Why doesn’t Skoda build a van? I reckon it’d be really good

I’m a big fan of a good van, and I also have a well-documented love of Skodas, so it’ll come as no surprise that I’ve been thinking about putting the two together. Skoda doesn’t make proper vans, unless you count the Enyaq Commercial which is just an SUV with no rear seats, but I think it would be really good at building commercial vehicles.

Think about it: vans are hugely practical and built to stand up to all the rough and tumble which comes with a working life, both of which are traits shared with Skoda’s range of spacious and well-built family cars.

What would a Skoda van be like?

Beneath the practical bodywork, all Skoda models share their parts with Volkswagens. The Octavia is basically a stretched Golf, and the Fabia is a Polo when you strip it right back.

So it would make sense that a Skoda van would be based on the Volkswagen Transporter. Using this as a base would unlock a range of powerful diesel engines, a plug-in hybrid and even an all-electric model.

It would also mean a carrying capacity of around 1,200kg, as well as a large and versatile load bay with space for two standard Euro pallets.

As for the design, it wouldn’t be anything too radical. This rendering is based on the Transporter, but with the “moustache” grille from cars like the Skoda Fabia and Superb. I also had it finished in this bright green paint, just for a pop of colour.

Simply Clever features

Skoda’s cars are loaded with what it calls ‘Simply Clever’ features. My Octavia vRS Estate has an umbrella in the door, an ice scraper behind the fuel door and a built-in funnel on the washer fluid bottle, to name a few. These could easily carry over to a van, but I spent two years in a past life as a delivery driver, and I’ve dreamed up some new Simply Clever features which I think would uniquely suit the van world.

Fleets of vans get shared around dozens of people every day, and I used to climb aboard many a filthy cab in need of a wipe down before I set off. Rather than have one of those massive rolls of blue paper towel flying around loose, why not have a compartment under the dashboard with a hole to dispense it through? As well as a holster for a bottle of cleaning spray.

A broom hidden in the back door would be really handy for dealing with spills, and how about a clipboard which stows away in the sun visor? There are loads of little features like this which would make any van driver’s life a bit easier, and Skoda is the brand I could see creating them.

Will there ever be a Skoda van?

I’d never say never, but there is currently no plan for Skoda to start building vans. This is just me fantasising, but if you’re looking for a brilliant commercial vehicle here are a few I’d recommend.

Ford Transit Custom

The latest Volkswagen Transporter is actually identical to the Ford Transit Custom under the skin, but the Transit is a bit more versatile thanks to the more varied range of bodystyles and slightly higher payload.

Renault Master

If you’re after something bigger, the Renault Master is Carwow’s 2026 Van Of The Year. It’s fantastic value for money, offers impressive payload capacity and it’s really good to drive.

Citroen Dispatch

I used a Citroen Dispatch to move house recently, and I was really impressed with the way it drove. It’s comfortable and packed with standard equipment, but bits of the cab feel a bit flimsy compared to the Transit Custom.

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