I'm a fan of van based cars, rather than car based vans. Had a Citroen. Synergie for almost 20 years. Still miss it.
Where do you live? Most small vans are diesel, affordable pre 2016 ones are usually euro 5 (manufacturers vary, phased out 2015 Onwards)
and from later this year any diesel that is not Euro 6 will have to pay something like £12 every time they enter the expanded London ULEZ, look it up on TFL website but its a big area, I think bounded by the north and south circular maybe pushing out to the M25 one day.
Not a worry in most places in UK.... yet.
My son is an orchestral percussionist, so got himself a Ford Tourneo Connect to carry big instruments. Hisinsirsnce quotes for vans were very high so the van with seats was the answer. Also avoids the lower A road speed limits you get with vans
Got the slightly puny sounding 1.0 petrol as he often works in the zone. Future proofing of sorts.
Probably fails the 8x4 test, the grand Tourneo connect might be OK, but I'm massively impressed with its use ability generally. Very square loads space and the seats come out unlike my Picasso where they fold flat and take away lots of height. Even with the 1.0 engine it goes well enough but you have to stir the gearbox a bit more than some.