When it comes to vans people have a popular, mine will be the T5 VW Transporter but is it really just like I think it is? I've owned my Transporter for five years and she can be as good today as when I first laid down my money.

The British television program Fifth Gear will also be pretty impressed with the T5 and chose to put it's faith towards the test in a straight race between it along with a new contender the Mercedes Vito X.

vw t5

The two vans build up like this:

T5: 2.5 turbo diesel pumping out 172 BHP and 400 Nm of torque.

Vito X: 3.0 diesel V6 with 204 BHP and 440 Nm of torque.

The race was held at Snetterton race track in under perfect conditions but still the race was on. Will be Volkswagen beat the seemingly more powerful Mercedes or was the T5 losing it's grip around the best van title.

Both vehicles feature traction control and so choice the line presented no problems either to van the good news is into the race the Volkswagens ASR could be powered down allowing the motive force to optimize the path holding convenience of the VWs' 18 inch wheels and lowered suspension.

The Vito even offers a change to switch off the traction control however it only works for a short time, a very small amount of time before activating again meaning the Mercedes lost significant turn on every corner.

t5

In the first check point the VW was ahead by seven tenths of a second, the pulling power and handling visiting the fore, by the second check point it had gained another tenth.

The Mercedes features a bigger engine, more torque and charges 2000 pound less but all that didn't save it from the sound thrashing from the Volkswagen, coming in a complete second after it's rival.

I believe that justifies my belief that theT5 VW Transporter really is the most effective van on the road. I love my T5!