Same Van Different Name

When it comes to choosing your new van, you may feel daunted by all of the options available to you - but fear not! Here at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London, we’re here to help you.

Did you know that many vans in fact share the same chassis? To help with your choice of van, in this article we reveal the vans that are essentially the same, with a different name. But first, we explain the concept of badge-sharing… 

What is vehicle badge-sharing?

You may or may not have known that many vehicle manufacturers in fact share many similarities when it comes to a specific model. This is commonly known as ‘badge-sharing’, so each model is effectively the same, but differentiated by minor styling changes to the exterior and interior alterations. 

For example, the Stellantis group - made up of manufacturers such as Citroën, PEUGEOT, and Vauxhall - each produce small, medium and large vans that share the same frame and chassis (also known as a platform). So why do manufacturers choose this badge-sharing process? Well, it all comes down to cost; it’s much cheaper to share than design one from scratch.

Whilst this might seem like cutting corners, it’s important to remember that each manufacturer makes the effort to make a platform their own - it’s all in the presentation! 

What are the similarities between Stellantis group vans?

As we’ve already established, Citroën, PEUGEOT, and Vauxhall share the same platform between their models (listed below) so what are the similarities between them? From the engine to the cabin, to the loading bay, we explain the similarities you can expect to find with a Stellantis group van:

The engine

• Small vans: a choice of a 1.5-litre diesel engine, or a 1.2-litre petrol engine 
• Medium vans: a choice of a 1.5-litre or 2.0-litre diesel engine
• Both small and medium vans: expect around 40 mpg on average
• Both small and medium vans: benefit from larger AdBlue tanks than their competitors 
• Large vans: 120PS and 140PS

The cabin

• Each shares the same design
• An efficiently designed and well-spaced layout
• Comfortable, long-lasting and hard-wearing fabrics
• Generous and spacious storage
• Excellent driving height

The loading bay

• Practical and convenient
• Lashing points and sliding doors on both sides  
• Small vans: payload of up to 1-tonne and 4.4m³ 
• Medium vans: payload of up to 1,500kg and 6.6m³
• Large vans: payload of up to 1,870kg

What small vans share the same platform?

Although they may have very different badges, there are three small vans from the Stellantis group that share the same platform - they are the Citroën Berlingo, PEUGEOT Partner, and Vauxhall Combo. We’ve already looked at the similarities, so let’s discover the differences between them:

Citroën Berlingo

The Citroën Berlingo paved the way for small van platform sharing in 2019. It’s no wonder the small but mighty van has won so many awards thanks to its modern design, excellent driving capabilities and reasonable price bracket. 

This popular little van offers a lot for the price - it really can do everything. If you need a modern, sturdy and versatile van, then the Citroën Berlingo could be the one for you. Now available in two body lengths, the standard size M version measures 4.4 metres, and the extended XL version measures in at 4.75 metres long. 

You can tailor your Citroën Berlingo even further by choosing between two new versions - the Worker Pro and Driver Pro - it’s a van that works as hard as you do. 

Explore our huge range of Citroen Berlingo vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London.     

PEUGEOT Partner

Sharing a similar design to other small vans in the Stellantis group, the PEUGEOT Partner’s cabin is styled differently from its platform-sharing cousins. The manufacturer has put a great deal of thought into its layout for a better overall driving experience, including a very comfortable driving position - music to the ears for those with longer journeys. 

The PEUGEOT Partner also uses i-Cockpit technology - an innovative system usually found only in PEUGEOT passenger cars. Tried and tested for over 20 years by business users, the latest generation PEUGEOT partner offers ultimate comfort within the utility vehicle segment as a proven work vehicle. 

Explore our wide range of Peugeot Partner vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London.  

Vauxhall Combo

A standout competitor amongst its rivals, the Vauxhall Combo boasts no less than 15 storage compartments tucked away in a cleverly designed and well-considered layout. 

The multi-award-winning model offers an excellent traction control system that is easily accessible on the centre console. This unique feature means it can be adapted to any type of terrain - so you’ll never have to miss a day of work again. 

Explore our range of Vauxhall Combo Vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London. 

What medium vans share the same platform?

Much like in the small van category, there are also three medium vans in the Stellantis group that share the same platform too - they are the Citroën Dispatch, PEUGEOT Expert, and Vauxhall Vivaro. We’ve already looked at the similarities, so let’s discover the differences between them:

Citroën Dispatch

Stylish from the outside in, the Citroën Dispatch is, without doubt, a comfortable drive too, thanks to the highly adjustable seat. Tailor-made is in its nature, as the Citroën Dispatch is available in three different lengths; XS (4.6 metres), M (4.95 metres), and XL (5.3 metres).  

