Ford has reinvigorated the Courier name with this four-square looking three cubic metre class contender. The platform was designed from the outset to be a BEV with bet-hedging petrol and diesel drivetrains taking the initial launch. Here we have the diesel version in Leader trim. A 1.5-litre EcoBlue unit delivers 100bhp and 250Nm of torque through a six-speed manual transmission to the front wheels.
Excluding VAT, it is priced at £17,450 with the test vehicle sporting a few options consisting of solid grey paint for £600, a left-side loading door at £500, A/C at £750, park sensors and rear camera for £350, front fog lamps at £150, and a temporary spare wheel at £200 beneath the £50 rubber load floor covering. All up, that’s £20,050 excluding VAT.
Loading up
Redesigned rear suspension gives the Courier a between the arches width of 1,220mm. This means it can carry two Euro pallets, whilst cargo length has been increased by 181mm to 1,802mm, and the optional load-through bulkhead enables items such as planks or pipes over 2.6m long to be accommodated. The full bulkhead, six lashing eyes and optional rubber load floor covering all bode well for ease of use and cleaning, whilst the asymmetric rear doors open through 180 degrees. The side door gives a good aperture with a decent-sized step too. The standard load bay length and volume both lag behind the Kangoo.
However, the Courier can match the Renault for ride comfort. Even unladen, it is really impressive and although the pay-off is quite a bit of body roll and the early onset of gentle understeer from the 195/65R15 Hankooks, that’s a small price to pay for how the suspension copes with the UK’s medieval road quality. The steering feel itself is excellent, a contrast to the horrible braking feel – powerful but lacking progression, they are the worst aspect of an otherwise decent drive, with a slick gearbox and well-weighted clutch, allied to decent (if narrow-band) torque delivery. However, engine, road and wind noise are disappointing on motorways.
Interior thoughts
Although the seats are very good, tall drivers or those adjusting upwards will find that both the (adjustable) steering wheel and instrument binnacle seem too low, and the excellent forward visibility would not be compromised by a more eye-line position for the latter. Virtual instruments offer a standard or numeric speedometer and a test tube style rev counter with a ‘torch beam’ effect but no actual needle. Practically, it is useless.
A centre screen devoid of navigation offers mixed results. The reversing camera is clear and front sensors provide close proximity and good graduation. The radio and media screen is good, too, whilst the climate controls are ergonomically unsound. Ford’s latest SYNC 4 system eschews the physical heater controls of its Fiesta-based SYNC 3 forebear, requiring temp and fan to be changed by multi tapping or sliding a finger – not easy on the move. A simple press-and-hold is not offered. A well-placed smartphone holder for integration is the only ergonomic highlight. A slim overhead shelf makes more sense – twin bulkhead coat hooks, a decent glovebox, passable door bins and a facia-top slot complete the picture. The latter should be lidded to prevent reflection in the windscreen and invitation to theft.
Although a decent van, the Transit Courier offers nothing new in the class, but is significant all the same. So far, the electric vans on these pages have simply been electrified versions of existing designs. Here is the opposite, an LCV designed as a BEV, propped-up for now with existing combustion engines. As a BEV, it will remove the lacklustre drivetrain, reduce motorway noise, further improve the ride and – with a hefty battery lowering its centre of gravity – reduce body roll too. Moreover, the annoying instrumentation will give way to merely a speedometer and remaining battery range. For now, it offers a well-built alternative to the Stellantis clones.
| Model | Ford Transit Courier Leader 1.5 Ecoblue 100bhp |
| Price (ex VAT) | £20,050 |
| Price range (ex VAT) | £16,200 – £21,150 |
| Insurance group | TBC |
| Warranty | 3yrs/62,000mls |
| Service intervals | 2yrs/25,000 mls |
| Load length | 1,802mm (2,667mm with load-through option) |
| Load width (min/max) | 1,220mm /1,535mm |
| Load bay height | 1,253mm |
| Gross payload | 677kg |
| Load volume | 2.9m3 |
| Engine size/power | 1,499cc/100bhp |
| Combined fuel economy | 55.3mpg |
| CO2 | 135g/km |
| On sale | March 2024 |
| Key rival | Volkswagen Caddy |
| Verdict | Well built, easy to handle, but poor ergonomics make it noisy at speed. A midfield contender, waiting to charge. |
| Score | 7/10 |
