GAZelle: body dimensions, van volume and payload
Published:
In short. A GAZelle body comes in two lengths: 3.2 m on the short wheelbase and 4.2 m on the long one. A 4.2 m dry-freight van measures 4,150 × 2,050 mm inside, 17–21 m³ and 8 europallets; insulated and refrigerated bodies of the same length have thicker walls — 13–18 m³ and 6–8 europallets inside. The GAZelle gross weight is 3,500 kg, category B; the payload in the vehicle specifications is 1,500 kg, and the body mass comes out of it.
The body size of a GAZelle is set not by the model but by the chassis wheelbase, and the usable volume by the van wall thickness. Below is a table of all COND bodies on the GAZelle Business and GAZelle Next: outer and inner dimensions, volume and europallet count. The figures are taken from the vehicle pages, and each row links to the project.
Quote is based on body, chassis and temperature range.
The wheelbase sets the body length
| Chassis | Wheelbase | Index | COND body length |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAZelle Business 3302 | 2,900 mm | 3302 | 3.2 m |
| GAZelle Business 330202 | 3,500 mm | 330202 | 4.2 m |
| GAZelle Next, standard wheelbase | 3,145 mm | A21R22, A21R23, A21R25 | 3.2 m |
| GAZelle Next, long wheelbase | 3,745 mm | A21R32, A21R33, A21R35 | 4.2–4.25 m |
A 4.2 m body does not fit the short wheelbase, so a GAZelle Next with such a body always has an A21R3x index. The last digit of the index is the fuel: 2 — Cummins ISF2.8 diesel, 3 — UMZ Evotech petrol, 5 — petrol with LPG (propane) equipment.
COND bodies on the GAZelle: dimensions, volume, pallets
| Body | Outside, mm | Inside, mm | Volume | Europallets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry-freight, GAZelle Business 3302 | 3,200 × 2,000 × 2,200 | 3,150 × 1,950 × 2,150 | 13.2 m³ | 4 |
| Dry-freight, GAZelle Next A21R23 | 3,200 × 2,100 × 2,400 | 3,150 × 2,050 × 2,350 | ≈ 15.2 m³ | 5 |
| Reefer, GAZelle Business 3302 | 3,200 × 2,100 × 2,200 | 3,000 × 1,900 × 2,000 | 11.4 m³ | 4 |
| Reefer, GAZelle Next A21R25 | 3,200 × 2,000 × 2,000 | 3,000 × 1,800 × 1,800 | 9.7 m³ | 4 |
| Multi-temperature, GAZelle Next A21R23 | 3,200 × 2,100 × 2,200 | 3,000 × 1,900 × 2,000 | 11.4 m³ | 4 |
| Reefer, GAZelle Business 4×4 | 3 200 × 2 000 × 2 000 | 3 000 × 1 800 × 1 800 | 9.7 m³ | 4 |
| Bread van, GAZelle Business | 3 200 × 2 100 × 1 800 | 3 000 × 1 900 × 1 600 | 9.1 m³ | 4 |
| Bread van, GAZelle Next | 3,200 × 2,100 × 1,800 | 3,000 × 1,900 × 1,600 | 9.1 m³ | 4 |
| Ice-cream van, GAZelle Business 3.2 m | 3 200 × 2 000 × 2 000 | 2 960 × 1 760 × 1 720 | 9.0 m³ | 4 |
| Dry-freight, GAZelle Next A21R35 | 4,200 × 2,100 × 2,500 | 4,150 × 2,050 × 2,450 | 20.8 m³ | 8 |
| Dry-freight, GAZelle Next (4.2 m) | 4,200 × 2,100 × 2,400 | 4,150 × 2,050 × 2,350 | ≈ 20 m³ | 8 |
| Dry-freight, GAZelle Next 4,200 × 2,100 × 2,100 | 4,200 × 2,100 × 2,100 | 4,150 × 2,050 × 2,050 | 17.4 m³ | 8 |
| Insulated, GAZelle Next A21R32 | 4,200 × 2,200 × 2,400 | 4,000 × 2,000 × 2,200 | 17.6 m³ | 6 |
| Reefer, GAZelle Business 330202 | 4,200 × 2,200 × 2,400 | 4,000 × 2,000 × 2,200 | 17.6 m³ | 6 |
