For work vehicles, bigger isn’t always better. In downtown cores, drivers face narrow streets, tight parking, and low underground garages.

If you don’t need maximum capacity, consider these compact or midsize delivery vans and trucks (fuel consumption is shown in city/highway/combined L/100 km; prices are lowest to highest trim levels or configurations).

Ford Transit Connect

         For 2020, the Transit Connect gets a few trim upgrades, including available rain-sensing wipers and power-folding mirrors. The XLT trim comes standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of safety features with adaptive cruise control, pre-collision assist, blind spot monitoring, reverse brake assist, lane-keeping, and active park assist. The 2.5-litre engine is available only to fleet buyers.

• Price: $29,475 – $31,925
• Engine: 2.0-litre I4 (162 hp/144 torque); 2.5-litre I4 (169 hp/171 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 2,000 lbs towing, 1,550 lbs payload
• Fuel economy: 9.8/8.8/9.3 (2.0); 12.0/8.8/10.6 (2.5)

Mercedes-Benz Metris 

An updated version is planned for 2021. The only midsize van on the market, the 2020 Metris comes in two wheelbase lengths and offers up to 199 cubic feet of cargo space. Available options include blind spot monitoring, load-securing rail system, LED cargo lamps, and full or window-equipped partition.

• Price: $37,500 – $39,100
• Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged I4 (208 hp/258 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 5,000 lbs towing, 2,491 lbs payloa
• Fuel economy: 11.5/9.8/10.7

Nissan NV200

For 2020, the NV200 receives a 7-inch touchscreen, NissanConnect with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, six wall-mounted tie-down rings, three ceiling-mounted cargo lamps, and a body-coloured front bumper, instead of black, on the base S trim.

Nissan also claims the industry’s best commercial van warranty, with 5-year/160,000 km bumper-to-bumper on almost everything.

• Price: $26,698 – $27,698
• Engine: 2.0-litre I4 (131 hp/139 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 1,480 lbs payload
• Fuel economy: 9.8/8.8/9.3

Ram ProMaster City 

Ram’s small van is unchanged for 2020. It comes in two trim levels, with available features that include telematics, vehicle tracking system, upfit interface connector, solid or window-equipped sliding and rear doors, and rear park assist. 

• Price: $31,670 – $32,670
• Engine: 2.4-litre I4 (178 hp/174 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 2,000 lbs towing, 1,901 lbs payload
• Fuel economy: 11.2/8.3/9.9

Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon

         For 2020, GM’s mechanical twins offer a key fob-operated tailgate lock and tire fill alert, which indicates when a tire has been inflated to the correct pressure. Both come in Extended Cab with 6-foot-2 bed,, or in Crew Cab with 5-foot-2 or 6-foot-2 bed, and in 4×2 or 4×4. Three engines are available, including a turbodiesel option.

• Price: $24,08 – $45,898
• Engine: 2.5-litre I4 (200 hp/191 torque); 3.6-litre V6 (308 hp/275 torque); 2.8-litre I4 turbodiesel (186 hp/369 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 7,700 lbs towing, 1,569 payload
• Fuel economy: 2WD: 12.1/9.2/10.8 (2.5); 11.8/7.0/10.1 (2.8); 13.4/9.6/11.7 (3.6) – 4WD: 12.6/9.7/11.3 (2.5); 12.3/8.5/10.6 (2.8); 14.0/9.9/12.2 (3.6)

Ford Ranger

Ford’s midsize undergoes only minor changes for 2020. Dual-zone automatic climate control and satellite radio are now standard on the XLT and Lariat trims; fleet buyers get the SYNC operating system on the base XL; Bluetooth Pass Thru is included on the base radio; and a box extender is available.

The Ranger comes in SuperCab configuration with 6-foot bed, or SuperCrew with 5-foot bed. All models are 4×4 only.

• Price: $32,159 – $41,119
• Engine: 2.3-litre turbocharged I4 (270 hp/310 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 7,500 lbs towing, 1,650 payload
• Fuel economy: 11.8/9.8/10.9

Honda Ridgeline 

For 2020, the Ridgeline upgrades its previous six-speed automatic transmission to a nine-speed, and the rear doors open wider. It’s unique among midsize trucks in that it’s a unibody and uses all-wheel drive, but it’s still a useful work vehicle for many applications, especially with a tailgate that drops down or opens sideways, and a locking trunk in the bed.

• Price: $42,490 – $51,190
• Engine: 3.5-litre V6 (280 hp/262 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 5,000 lbs towing, 1,580 lbs payload
• Fuel economy: 12.6/10.0/11.4

Nissan Frontier 

Nissan is taking a gradual approach to updating its midsize pickup. The 2020 version doesn’t change on the outside, but it receives an all-new 3.8-litre V6 engine and nine-speed transmission that will carry over into the next-generation Frontier that’s coming for 2021.

It’s available in King Cab with 6-foot-1 bed (4×2 or 4×4), or Crew Cab with 5-foot or 6-foot-1 bed (4×4 only). Available features include a spray-in bedliner and Utili-Track bed tie-down system with sliding and removable utility cleats.

• Price: TBA
• Engine: 3.8-litre V6 (310 hp/281 torque)
• Maximum capacity: TBA
• Fuel economy: TBA

Toyota Tacoma 

         For 2020, the Tacoma gets a power driver’s seat on most trims, upgraded media with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, standard 360-degree camera on the Limited, and upgrades to the TRD Pro package. It’s available in Access Cab with 6-foot-1 bed, or Double Cab with 5-foot or 6-foot-1 bed. Only 4×4 configuration is available.

• Price: $37,450 – $50,750
• Engine: 3.5-litre V6 (278 hp, 265 torque)
• Maximum capacity: 6,504 lbs towing, 1,102 lbs payload
• Fuel economy: 13.0/10.5/11.9