LEVC VN5 Review

The cab of this van feels deceptive. When you get in you do not feel as though it is a typical van; it feels as though you have just gotten into a modern car. Features such as the large infotainment system, digital display, and comfortable seats all make the cabin a pleasing place to be.

You may recognise the high-quality focus points as they are from Volvo. In fact, the entire cab is from Volvo, and we feel it works really well. Our maintenance controller Rory Palmer confirmed that if he was to have this van as his daily work vehicle he would be very happy due to how the cab feels to be in. However, the best suited opinions on this van are from those tradespeople who would use it on a regular basis as part of their work.

We spoke to a few from a local building firm to see what they think about the modern interior. One builder said that the inside is stylish and they could definitely get used to the different look. They did however find it a little bit impractical; pointing out missing armrests and lots of empty space that could have been better utilised for storage. Another detrimental factor was the centre console, holding the stop/start dial and drive selector. Although aesthetically pleasing, the area would have been much more functional if it had cup holders or housed a pocket for storage.

The rear of the vehicle showcases how LEVC have tailored their design around working within city centres. The VN5 has a 60/40 rear door split; beneficial because you will be able to get most materials and tools in via the large door, and if you need to open the smaller side you will not be impeding the city traffic too much.

The van has a large cargo space that can hold up to 5.5 M³ and 830kg payload, which is ample amount of room for the average tradesperson/delivery driver. This van boasts the ability to fit two euro pallets in the back, one via the side door and one via the rear doors. Other features in the cargo area are conveniently placed tie points, bright LED lighting and stylish grey anti-slip flooring, which means no need for ply lining.

The VN5 is classified as a fully electric vehicle, so you may be wondering why we are questioning this. It’s because it uses a 1.5-litre engine as a range extender. This technology acts as a generator for when the batteries run out, so its only purpose is to charge up the batteries powering the motors and keep the van driving. The range extender does not directly power the wheels therefore this van is not classed as a hybrid and is in fact an EV. This took us a little while to wrap our heads around at first, but it is an interesting bit of technology and could have its place in the future of the automotive industry.

Driving this van is just like driving any other electric vehicle; very smooth, quiet and has good power available for when you need to put your foot down. The main feature is its manoeuvrability. With a 10.1-meter turning circle, it can get out of the tightest of spots and the narrowest city streets. Another impressive feature is the adaptive speed limiter. The vehicle recognises speed signs and changes your limiter to what the sign reads therefore, in theory, the driver should never be able to receive a speeding fine. The only negative of driving this van is the sound of the range extender – the concept of it acting as a generator carries over to also sounding like one. It idles at a set RPM and is not pleasant to listen to, both while driving and sitting in traffic.

Although the aesthetics will take some getting used to, and the range extender may dent public perception of this electric van, we think the VN5’s manoeuvrability and safety features separate it from the rest to take the title of the best van for inner city work.