The Ford Transit is the world’s best-selling van. It regularly tops the sales charts in this country not just for vans, but the number one vehicle of any type. Next year will see its 60th birthday and, in preparation, it’s just been given a refresh.  

Transit Variants

There are four different types of Transit. The Transit Courier and Transit Connect should suffice if you need a small van. Next up is the one you see here, the Transit Custom, followed by the daddy of them all, the Ford Transit.

You can also get the 9-seat Transit Kombi people carrier, Transit minibus, and there’s even the funky Transit Nugget campervan. There’s a multitude of cab, chassis length, roof height and seating combinations, as well as conversions into vehicles which nearly always have Motorway Maintenance on the back. 

The Transit Custom

The Transit Custom - Britain’s best-selling van - is available in either short or long wheelbase form and there are various power options, including fully electric and PHEV. You can even get all-wheel drive on some of the engines. They all use (apart from the battery powered and PHEV versions) a 2.0 litre diesel engine. You can choose either 6-speed manual or 8-speed auto gearbox; there are three power output levels ranging from 108bhp to 168bhp, but the most popular is likely to be the one I tried, the short wheelbase model with a front wheel drive 134bhp engine. It had the auto gearbox which turned out to be one of the smoothest autos I’ve ever had. As for fuel consumption, 40mpg will be the sort of figure you should look for.

Load Capacity and Practicality

The main reason for buying a van is because you need to carry a lot of stuff. Depending on which model you go for, you can carry up to 1.3 tonnes; there are between 5.8 and 6.8 cubic metres of load space and you can tow up to 2.5 tonnes. This latest Transit Custom has a lower floor, making loading easier. The roof has also been lowered slightly to allow more Transits to fit into multi-storey or underground car parks.

Interior Options and Features

You can opt for two or three seats up front. The gearshift is now on the dashboard which means the floor is flat which, if you opt for a 3-seat cab means the person in the middle has more legroom. In terms of access to the load area you can have sliding doors on either side or on both sides. The rear doors can either be a tailgate or a pair of hinged doors.

Trim Levels and Technology

In terms of trim, there are 6 choices - Leader, Trend, Limited, Trail, Sport and MS-RT. I like the Limited trim. Every model gets a 13-inch central touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster plus front and rear parking sensors, as well as a reversing camera. As with too many vehicles nowadays, the centre screen might be crisp and clear, but there’s too much buried in various sub-categories. Having to scroll through stuff while you’re on the move isn’t easy or safe.

Limited trim adds heated driver and passenger seats; keyless entry and start which is handy for delivery drivers; auto folding mirrors and really good LED headlights. The other trims are largely style related with bigger wheels and body kit. Overall though, the Ford Transit Custom is one of the smartest and best-equipped vans on the market.

There are some clever options too. You can get a steering wheel that tilts so that it’s almost flat. You can then plonk something like a laptop onto it and update your delivery schedule for example. 

Driving Experience

The second important reason for being careful when choosing a van is that the driver is likely to spend a lot of time in it. Consequently, it needs to be comfortable and good to drive.

The best way to sum-up how the Ford Transit Custom drives is to say that if feels just like a car. The seats are comfy and the driving position is great. You are surrounded by a load of driver safety gadgetry. Older Transits used to be rear wheel drive. It was very easy to spin the wheels on wet roads. The rear suspension was bouncy and handling could be a bit of a handful.

This latest Transit, however, is thoroughly predictable. The front wheels (apart from the 4x4 models) take all of the power and the independent rear suspension has been fully sorted. In other words, yes, it handles, steers and feels like a car. You can even have a bit of fun in it because cornering is very predictable. Okay, it can thump a bit over potholes, but most load-carrying vehicles are the same.  

Conclusion

All of the above make a seriously good argument for buying a Ford Transit Custom, and it’s worth bearing in mind that this vehicle hasn’t become the UK’s best-selling commercial vehicle by some sort of fluke. Fleet managers spend long, sleepless hours pouring over reliability and efficiency figures. They take into account driver satisfaction feedback and whether the Transit Custom is up to the job. Is it safe and will it hold onto its value? The simple fact that so many of these fleet guys give a massive thumbs-up to the Ford Transit Custom is exactly why you should be interested.     

Prices for the Transit Custom range start at £32,250 (excluding VAT Sept ’24). While it isn’t the cheapest van of its size, it is certainly the best. Van drivers and owners have never had it so good.

words: Graham Courtney
pictures: Ford