| FRP reefer, GAZelle Next A21R35 | 4,250 × 2,250 × 2,400 | 4,050 × 2,050 × 2,200 | 18.3 m³ | 8 |
| Reefer, GAZelle Next A21R35 | 4,200 × 2,050 × 2,000 | 4,000 × 1,850 × 1,800 | 13.3 m³ | 6 |
| Multi-temperature, GAZelle Next A21R35 | 4 250 × 2 000 × 2 000 | 4 050 × 1 800 × 1 800 | 13.1 m³ | 6 |
| Ice-cream van, GAZelle Business 4.2 m | 4 200 × 2 000 × 2 000 | 3 960 × 1 760 × 1 720 | 12.0 m³ | 6 |
Europallets are counted in one tier with mixed loading and a 50 mm handling margin — the same calculation as in the pallet article and the configurator.
Why an insulated body has less space than a dry-freight van
The inner size is the outer size minus two wall thicknesses in each dimension, floor and roof included. A dry-freight van wall is 25 mm, an insulated or refrigerated one is 100 mm. On a 4.2 m body the difference looks like this: a 4,200 × 2,100 × 2,500 mm dry-freight van is 4,150 × 2,050 × 2,450 mm and 20.8 m³ inside, a 4,200 × 2,200 × 2,400 mm insulated van is 4,000 × 2,000 × 2,200 mm and 17.6 m³ inside. A 2,050 mm width takes a mixed layout of eight europallets, a 2,000 mm width takes six.
An ice-cream van wall is thicker still — 120 and 140 mm — so a 4.2 m body is 3,960 × 1,760 × 1,720 mm and 12 m³ inside.
Payload and licence category
The gross weight of the GAZelle Business and GAZelle Next is 3,500 kg: a category B licence is enough. The payload in the vehicle specifications is 1,500 kg. The body is part of that mass: the heavier the van, the less is left for cargo. A 100 mm sandwich panel is heavier than a dry-freight van sheet, and an ice-cream van adds eutectic plates to the body mass.
How to choose a GAZelle for the cargo
First the duty is chosen: dry cargo — a dry-freight van, chilled — an insulated body, frozen — a reefer. Then the length follows the number of pallets per trip: a 3.2 m body is enough for 4–5 europallets, 6–8 europallets need 4.2 m and the long wheelbase. A GAZelle body is built to order on the customer's chassis or together with the chassis — box body for a GAZelle.
FAQ
What is the payload of a GAZelle? According to the specifications of COND vehicles on the GAZelle Business and GAZelle Next, 1,500 kg at a gross weight of 3,500 kg. The body mass is part of that figure, so less is left for cargo.
How many cubic metres does a 4.2 m GAZelle hold? A 4.2 m dry-freight van holds 17.4–20.8 m³ depending on height; insulated and refrigerated bodies hold 13.1–18.3 m³, as the 100 mm wall takes up volume.
What are the body dimensions of a GAZelle? Length is 3.2 m on the short wheelbase or 4.2 m on the long one, outer width 2,000–2,250 mm, height 1,800–2,500 mm. The inner dimensions depend on the wall: 25 mm on a dry-freight van, 100 mm on insulated and refrigerated bodies.
How many pallets fit in a GAZelle? A 3.2 m body takes 4 europallets, a dry-freight van 2,050 mm wide takes 5. A 4.2 m body takes 6 in an insulated or refrigerated version and 8 in a dry-freight van.
Is a category C licence needed for a GAZelle with a van body? No. The gross weight of a GAZelle with a van body is 3,500 kg, which is category B.