Panel vans come in all shapes and sizes, but Volkswagen's new Xpress perches itself clearly on the smaller end of that scale for those seeking a nimble delivery vehicle that doesn't feel like a cargo ship to pilot.
As you can see, the new LDV is based on the Polo Vivo and while it doesn't pretend to compete with purpose-designed vans, it does swallow a fairly large load for its size, with an official payload of 519kg and a total load volume of 1060 litres.
It costs R163 700, but you'll be able to claim the VAT back if you have a business as VW went through the trouble of homologating it as an N1 commercial vehicle, seeing as they ripped out the back seats and installed a partitioning wall and hard wood load floor.
To equip it for the working life, VW raised the suspension by 15mm and if you want more rough-road protection there is an optional package that brings heavy duty shocks and additional front underbody protection.
The vehicle itself won't be a harsh working environment though, thanks to standard air conditioning and power steering, while safety kit comes in the form of dual front airbags and ABS brakes. Optional extras include cruise control, a sound system and 14-inch alloy wheels.
Power is provided by the Polo Vivo's familiar base engine - a 55kW/132Nm normally aspirated 1.4-litre petrol unit mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.