Ford’s Transit Custom is perfectly placed for commercial success
FOR almost 60 years, the Ford Transit has been keeping businesses moving.
From panel vans to minibuses, ambulances to fire engines, the Transit has been offered in countless configurations and is one of the longest running nameplates to remain in constant production.
A new Transit is, therefore, a very big deal and 2024 marks one of the biggest changes in the Transit story to date.
As the volume seller, the mid-size Transit Custom has always faced stiff competition. And, to be honest, with rivals like the Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivaro performing well in the sales charts, more recently a Transit hasn’t been the default choice it once was.
Even so, in 2022, the Transit Custom outsold the Ford Puma to be Ford’s best seller in the UK.
The latest Transit Custom is launched as a partnership with Volkswagen. That means, the Custom is more or less the same vehicle as the forthcoming new Transporter.
And first impressions of the 2024 Transit Custom L2 when it arrived in my driveway last week were largely positive.
It may sit a bit lower than before but this multistory car park benefit hasn’t sacrificed practicality. Load capacity remains impressive and a particularly interesting option in the range is the new MultiCab, which bridges the gap between the standard van and DoubleCab-In-Van variants.
This version has seating for five and an L-shaped bulkhead around the rear seats – the result being a load length that matches the standard van.
Another big change is the location of the gear selector for automatic models. This moves from the centre of the fascia to the right-hand column stalk.
While this declutters the fascia, I guarantee that everyone who drives one of these vans for the first time will end up putting the vehicle in neutral when they thought they were activating the wipers!
Elsewhere inside, the cabin is well designed with attractive but hardwearing materials. There is also plenty of storage space, good seats and a useful fold-down table from the middle seat.
Not so impressive is the decision to make almost every key function operate via a touchscreen but, on the plus side, at least the voice activation facility for many features seems to understand a Scottish accent.
Visually, the Transit’s design is smart, businesslike and not overly fussy.
Powertrain wise, while electric and plug-in models will follow, the launch engine is Ford’s familiar 2.0-litre EcoBlue turbodiesel engine in three states of tune – 109, 136 and 168bhp. A sixspeed manual gearbox and front-wheel-drive is standard with all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox offered on some versions at extra cost.
Spec-wise, the range spans through core Trend, Limited, Trail and Sport grades with the Limited – which has Sync4 connectivity, LED load area lighting, parking camera, parking sensors, heated windscreen, heated seats, keyless entry/start and folding/heated mirrors – likely to be the best seller.
My test van was the £39,484.83 (ex VAT) 134bhp L2 Limited and, loaded up on a return trip from Ardrossan to Leeds, it proved pretty much faultless and averaged 34mpg. There was a little more road noise than in the Renault Trafic I often drive but the Ford handles better. The automatic gearbox is good too – shift quality is exceptional – but I did find the Custom a touch lacking in power when loaded and would certainly upgrade to the 168bhp version if ordering one for myself.
While the van market is more competitive than ever, the 2024 Transit Custom is well placed for success thanks to basic good design plus a wide choice of specifications and configurations.
“The cabin is well designed with attractive but hardwearing materials.”