Item: Ford Transit Custom
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

According to official figures, the 104bhp van returns&nbsp;45.6mpg, while the top-of-the-range 182bhp version is almost as efficient, managing&nbsp;44.8mpg. If you’re interested in the best fuel economy, though, you’ll want to opt for the mild hybrid, which returns up to 50.4mpg.

For overall performance, cost and capability, we’d recommend the regular 128bhp engine, because&nbsp;it’s a good compromise and it allows you the choice of all trim levels except Sport.&nbsp;

Safety features include forward collision prevention and a rear blind-spot assistance system called Cross Traffic Assist. It uses the rear parking sensors to scan the roads to the sides of the vehicle while you back out of a parking space or driveway. It’s a simple but brilliant system that’s really useful in a van and one we would thoroughly recommend going for.

For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/vans">here</a>

Go for the&nbsp;182bhp engine and it transforms the Transit Custom into a rocketship – in van terms, at least. However, no matter which power output you choose, plenty of torque is available across a wide rev range, making this&nbsp;a good van to drive both around town and on motorways.

All Custom variants meet the latest Euro-6d emissions regulations, too. And&nbsp;there’s even&nbsp;a mild hybrid version of the mid-range 128bhp unit, which can help you save fuel by providing the engine with small amounts of electrical assistance.

The Custom is also the best-handling mid-sized van out there, with pleasantly weighty steering that provides you with good feedback without ever becoming&nbsp;tiring.

In fact, everything about how the Transit Custom drives is&nbsp;pretty much spot on, with it striking a great balance between comfort and body control, and the standard six-speed manual gearbox having a nice sharp action.

We would definitely choose the manual over the six-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox as well,&nbsp;because the latter isn't particularly fast shifting and can be caught out a bit. It’s also only available on the two higher-powered engines, and that might not be to everyone’s liking.

For those that need to go off-road, the Transit Custom Trail (and the Active, where the Quaife differential&nbsp;is an optional extra) is about as capable of tackling the slippery stuff as you’ll find in the mid-sized van segment without going for a proper 4x4 model. The diff&nbsp;expertly shifts power between the driven wheels in a mechanical way rather than using electronics.

Not only does it get you further off-road, but it is also a great safety net for wet or slippery roads, acting as a secondary form of traction control. It’s still a lot of torque going through the front wheels, though (there’s no four-wheel drive option on the Transit Custom as there is on the full-size Transit), so the Transit Trail still spins its wheels up if you accelerate hard in damp or slippery conditions.

The Ford Transit Custom&nbsp;was a runaway success from the start, and has consistently been the UK's best-selling van, popular with owner-drivers as well as fleets.

That success is partly down to the fact that the&nbsp;Transit name itself is synonymous with medium and large vans – so much so that in the UK many people simply call any van of this size a Transit van.

Like its larger two-tonne sibling the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a>, the Custom comes with a choice of four different versions of Ford’s 2.0-litre diesel engine. There’s a powerful 182bhp version (great if you want masses of pulling power) as well as&nbsp;104bhp,&nbsp;128bhp and 167bhp models.&nbsp;

Buyers have the choice of four trim levels – Base, Trend, Limited and Sport – and there's a huge range of options that can be added on as well.&nbsp;There are also more specialised Ford Transit Custom Active and Ford Transit Custom Trail models. Those are the more lifestyle variants of the van range and both are also available as <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/tourneo-custom/mpv/review/n17556">Tourneo</a> passenger versions.

If you’re in doubt as to which one suits your needs, the Active model is closer to an SUV in terms of its abilities and style, while the Trail is a more of a rugged off-roader, complete with macho pick-up truck styling and a bold F-O-R-D grille.

All Transits come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but&nbsp;there is also the option of a six-speed 'SelectShift' automatic that you can have with the two higher-powered engines.

Despite being the bestseller, the Transit Custom&nbsp;still has plenty of competition, making&nbsp;its dominance all the more impressive. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">VW Transporter</a> is a formidable alternative, while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/dispatch/van/review/n18249">Citroën Dispatch</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/expert/van/review/n20207">Peugeot Expert</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/trafic/van/review/n18803">Renault Trafic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro/van/review/n18281">Vauxhall Vivaro</a>&nbsp;can all lay claim to doing much the same job.&nbsp;

As well as its name recognition and stylish looks – which have been updated with a trapezoid-shaped grille on this latest model&nbsp;– the outstanding breadth of the range is perhaps why it attracts so many customers. You can get short or long body versions, as well as a standard or high roof, making the Transit Custom almost as flexible as the larger Transit.

