First Drive


TRANSIT CUSTOM FORD


Transit Custom Limited 320 panel van L1H1 150hp


Price (ex VAT)


Price range (ex VAT) £32,350 – £44,250


Insurance group Warranty


Service intervals Load length


tba


3yrs/62,000mls 2yrs/25,000mls


2,394mm (3,050mm with load-through)


Load width (min/max)1,392mm /1,777mm Load bay height Gross payload Load volume


1,427mm 1,279kg 5.8m3


Engine size/power


Combined fuel economy CO2


1,996cc/150hp 39.2mpg 190g/km


£37,300


On Sale: October 2023 Key Rival: Vauxhall Vivaro


Verdict


An outstanding medium van, Ford has once more raised the bar for the competition in this crucial market sector


Overall rating: 9/10


T


he Ford Transit Custom is not only by far the best-selling light commercial vehicle in the UK,


it is also the nation’s most popular vehicle overall – some feat for a van. So when a new generation is revealed, it can make a strong and substantiated claim to be the most important arrival of the year.


The new Custom that is starting to go on sale now has added significance in the market in that it will provide the platform for the next-generation medium van from Volkswagen as part of the LCV product-sharing deal between the two brands. Ford says this will be the most comprehensive product range for the Custom to date with panel van, double- cab-in-van, Kombi and Kombi van and the passenger-carrying Custom Tourneo up for grabs. New for 2024 will be a Camper Donor version and a versatile Multi Cab van.


With an eye on the markets of today and the future, means of propulsion offered in the Custom line-up will include diesel, mild hybrid (MHEV) plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery


22 WhatVan? November 2023


electric (BEV). New Sport, Active and Trail models will complement the core specification grades, Leader, Trend and Limited. Ford is offering diesel-powered Customs with front-wheel drive (FWD), while all-wheel drive (AWD) is offered on automatic variants. Customers needing enhanced traction on manual models can specify the 136hp or 150hp power outputs with a mechanical limited-slip differential.


PHEV comes with FWD and the BEV is rear-wheel-drive (RWD).


The manufacturer is launching the new Custom in three phases, the first wave, which consists of FWD diesel Transit and Tourneo derivatives up to Limited/Titanium specifications kicked off in October. Power comes from a 2.0-litre Ecoblue engine with outputs of 110hp, 136hp and 150hp when mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. An eight-speed automatic transmission will be available later coupled to 136hp and 170hp powertrains. Ford expects the 136hp and 150hp engines in Trend and Limited trim lines to be the best sellers.


Initially, the Custom is up for grabs in two lengths and one height, which is below two-metres to facilitate access to multi-story car parks, loading bays and garages.


Production of the second wave of models will start in the first quarter of next year and will include AWD diesel vans as well as PHEV (petrol-electric) Custom Transits and Tourneos, which have a claimed electric-only range of up to 34 miles. It will also see the introduction of Multicab, DCiV, Kombi, Sport, Trail, Active and Titanium X versions. The new Multicab layout features an L-shaped bulkhead to allow for the transportation of long items while also retaining two second- row passenger seats.


The third wave includes high roof vans and the BEV models, with production starting in Q2 2024 and deliveries beginning in the summer. The BEV will get a 64kWh battery and 100 or 160kW electric motors and a maximum range of 209 miles. Ford says diesel vans have a towing capacity of 2.8-tonnes whereas PHEV and BEV vans can haul up to 2.3t.


www.whatvan.co.uk


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