Readers of Commercial Motor voted for the Transit as their favourite 3.5t used van.

There’s only one Ford Transit, and despite the motorway-conquering goodness of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Transit has a place in out hearts that is likely to outlast most of its competitors.

It’s not without good reason, either. As a used van, the Transit is a highly affordable, practical and reliable proposition. I’ve owned two, and neither have cost more than a family car to run, or given any serious trouble.

This eulogy to the Transit has been prompted by news that the readers of Commercial Motor magazine have voted for the Transit as the best large used van, praising the vehicle’s practicality, low costs of ownership and the strength of the service and repair network across the country.

Will Shiers, editor of Commercial Motor, said:

“Commercial Motor’s readers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Ford Transit as their favourite used 3.5-tonne van. The Transit has been the nation’s favourite for the better part of half a century now, not only when new, but on the used market too. The van has defined the sector. Used buyers know exactly what they’re getting with a Transit, a van they can trust.”

According to Commercial Motor, there are currently around 700,000 new and used Ford Transit vans in operation on UK roads, over 9,000 of which are the recently launched Ford Transit Custom.