will work out at R10 123 per month over 72 months.
Toyota Quantum 2.8 LWB panel van
With the instalment parameters in place, the Toyota will work out at R10 162 per month over 72 months.
Fuel consumption
On paper, the Ford has the lowest claimed fuel consumption followed closely by the Opel. The real-world figures produced by the Transit and Vivaro should be very similar as they weigh the same and produce similar power and torque figures. The Toyota has the largest engine here, and is the heaviest by nearly 400kg, meaning that it is the heaviest on fuel.
Service plans
The Ford is the only model here where a service plan is optional, while the Opel gets a 3-year/60 000km service plan while the Toyota gets the best plan with 9-services/90 000km.
Verdict
Having looked at the data, in the first five years of ownership, we would be confident that the Opel Vivaro Cargo will have the lowest running costs of the three products being compared as the Transit Custom will cost prospective owners in terms of servicing while the Toyota will be more costly at the pumps.
