The previous Ford Transit Courier was very small, even for a small van. The latest one, however, has grown in stature, making it more practical than ever before, while maintaining its predecessor’s dynamism and up-and-at-’em character. Ford says the 2.9 cubic-metre loadbay is big enough to carry two Euro Pallets, and maximum payload stands at up to 820kg, depending on specification.

While the latest Courier is still the smallest of Ford’s Transit stable of vans, it now sits much closer to the larger Transit Connect than it used to, while still maintaining an edge in both price and fuel economy. Based on the same platform as the Ford Puma SUV, it’s also really good to drive, with a pointy and alert feel and a reasonably comfortable ride. There’s a broad spread of petrol and diesel powertrains, and an all-electric version is just around the corner, too. The more basic versions do feel a little, well, basic in terms of their interior trim and equipment levels, but there’s a choice of trim levels on offer with varying levels of luxury, so you can cut your cloth accordingly.

The Nissan Townstar may well not be among the first names on your lips if you’re looking for a small van, but its high ranking on this list suggests that perhaps it should be. The Nissan is a cracking all-rounder that does a really good job in every single area, and properly excels in some of them.

And which areas are those? Well the first is ride comfort, very much an essential area for anyone who spends hour after hour at the wheel during their working day. The soft suspension is great at soaking up lumps and bumps, while the light controls, accurate steering and perky performance (in the all-electric Townstar EV version we’ve driven, at least) help keep life relaxed. Standard equipment is also generous in even the entry-level version, while the range-topper feels borderline luxurious. Those all-important payload and load capacity figures are right up there with the best-in-class, and there are thoughtful touches that make the space more usable, plus the warranty you get is better-than-average at five years or 100,000 miles.

The Volkswagen Caddy has been a big name in the compact van market for some years now, but this latest fifth-generation version marks something of a first for the model. Where the previous versions of the panel van variant have been named Caddy and the passenger car versions have been named the Caddy Life, this iteration of the vehicle sees the passenger-carrying version named as the Caddy, while the cargo-carrying version takes on the moniker of Caddy Cargo.

Underneath, it shares much with the latest Volkswagen Golf hatchback, including the same MQB platform that underpins everything from the Audi A3 to the Skoda Octavia. It’s a very slick vehicle to drive as a result, with car-like handling and ride comfort, while the interior feels high in quality and is packed with tech.

However, although practicality has improved over previous Caddy models, it’s still a bit behind on that score compared with rivals, and on payload, too. You won’t want to land yourself in an entry-level model, either, as these feel pretty basic. Spec it right, though, and you’ll be laughing.

We just mentioned that the Volkswagen Caddy shares a lot of its mechanical bits and bobs with the latest Volkswagen Golf, which isn’t a colossal surprise given that they’re from the same stable. What might surprise you more, though, is that all the same stuff is also used in the Ford Transit Connect. That’s due to various joint development and manufacturing agreements struck between the two companies in recent years.

Happily, that also means that Ford’s version has many of the same strengths. The ride is comfortable and the handling is fairly alert, and the powertrain options we’ve tried are punchy enough to get about easily. The gearshift has a sweet feel, too, while the steering is direct and accurate. However, like the Caddy, the Transit Connect is reasonable but fairly unremarkable when it comes to payload and loadspace, so if that’s a priority, then you may be better served by a rival van.

It’s no real surprise to find the Mercedes-Benz Citan on this list, considering that it shares its platform and parts with the Nissan Townstar that features towards the top end of our rankings. It shares many of its relative’s strengths, such as a comfortable ride, an easy and relaxing driving experience, and generous safety features. It throws in a few strengths of its own, too, with a plush-feeling interior compared with those of most rivals, plus a good infotainment system.

So, why does it feature further down our list than the Townstar? Well, it’s pricier for one thing, and there aren’t as many clever touches for making the loadspace more usable and versatile. That said, it still has lots going for it, and those after a compact commercial vehicle with a desirable image and a prestige feel will absolutely love it.

When talking about the Mercedes Citan just now, we mentioned that it’d suit those looking for a compact commercial vehicle with a desirable image. Well, if that’s you then, to be fair, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo will probably suit you even better. No panel van can get anywhere near the VW for desirability of sheer want-one factor. Like the ID.Buzz people carrier on which it's based, it takes its styling inspiration from the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 Bus of the 1960s, and so by association, the Cargo simply oozes retro coolness. Vivid colours schemes help on that score, too, so if yours is a business that would benefit from communicating a cool and eye-catching hipster image, then this is just the job.

It’s good to drive, too, with tidy handling, decent ride comfort and plenty of poke from its punchy all-electric powertrain (although this might immediately rule it out for many high-mileage users). The interior is stylish and solid, too. However, the reason it doesn’t feature higher up on this list is because it trails most rivals - which also happen to be physically smaller - for payload and loadspace, while it’s also extremely expensive in comparison.