Used Ford Fiesta Van 2018-2022 review

Although car-based vans are somewhat of an endangered species nowadays, there are still reasons to choose one as your next workhorse. For instance, the reasonable cost, small car size and decent load space of this Ford Fiesta Van could suit your wants and needs to a T.

What's more, it's a Ford Fiesta at the end of the day and that comes with certain positives.

Engines & Performance: We think highly of the turbocharged 1.0-litre engine in the regular Fiesta and the 123bhp version you get here has sufficient grunt – the 94bhp option can feel a little strained.

That said, we believe this van version is better paired with one of the 1.5-litre diesels: they're superior low-down shove makes moving the fully laden Fiesta easier, quieter and more economical. We recommend the punchier 118bhp version over the lesser 84bhp unit.

Ride & Handling: The Fiesta is one of the finest riding and handling vans available, thanks in large part to its road-car roots.

The handling is remarkably sharp and confidence-inspiring, while the ride strikes a wonderful balance between being firm enough to control the body under load but soft enough to remain comfortable. However, be aware that the Sport Van gets stiffer sports suspension, which can make the ride a touch bouncy if the vehicle is unladen.

Interior & Practicality: The Fiesta Van is a comfortable car to both drive and be a passenger in, with an interior that feels spacious considering its relative size. Storage is limited, but you’ll find that plenty of items end up in the two central cupholders in the transmission tunnel area and in the storage area ahead of the gear lever. It’s not immensely practical, but it is of a higher quality than you will find in other commercial vehicles.

The rear loadspace is best described as modest. The length in the rear is 1283mm, with 1281mm at the widest part making it almost a perfect square. Maximum height is 923mm.

This all sounds fairly generous, however, it’s worth remembering that the boot hatch is considerably smaller than the space inside, with an opening height of just 613mm and opening width of 948mm. There’s also just 984mm between the wheel arches. That means the Fiesta Van is capable of taking a total load volume of just 0.96m3.

If that sounds small, it is worth noting that it is considerably better than the Renault Zoe, which manages just half the volume and a 387kg payload. For comparison, the latest Ford Transit Courier has a payload allowance of 660kg and a maximum load volume of 2.3m3.

The Fiesta Van’s rear is separated from the cabin by a half-height bulkhead with upper mesh section and there are four load lashing points.

Trims & Equipment: There’s not much to choose from when it comes to how you’d like for Fiesta Van. The basic van gets a modest list of standard equipment, including automatic headlights, electric windows, electric heated mirrors and manual air-conditioning. The vast majority of examples have an 8.0in touchscreen, which provides the infotainment via Ford’s SYNC 3 system. It also includes DAB radio, Bluetooth and satellite-navigation.

The majority of upgrades for the Fiesta Sport Van trim are cosmetic and applied to the exterior. These include body kits for the front and rear bumpers as well as side skirts and a chrome exhaust tip, plus 17in alloys and LED headlights. On the inside, the Sport also gets a smattering of more attractive details, including a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel, sport seats, sport pedals and an aluminium gear knob. There’s also a keyless start and an alarm system.

However, neither trim gets Android Auto or Apple CarPlay included, with these joined on the options list (when new) by heated seats and steering wheel, parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Interested in buying a used Ford Fiesta Van? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Used Fiesta Vans cost from around £9000 for an early car of this generation. Petrol or diesel engines are available within a grand of this price point and you can expect a mileage of around 80,000. Both the standard model and Sport Van go for similar cash.

For a late model, have around £14,000 to spend.

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MPG: The Fiesta Van is exceptionally economical. Official figures put the 123bhp engine aat an average of 54.3mpg, while the 94bhp returns 55.4mpg. Both diesels are capable of more than 60mpg.

Road tax: As of writing, you'll be paying £190 per year in road tax, whether you've got a diesel or petrol Fiesta Van.

Insurance and servicing: Every Fiesta Van slips below insurance group 30 (out of 50), so insurance costs should be reasonable.

Expect a minor service to cost you around £260 via a Ford approved dealer.

Reliability

The regular Ford Fiesta has a reasonable reliability record, based on our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey that draws from real-world owner reviews. While some owners reported warning lights and unexpected noises leading to repeated dealership visits, many still regard the Fiesta as dependable for daily driving.

Opinions on dealer service vary greatly. Positive experiences often highlight professionalism and prompt repairs, whereas negative feedback points to costly repairs and service delays. The dealership's communication and problem-resolution skills are key to owner satisfaction, indicating that while the Fiesta itself is fairly reliable, the quality of service can greatly influence owner contentment.

Discover more on the reliability of the used Ford Fiesta Van on our dedicated reliability page.

As we've expressed, the higher powered 1.5-litre suits the Fiesta Van best, but if you want petrol, go for the 123bhp unit.

While the standard Fiesta Van has a slightly smoother ride than the Sport Van does, it's the a latter variant that's more available on the used market (and by a significant margin). We'd suggest helping the ride by choosing a Sport that has the smallest wheels available, though.

Our favourite Ford Fiesta Van: 1.5 TDCi 120 Sport

Like we said, car-based vans are becoming rarer and rarer. Still, used buyers have a good selection to choose from, especially if you're willing to look at older models. The Vauxhall Corsavan went out of production just as this generation of Fiesta Van went into production, but that car is worth a look – it's arguably the Fiesta's closest competitor.

If you're ready to go electric, the van version of the Renault Zoe is one of your (admittedly few) options. Mind you, it's even less practical than the Fiesta Van.

Perhaps the Fiesta Van's biggest threat comes from within the Ford family. You can find Ford Transit Couriers for similar cash and that's a much more spacious and practical vehicle.

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Interested in buying a used Ford Fiesta Van? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.