Mercedes-Benz Sprinter takes home fourth Large Panel Van of the Year award

Judges at this year's Fleet Van awards have hailed the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter as the best Large Panel Van of the Year 2011.

Now in its fourth year, this title has been taken home each time by the Sprinter, with the judges citing the vehicle's build quality and overall responsive when laden as two of the key factors in determining this year's victor.

Trevor Gelken, editor of Fleet Van, said: "The judges felt that ... no other van came close to the Sprinter in terms of build quality, technology, reliability and sheer good driving experience."

Indeed, the judges felt that the Sprinter simply offered more to its customers in terms of aftersales, servicing and repair from Mercedes-Benz.

"To win any award once is a great achievement, to win an award twice in a row is a real honour, but to win the Fleet Van Large Panel Van award for four consecutive years is truly an outstanding triumph," commented Steve Bridge, van sales and marketing director for Mercedes-Benz UK.

He added that the company is justifiably thrilled to pick up another accolade for what he described as the firm's "trusty" and "reliable" Sprinter van.

Earlier this month, the Peugeot Bipper was named the City Van of the Year at the Fleet Van Awards.

It picked up the title after wiping the floor with the competition in the van's category, with Mr Gelken noting at the time that Peugeot's renewed focus on fleet support and aftersales had given the vehicle the edge in judging.

Furthermore, the excellent fuel efficiency offered by the van was a standout quality for the judges, as was its low emissions and flexible use of space.

All of the winners were chosen by a panel of esteemed judges, which included Stephen Briers, editor of Fleet News, Simon Harris, deputy editor of Fleet News, George Alexander, editor of Glass's Guide to Commercial Vehicles, as well as Mr Gelken himself.

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