In this review, we'll tell you just how useful&nbsp;it is, how its load-lugging ability compares with its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Mercedes Vito</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">VW Transporter</a>&nbsp;rivals and other crucial information, including what it's like to drive, how comfortable the seats are and what it'll cost to buy and run.

Inside this latest Transit Custom,&nbsp;the busy, sloping dashboard&nbsp;of the previous model has been replaced by a simpler, more upright design.

Limited and Sport models get a tablet-like 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system as standard –&nbsp;a good attempt at adding premium car equipment into a working vehicle.

The system uses the third generation of Ford’s Sync system, which is far simpler than the multi-menu&nbsp;Sync 2 and a welcome upgrade from the 4.3in standard screen on Trend models or the standard AM/FM radio found on Base vans.

The Sync 3 system also supports&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>, which allow&nbsp;you to use your smartphone applications via the screen.

Thanks to the combination of a&nbsp;steering wheel that adjusts for both rake and reach&nbsp;and a highly adjustable seat, it should be easy for drivers of all shapes and sizes to find a comfortable position in the Transit Custom.

There are lots of useful storage&nbsp;compartments along the top of the dash, too, and the&nbsp;door bins feature split-level compartments that allow you to store small&nbsp;items discreetly.

While the Sport is arguably the most luxurious trim level available, some buyers might be interested in the two more niche options in the range - the Ford Transit Custom Active and the Ford Transit Custom Trail. Active models get part-leather seats (while Tourneo vans also have a blue instrument panel accent colour) but more importantly get what Ford calls SUV-inspired styling, with Active decals and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Trail vans get a much larger overhaul. Full leather seats are the main interior feature, but externally there’s newly moulded front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a matte-black grille with large F-O-R-D lettering.

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

TRANSIT CUSTOM

Great to drive, has some nifty safety equipment, and the engines are both strong and efficient.

It’s not surprising, given the choice in the range, that the Transit Custom has one of the largest cubic volumes of any medium-sized van.

A short-wheelbase standard roof model has a capacity of six cubic metres, while the long-wheelbase high roof has 8.3 cubic metres, making it compete with rivals from the class above.

Its load-carrying capacity is also among the best in class, with a gross vehicle weight range from 2.6 tonnes to 3.4 tonnes. Depending on the body length and height, the maximum payload is as much as 1459kg.

The Transit Custom’s large potential operating weight also means that its payload is significantly more than that of rivals. It can carry 230kg more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/transporter/van/review/n18205">VW Transporter</a> and as much as 180kg more than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/vito/van/review/n18152">Mercedes Vito</a>, and that’s largely because both of these competitors are available only as 3.2-tonne vans, whereas the Transit Custom goes up to 3.4 tonnes.

The maximum load length is up to 2554mm for the short-wheelbase version and 2921mm for the long wheelbase. Standard-height vans are 1406mm tall, and there’s an additional 370mm in high-roof models. Load width is 1175mm, with 1350mm between the wheel arches. Rear doors open to 180deg&nbsp;but can be locked out at 90deg&nbsp;using a special hinge.&nbsp;

A protective lining is available for the load area, and we’d recommend it to protect the panels of the van. However, the plywood protection&nbsp;is a little rudimentary and competitors have a lot more sophisticated load lining solutions.

A single side-loading door with an opening of just over a metre is standard on all vans, and there’s the option to add a second side door on the driver’s side.&nbsp;

If it’s people&nbsp;rather than stuff&nbsp;that you need to move, there are Kombi minibus versions capable of carrying up to nine passengers and Double Cab vans with a second row of seats.

The Transit Custom can trace its lineage through a long line of great vans, and happily, it lives up to its reputation. It's great to drive, has some nifty safety equipment, and the engines are both strong and efficient.

Medium Van

Ford Transit Custom review

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Buying advice for the Ford Transit Custom covering running costs, MPG, Fuel Economy, Reliability and Safety, from the expert What Car? review team.

According to official figures, the 104bhp van returns 45.6mpg, while the top-of-the-range 182bhp version is almost as efficient, managing 44.8mpg. If you’re interested in the best fuel economy, though, you’ll want to opt for the mild hybrid, which returns up to 50.4mpg.,For overall performance, cost and capability, we’d recommend the regular 128bhp engine, because it’s a good compromise and it allows you the choice of all trim levels except Sport. ,Safety features include forward collision prevention and a rear blind-spot assistance system called Cross Traffic Assist. It uses the rear parking sensors to scan the roads to the sides of the vehicle while you back out of a parking space or driveway. It’s a simple but brilliant system that’s really useful in a van and one we would thoroughly recommend going for.For all the latest van reviews, news, advice, and videos visit our dedicated van section here

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