- Judged on unplanned days off the road.
- Previously held the title from 2015 to 2023.
- Top two for reliability for 12 years.
- Second place for UK fleet support.
- Awards held on 3 November 2026.
At the FN50 Reliability 2026 Awards, held on Tuesday 3 November at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, the Sprinter from Mercedes-Benz Vans was named Most Reliable Van. The win marks a return to the top for the brand, which held the title from 2015 until 2023.
How the FN50 reliability award is judged
Hosted by Fleet News, the FN50 Awards brought together dealer partners, leasing companies and fleet managers from across the UK to recognise individuals, teams, models and companies for their contributions to the country’s fleet sector. Categories cover areas including customer service, wellbeing and vehicle reliability.
For the reliability category, leasing companies were asked to consider the brands and vehicles in their fleets over the last 12 months. They then listed the most reliable ones, based on the average number of days off the road with unplanned mechanical problems.
Sprinter record in the FN50 rankings
According to Stephen Briers, Group Editor at Fleet News, the Sprinter has placed in the top two for reliability for the past 12 years. “For consistency, there has been no better van, according to the UK’s largest leasing companies,” he said. Briers added that a new van is due for imminent launch, with dedicated platforms for electric and combustion engines.
Alongside the reliability win, the van maker retained second place for its support of UK fleets and leasing companies.
Uptime Promise and proactive vehicle care
The award follows investment in Uptime Promise, a service that shifts the focus from reactive repair to proactive prevention. Inspired by the preventative maintenance approach of the aviation industry, it combines connected vehicle technology, predictive maintenance, nationwide servicing support and roadside assistance, with the aim of identifying potential issues before they become breakdowns.
Simon Neill, Operations Director at Mercedes-Benz Vans, said that for businesses depending on their vans, reliability “really is everything”. He noted that the company is continuing to invest in its vans and the support behind them, with a greater focus on spotting potential issues early to help customers avoid unnecessary disruption.
Mercedes-Benz Vans dealer network in the UK
In the UK, the brand’s customers are served by a nationwide dealer network of 93 sites, with customer relationships going back as far as 1974. More information on the range is available at https://www.mercedes-benz.co.uk/vans.html.
Supplied by Newspress UK (Mercedes-Benz Vans)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.
Enjoyed this story? We need your help.
Add Saffarazzi as a preferred source. You’ll see more of our stories on Google, and you’ll help us grow.