A dozen Mercedes-Benz Citan vans are helping to raise efficiency for Nottinghamshire-based lift installation and servicing specialist Morris Vermaport.

Most are used by mobile engineers to whom the company previously allocated petrol-electric hybrid cars, although four are used by installation teams who had been using larger vans.

Supplied by Nottingham dealer Mertrux, the new Citan 111 CDIs are powered by 81 kW (110 hp) diesel engines and offer a winning combination of economy, space, comfort and safety.

In line with the company's environmental policy it initially chose hybrid cars to minimise fuel consumption but found that their company vehicle tax rates were becoming prohibitively high.

“By contrast, the rates on the Citans were much lower,” said operations director Andrew Waddell. “There’s not a lot to choose between the two vehicles in terms of mpg returns – the hybrids are good around town but less so on longer runs, or when fully loaded, which is when the Citan really shows its class.”

Morris Vermaport’s engineers are driving Long versions, but the company chose Extra-long variants for its installation teams. It also opted for Service Care packages on all the new vehicles, under which all routine servicing costs, including parts, lubricants and labour, are covered by a single monthly payment.

“The Citan is a definite improvement on the larger vans our installers were using previously,” continued Waddell. “The load space is almost as large but the Mercedes-Benz is a lot more fuel-efficient, as well as being easier to drive and park in busy urban streets.

“The Citan is also very comfortable and well appointed, with features such as air-conditioning and cruise control, while we take comfort from the fact that Mercedes-Benz vans are the safest on the road.

“Meanwhile, the Service Care package provides excellent value for money and means our maintenance costs are very predictable. Overall, we’re delighted with our Citans, which are already delivering significant savings.”