RENAULT'S Clio 1.9D van has been declared the load-lugging economy champion by Fleet Management Services. Pence per mile figures over three years/75,000 miles from the Shrewsbury-based company reveal the car-derived van to be the cheapest to buy and the cheapest to operate.

Taking into account the basic price, depreciation, servicing, maintenance and road fund licence, figures reveal the Clio costs 10.9p a mile to operate over three years/75,000 miles compared with up to 12.03p a mile for the Vauxhall Corsavan Merit 1.7D.

With a basic price of £6,815, the Clio van costs up to £1,170 less than its competitors. In addition, the Clio's payload is greater than its nearest rival - 535kg compared to 475kg of the Corsa.