(November 7, 2012) BRENTWOOD, Essex — Ford builds the most reliable commercial vehicles according to a survey of the 50 largest UK contract hire and leasing companies. The Ford Transit came out on top of the van reliability survey with the Ford Transit Connect, retaining its second place from a year ago. In the manufacturer table, Ford moved up into the top spot ahead of Volkswagen.

Companies in the FN50 are surveyed each year and ranked according to fleet size, and are then asked to name their most reliable cars and vans.

Mark Ovenden, managing director, Ford of Britain said: “Ford is extremely proud that the Ford Transit and Ford Transit Connect have taken the top two spots in this reliability survey which is based on hard facts from our fleet customers.  This is a tribute to the passion and dedication of our designers and engineers at Dunton who make quality the highest priority, and which has kept Ford at the top of the UK commercial vehicle market for over 46 years.”

Stephen Briers, editor of Fleet News, said: “Van reliability is arguably more important than car reliability. A van driver can’t work from home if he or she needs to deliver vital equipment or provide a necessary service. Ford’s commitment to ensuring the Transit and Transit Connect perform well in the key area of reliability should help strengthen its position as the biggest manufacturer in the UK van market.”

Those responding to the survey have a combined LCV fleet size of 160,000. The FN50 reliability survey is the largest study of its kind in the UK.

Top 10 most reliable vans (last year’s position in brackets*)

1 Ford Transit (4)
2 Ford Transit Connect (2)
3 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (1)
4 Volkswagen Transporter (5)
5 Volkswagen Caddy (3)
6 Mercedes-Benz Vito
7 Vauxhall Vivaro
8 Renault Trafic
9 Vauxhall Movano
10 Citroen Berlingo