New vans don’t get much more important than this – the UK’s perennial best-seller going electric. Following on from the bigger E-Transit’s debut in 2022, the E-Transit Custom is now here. So, can it follow in its big brother’s class-leading footsteps, and also live up to the (What Van? Award-winning) excellence of the diesel Transit Custom?
The E-Transit Custom is available with a choice of 136hp, 217hp and 285hp electric motors (the latter with the rally-inspired MS-RT model), driving the rear wheels. With the 136hp version, available with Trend and Limited trim levels, acceleration (with a 400kg weight in the back of our van as tested) is punchy around town, and reasonable all the way up to motorway speeds, where some wind noise is audible due to lack of diesel engine note – only a very faint whine is ever heard from the EV powertrain. Switch to the 217hp version, available with the Sport trim level, and acceleration becomes properly quick during urban use, and remains brisk all the way to motorway pace – although the peak torque figure remains the same as with the 136hp version, at 415Nm.
All E-Transit Customs come with 64kWh of usable battery capacity. With the Limited trim we tested this equals an official 201-mile range between charges, versus 203 miles for Trend, 195 miles for Sport and 172 miles for MS-RT.
The E-Transit Custom handles well, helped by semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension, and a low centre of gravity thanks to the location of the EV batteries, while accurate steering also features. Braking can, however, be a little tricky to modulate, though there are no complaints about the overall stopping power.
Ride quality is very reasonable, with the suspension taking the harsh edges off potholes, and the E-Transit Custom also benefits from comfortable seats.
The van is easy to drive around town, with good all-round visibility, helped by
a camera-based central interior ‘mirror’ – technology that seemed gimmicky when first introduced with cars, but that makes a lot of sense with vans such as this one.
The load bay dimensions with the E-Transit Custom are the same as those on offer from the diesel version, with a lower load floor than the previous Transit Custom for easier access. Two wheelbases are available – the shorter (by 400mm) version is tested here.
All E-Transit Customs come as standard with a 13in infotainment touchscreen, running Ford’s Sync 4 system. This is visually impressive, highly responsive to touches, and works well in conjunction with an also-standard 12.5in driver display that relays useful information such as satnav instructions. These screens add a high-tech, EV feel, in contrast to the cabin materials, which are typical, hard-wearing van plastic.
EV forward and reverse ‘gear’ selection is via a stalk by the steering wheel, and unfamiliar drivers may take a while to locate the parking braking control, which is on the dashboard below the touchscreen.
When the E-Transit arrived a couple of years ago, it had a clear advantage versus its large van rivals in aspects such as price, power and range. That is not the case with the E-Transit Custom and its medium van competition, since it looks closely matched in these areas with the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, while the Renault Trafic E-Tech makes up for a technically inferior powertrain by being cheaper to buy. And, of course, the Ford also has major competition on the way in the form of the next Volkswagen Transporter, which will share the same platform.
One other thing worth noting – including the UK government’s £5,000 plug-in van grant, businesses will pay less than £2,000 extra for the E-Transit Custom we tested compared with an equivalent diesel version. Given the well-publicised struggles manufacturers have had in driving electric van adoption, that sort of near-parity in price has to be welcomed.
Ford E-Transit Custom Limited Van L1H1
Price (ex VAT, inc PIVG): £41,699
Price range: (ex VAT, inc PIVG): £39,899-£57,709
Insurance group: tbc
Warranty: 3yrs/100,000mls (battery 8yrs/100,000mls)
Service intervals: 2yrs/unlimited mls
Load length: 2,602mm
Load width (min/max): 1,392mm/1,777mm
Load bay height: 1,433mm
Gross payload: 1,062kg
Load volume: 5.8m3
Engine size/power: 136hp electric motor with 64kWh battery
Range: 201 miles
CO2: 0g/km
On Sale: Now
Key Rival: Vauxhall Vivaro Electric
Verdict: Electric version keeps the well-established appeal of the Transit Custom intact.
Overall rating: 9/10