But what else sets it apart from the competition? Well, you can expect a slightly faster top speed and as a heavyweight contender, it can pull up to 2.5 tonnes of trailer weight - perfect if you need to tow a little extra.

Explore our vast range of Citroen Dispatch vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London.   

PEUGEOT Expert

The PEUGEOT Expert is the most similar medium-sized van to the Citroën Dispatch, however, there are still some distinct differences. Driving for long periods of time is a breeze in the PEUGEOT Expert thanks to its extremely comfortable seat. 

This compact utility van has been built to meet all your business requirements and is available in multiple versions. All-in-all, the PEUGEOT Expert has been designed specifically for professionals who spend countless hours on board. 

Explore our wide range of Peugeot Expert vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London.

Vauxhall Vivaro

Having celebrated its 20th birthday in 2021, the Vauxhall Vivaro is a trusted companion for any business owner. The van paved the way for medium-sized vans in the UK, which is no surprise thanks to the comprehensive onboard kit. 

Expect plenty of choices, more practicality, clever features, and not bad fuel economy either. The Vauxhall Vivaro’s optional FlexCargo gives you the option to create more space in the back too. 

Explore our range of Vivaro vans available now or read an interesting comparison between Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivaro to see which one is better for your project.

Toyota Proace and Proace City

Here’s a curveball to throw in the mix - the Toyota Proace and Proace City! Although not part of the Stellantis group, the Toyota Proace and Proace City deserve a place in the badge-sharing competition. So why is this?

Well, they too use the same platform as the Stellantis van models listed above typically do. Of course as well as the similarities, there are distinct differences too… 

Described as the ‘perfect business partner’, the Toyota Proace comes with a range of body styles and length combinations to support your needs. Expect a spacious interior and comfortable driving experience, plus many safety features to see you safely from A to B. 

The Toyota Proace City compact van offers best-in-class load carrying capabilities, high equipment specifications and a generous loading volume too. 

Explore our Toyota Proace vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London. 

What large vans share the same platform?

Just like in the small and medium van categories, there are also a couple of large vans from the Stellantis group that share the same platform too - these are the Citroën Relay and the PEUGEOT Boxer. Here we discover the differences between them: 

Citroën Relay

Citroën has created a large van that they say can handle it all - meet the Citroën Relay, a benchmark in its segment. Its best-in-class load width alongside low load sill height makes it extra easy to load even the biggest of cargoes. Why make day-to-day work life difficult, when the Citroën Relay makes it easy! 

Available in four lengths and three heights, the Citroën Relay van has a payload of up to 1,870kg and an overall loading volume of up to 17m³. The range has been adapted to suit a range of trades and uses with the introduction of Enterprise, Worker, and Driver versions. 

Explore our Citroen Relay vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London.   

PEUGEOT Boxer

Designed to support your business and meet all of your needs, the PEUGEOT Boxer has a wealth of features to enhance your daily drive. As every profession has its own specific needs, the large van is available in multiple versions to suit independent professionals or fleet managers. 

Experience a wide range of layout options for a van as unique as you are. Wide load access on the PEUGEOT Boxer provides opening angles of between 96-degrees and 270-degrees for easy loading and unloading. You’ll also benefit from swing doors of up to 2.03 metres in height, plus the rear load sill is among the lowest on the market. 

The PEUGEOT Boxer is available in no less than five different body styles - choose from a Panel Van, Window Van, Chassis Cab, Floor Cab, and Back-to-Backs, ranging from L1 to L4 in length. Expect a total load volume of between 8m³ to 17m³ on Panel Vans. 

Explore our Peugeot Boxer vans available now at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London.  

Discover your next van at Loads of Vans

Find your next business partner here at Loads of Vans in North Cheam, South London. As a well-established and trusted family business, we are here to help you discover the right van for you - at the best price possible!

We stock all of the vans listed above, as well as many more models. Best of all, our new and used vans are available right away! That's right, forget long wait times and frustrating delays, you can drive away in a new van today!

Simply visit our showroom in person (we are open 7-days a week) or explore the huge range of vans on offer right here on our website. Why not check out the current stock section too and bag yourself a bargain?

All of our vans are available on finance too, so you can spread the cost of your next van over a duration of months without worrying about one big upfront payment.