Vans

Electric propulsion is being offered in an increasing number of light commercial vans and LDV is attempting to reposition the market with its aggressively priced and well-specified eDeliver 7. We've put it to the tradie load test.

Love or hate them, electric cars are the future of personal transportation - just look at how many new EVs will be made available in Australia in 2024!

Hyundai has added rain sensing wipers and Bluelink connected services to its 2025 Staria van and people mover range.Bluelink gives owners the ability to geo-fence their car, adds voice recognition, live weather info, remote control of the HVAC system, send-to-car navigation directions and more.Staria Elite and Highlander people mover trims, along with the Premium van, also benefit from a new key fob.All Staria Loads now get aluminium badging and extra USB-C charging ports with a $500 price increase across the board. The Hyundai Staria and Staria Load range now spans $49,500 to $67,500 before on-road costs.Also changed is the blind-spot safety, with the Korean brand introducing a new system with audio and visual warnings for the five-star ANCAP rated people mover.A front-wheel drive 3.5-litre V6 petrol making 300kW and 331Nm is available on all three people mover trims. There is no update on the Staria hybrid for Australia at this time.The basic Staria people mover is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery and an 8.0-inch touchscreen, while the Staria Elite adds power sliding doors, larger 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen, push-button start and leather-appointed seats.The top-spec Highlander gets a larger digital driver's display, heated and ventilated seats, premium cabin trims and a dual-pane sunroof.Meanwhile, a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel (130kW/430Nm) paired with all-wheel drive is a $3000 option. This is the only engine choice for the Staria Load van.The Load is offered in two and five-seat configurations, with the Premium van equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights to distinguish it from the base model.Hyundai's van has a wide range of rivals, which include the Kia Carnival, LDV Mifa, Volkswagen Caravelle, Ford Transit Custom and Toyota Hiace.“2025 Staria and Staria Load bring enhanced convenience and style while continuing to give customers a range of spacious and comfortable vans and people-movers with class-leading standard safety features,” said Hyundai Australia CEO Ted Lee.2025 Hyundai Staria pricingAll prices are before on-road costs.2025 Hyundai Staria Load pricingAll prices are before on-road costs.

Electric passengers cars are everywhere these days, and electric utes are on the horizon, but there are already a few electric light trucks available. This new one, the Foton T5, aims to take the shine off the forthcoming Isuzu N Series EV, but does China's latest commercial offering deliver the goods?

Peugeot has slashed the price of its electric E-Partner compact van by more than $10,000.It is now priced at $49,990 drive-away down from $59,990 (before on-road costs).The deal is only available on 2023 plated models and the vehicle needs to be delivered before the end of June.The price cut means the electric van is only a few thousand dollars more than the petrol powered alternative that is priced between $32,990 and $43,490 (before on-road costs). It is also more than $15,000 cheaper than its main rival, the Renault Kangoo E-Tech.This isn’t the first time the French brand has heavily discounted one of its electric cars. In May Peugeot slashed more than $20,000 off the price of its E-2008 small electric SUV, which then sold out in less than a week. The E-Partner is fitted with a 50kWh battery that feeds a single electric motor making 100kW/260Nm. Peugeot claims it has a driving range of up to 258km.It can accept a maximum charge of 100kW via a DC fast charging pylon, which the French brand says can top the battery up from 0-80 per cent in half an hour.When hooked up to a home wallbox charger it can absorb up to 7.4kW, which can replenish the battery from flat to 100 per cent in about seven and a half hours.The E-Partner has a payload of 753kg and a max braked and unbraked towing capacity of 750kg.It can hold a fair chunk of cargo for a compact van with a max volume of 3.9 metres squared. The laid capacity dimensions are 2167mm long, 1243mm high and 1527mm wide. Distance between the wheel arches is 1229mm.There are some handy features included such as a full-size spare wheel, 16-inch steel wheels, an 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen and it’s got plenty of safety gear.Tradies on the hunt for an eco-friendly workhorse are in luck as Ford has also knocked $15,000 off the price of the larger E-Transit electric van, which now starts at $89,990.

Another electric delivery van is hitting Australian roads soon, with Peugeot confirming that the order books are open for the new E-Expert.

The VW Kombi and camping have gone together like a horse and carriage for more than half a century. And this imposing Crafter Kampervan is the brand's latest pitch to dedicated Aussie holidaymakers. Are you ready to take it on? Dave Morley has the lowdown on its pros and cons.

Ford has announced pricing and specification for the more capable 2024 Transit van range. Big boosts to braked towing capacity and gross combination mass (GCM) are the highlights, though enhanced cabin technology, powertrain tweaks and more safety features are present.

The sporty version of Volkswagen’s retro-inspired electric Kombi, the ID. Buzz GTX, has been revealed in Europe and it's coming to Australia next year.

What is a light rigid vehicle? A light rigid vehicle is a vehicle “with a GVM [Gross Vehicle Mass] of more than 4.5 tonnes, but not more than 8.0 tonnes (any towed trailer must not weigh more than 9.0 tonnes GVM) vehicles up to 8.0 tonnes GVM which can carry more than 12 adults including the driver,” according to Transport for NSW.