Volkswagen wins title of most reliable van brand

This win is part of a double victory for VW, as its Transporter has also been recognised as the most reliable model for the second year running.

The Transporter was replaced, this year, by an all-new model that has been co-developed with Ford alongside the new Transit Custom, as part of a collaboration agreement between the two giants. Ford led the project and both vehicles use the same powertrains.

Data from FN50 leasing companies operating almost 475,000 vans highlights which manufacturers and models encounter the fewest breakdowns.

2025's most reliable van brands:

1. Volkswagen

2. Ford

3. Mercedes-Benz

4. Renault

5. Vauxhall

6. Peugeot

7. Toyota

8. Citroen

9. Nissan

10. Maxus

Ford, which was the most reliable brand in 2023, retains second place this year. Its best performing model was the Transit Custom, which is also the UK’s best-selling van. The Transit Custom moves from fifth place to third, in 2025, following the launch of a new model in 2024.

Ford’s reliability ranking took a hit last year after it emerged that some of its older diesel engines were suffering with premature timing belt failure. The issue prompted Ford to revise the service schedule for affected models, but many operators were faced with large repair bills.

The Transit moves up to sixth position, while the smaller Transit Connect loses four places and ranks eighth overall. The new Transit Connect shares a platform with the VW Caddy and is built at Volkswagen’s factory.

Mercedes-Benz remains the third most reliable van maker, having last topped the table in 2022. The Sprinter is the brand’s most reliable model and is placed second in the survey. Its ageing Vito failed to make the top 10 model list, while the Citan – introduced three years ago – is also absent from the ranking.