If you’re searching for a used small van in the London area, you’ll notice that most options on the market are diesel. But for many drivers—especially those operating in London or other busy urban areas—a petrol van can actually be the smarter choice. At Huntswood Van Center, a family run van dealer in Slough, we have over 30 years experience selling both petrol and diesel vans.

Here are three key reasons why petrol vans are worth considering.

1. Lower Maintenance and Better Reliability

One of the biggest advantages of petrol vans is their simplicity. Compared to diesel engines, petrol engines are generally:

• Less complex
• Cheaper to repair
• More reliable over time

Diesel vans come with additional components like:

• Diesel particulate filters (DPFs)
• Diesel injectors

These parts can often fail and lead to costly repairs. As a van dealer, we spend £10,000’s every year on warranty and pre sale issue relating to DPF issues on commercial vehicles. Petrol vans don’t have these systems, which means fewer things can go wrong.

For many buyers, this translates to lower maintenance costs and fewer headaches in the long run.

2. Ideal for City Driving (No DPF Issues)

If your driving is mainly short journeys, stop-start traffic, or city-based work, petrol vans are a much better fit.

Diesel engines are designed for longer runs. If they’re used mainly for short trips, the DPF can become clogged, leading to expensive repair bills. We have founnd that the average cost of a DPF replacement in the London area is around £1500 plus VAT.

This is especially relevant in areas like London, where:

• Traffic is constant
• Journeys are shorter
• Stop-start driving is the norm

With a petrol van, you avoid these issues entirely. There’s no DPF to worry about, making them far more suitable for urban use.

3. Lower Fuel Costs

Another benefit is fuel pricing. In many cases, petrol is slightly cheaper than diesel at UK fuel stations. With the rising oil prices in today’s unstable world, investing in a petrol van may be a wise idea as petrol has always been historically cheaper than diesel.

While diesel vehicles can sometimes offer better fuel economy on long journeys, for city driving:

• Petrol can be more cost-effective
• Combined with lower maintenance, overall running costs are often lower

Bonus: Better Value for Money

Petrol vans are less common on the market, which often makes them:

• Slightly cheaper to buy
• Better value compared to diesel equivalents

Try to find a well-maintained small petrol van with:

• Low mileage
• Full service history
• Good ownership record

This can represent excellent value, particularly for small businesses or first-time buyers.

Example: Fiat Fiorino 1.4 Petrol

A great example is the Fiat Fiorino 1.4 petrol van, which is known for:

• Strong reliability
• Timing chain engine (lower maintenance)
• Better durability compared to some diesel variants

We’ve recently seen models with:

• Low mileage
• Two previous owners
• Full service history

These types of vans offer a practical and cost-effective solution for city-based work. At Huntswood Van Center, we recommend the 1.4L petrol Fiat Fiorino / Citroen Nemo / Peugeot Bipper van.

Final Thoughts

While diesel vans dominate the market, petrol vans are often overlooked—and for the wrong reasons.

If you’re mainly driving in London or other urban areas, a petrol van can offer:

• Lower maintenance costs
• Better reliability
• No DPF-related issues
• Competitive fuel costs

For the right use case, they’re not just an alternative—they’re often the better choice.

Looking for a reliable petrol van?

We regularly stock small petrol vans ideal for city driving, all supplied with a one year warranty and ready for work. Take a look at our current stock to see the petrol models we are selling.