VDL SB120

VDL SB120
A DAF SB120/Wright Cadet owned by Arriva, UK.
Overview
Manufacturer	DAF Bus/VDL Bus
Body and chassis
Doors	1 door (UK) 1 or 2 doors (mainland Europe)
Floor type	Low floor (UK) Low entry (mainland Europe)
Powertrain
Engine	Cummins B-series/ISBe
Dimensions
Length	9.5 metres to 10.8 metres
Width	2.5 metres
Height	3.0 metres
Chronology

The VDL SB120 (previously known as the DAF SB120) is a low floor light-weight midibus produced from 1999 by VDL Bus International (formerly DAF Bus International) of the Netherlands primarily for the UK market.

The SB120 is similar to its major competitor Dennis Dart SLF. Powered by a Cummins B Series 6-cylinder Euro II engine (later Cummins ISBe 4-cylinder Euro III engine), the SB120 is available in lengths from 8.5m to 10.8m, similar to the Dart SLF. It was initially only available with the Wright Cadet body, built by Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, but since the end of 2005, the Plaxton Centro body is also offered.

Unlike the larger VDL SB200, the SB120 has found a sizeable market, especially with Arriva (VDL importer in the UK) in both the UK and the Netherlands. Other sizeable customers include Go North East, Birmingham Coach Company and East Thames Buses. The SB120 sells very well in VDL's home market, the Netherlands mainly using VDL Berkhof type Ambassador bodywork.

The SB120 was also sold in the United Kingdom by Volvo on the Wright Cadet body. This version, however, was sold as the Merit and does not carry either Wrightbus, VDL or Volvo branding. This version has been sold to several operators including Yellow Buses, Bournemouth. However, with the change to Euro IV emissions from October 2006, Volvo and VDL ended this arrangement.