Good Courier move

The Ford Transit Courier is the fourth model in a range that now also includes the Transit Connect, the Transit Custom and the full-fat Transit van.

This is the smallest model in the range, but it’s no tiddler when it comes to cargo capacity with a class-leading load length and a payload of 660kg.

The Courier is available with highly-efficient diesel and petrol engines that target best-in-class fuel economy and offer auto start/ stop on all units.

Customers can choose between the Dagenhambuilt 1.5-litre 73bhp and 1.6-litre 93bhp Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, plus the tiny 1.0-litre 98bhp EcoBoost petrol engine, the International Engine of the Year 2012.

City vans need to do that seemingly impossible thing of being big on the inside but as small as is practicable outside, which is one reason why they all look much of a muchness, namely a cube and a bonnet with the marque’s family face grafted on the front.

The Transit Courier doesn’t deviate too far from this template although the steeply raked windscreen does give it more of a onebox look.

Though start/stop is only optional, running costs are low, especially if you choose the 1.5-litre diesel, which manages 72.4mpg on the combined cycle and 104g/ km of CO2. Service intervals are one year/20,000 miles.

Attractive styling, great engines and a whole lot of consideration poured into making a small van work like a big ‘un has resulted in what looks certain to be a sales winner. Buyers trust the Transit name and the Courier is going to do the brand no harm at all.