Leading the way and ready for anything

Even the cheapest Transit nowadays comes with all mod cons, says Alan Anderson

Just how well equipped do you need your van to actually be?

When Ford launched Transit over 55 years ago, items such as a passenger seat, sun visor and even paint were extras.

Today’s base model Transit, called the Leader, comes with all of the above plus anti-lockbrakes,skidcontrol, auto stop-start, remote central locking, power windows and door mirrors, air con, three cloth covered seats, adjustable steering wheel, armrests, cup holders, a DAB radio with Bluetooth, USB ports, 12v power sockets, auto (Bi-Xeron) headlamps and more.

At the business end, there’s a sliding side door and a full height safety bulkhead which has a provision to accept ultra long items such as pipes, ladders and so on.

Really, for the average tradesperson, what more could possibly be needed, apart from rear parking sensors that even at £594 (which also includes front fog lamps) is money well spent.

To say Transit has been a landmark in commercial vehicle history is an understatement because it has been the default choice for many businesses ever since its 1965 launch. Evolution, not revolution, has been Ford’s watchword since then, sticking to the old adage of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” with great success.

Transit was the first van to drive like a car – indeed, better than many saloons produced – and it’s still one of the very best light commercials, feeling more like a massive Mondeo and is equally as comfortable, civilised and easy to drive – the latter being a traditional long-standing Ford trademark.

Leader is powered by a 2-litre turbodiesel that’s good for 105bhp and, unless you are plying motorways all day with heavy loads, is entirely adequate thanks to its good flexibility, a healthy 265lbft torque figure and a slick-acting six-speed transmission, although there’s a 130bhp/284lbft option.

At the working end, there’s a choice of two lengths and heights with the basic standard van providing six cubic metres of load space in its well designed cargo area – more than suffice for many traders, we’ll wager – accessed by twin rear doors and a standard side door both benefiting from a low loading height of under 600mm.

To protect the painted cargo area there’s a selection of protection packs from just over £100 with a wooden load floor costing £480. Talking of protection, factory fit alarms start from £180.

Ticketed at £24,491, the Leader looks good value as it’s only £2000 more than a smaller, top spec, Transit Connect and boasts almost double the carrying capacity.

The flagship Transit Sport is priced at nearly £35,000 but that’s with easy-to-damage alloy wheels, or similarly easily scratched bodycoloured bumpers – admittedly a multi-piece design to cut down on repair costs, but you can easily tidy up the Leader’s plain black ones with boot polish!

However, if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, take comfort in the simple fact that the cheapest Transit just happens to be the best one out of the entire range.