Ford’s all-conquering Transit Custom scooped the What Van? Van of the Year award for 2024 and has retained the Medium Van of the Year category prize for 2025.
The Custom caters for a comprehensive range of requirements; you can have it in diesel, hybrid or BEV guises and in trim levels including Leader, Trend, Limited, Sport and Trail. A sporty MS-RT-adapted version is also up for grabs.
The Custom is marketed as a van, a double-cab-in-van, a Kombi and as the passenger-carrying Tourneo. New with this generation is the Multicab, with an L-shaped bulkhead which allows longer items to be transported while retaining two second-row passenger seats.
Diesel models are propelled by the 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine with outputs of 110hp, 136hp, 150hp or 170hp with the choice of a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. They are all front-wheel-drive, as is the PHEV, which has an electric-only range of 34 miles, while automatic models are up for grabs with four-wheel-drive. The electric Transit Custom is rear-wheel-drive and gets a 64kWh battery and 100 or 160kW electric motors and boasts a maximum range of 209 miles.
Diesel vans have a towing capacity of 2.8-tonnes whereas PHEV and BEV vans can haul up to 2.3-tonnes.
Most eye-catching among the Ford’s new features is the new tilting steering wheel that takes the tried and trusted concept of the mobile office to a new level. The wheel’s squared-off rim rotates to become a stand for tablets and laptops, as well as a flat-topped table to make paperwork easier and lunch breaks more comfortable. Another clever design tweak in the cabin sees the passenger airbag installed in a roof-mounted position to free up more storage space to create a far deeper glovebox in the dashboard.
An innovation to help busy delivery drivers who make multiple drops during their working days is the Delivery Assist pack designed to increase efficiency and reduce tiredness by automating processes that would otherwise take up more time and energy.
Delivery Assist activates when the driver shifts into park, automatically switching on hazard lights, closing open windows and locking the door once the driver leaves the van. Upon returning, the driver can use keyless entry and start the vehicle. The hazard lights will switch off and the windows will return to their previous positions.
A generous provision of ADAS includes cross traffic assist, reverse brake assist,
360º camera and intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop and go technology on automatic models to make driving less taxing in heavy traffic.
The FWD L1H1 Transit Custom 320 panel van in Limited trim powered by the 2.0L 150hp Ecoblue turbodiesel engine, is the core model in the UK, according to Ford. On the road it enhances the manufacturer’s reputation for turning out LCVs that set the bar in terms of handling and performance.
The eight-speed automatic transmission is equally refined, meaning customers can be confident they’ll be satisfied with whatever option they choose.
In the cabin, the 13in touchscreen dominates, providing a clear view for the Satnav and the excellent reversing camera. The controls are straightforward, easy to use and good old-fashioned knobs and buttons complement digital controls, including those mounted on the steering wheel.
The strong all-round package is completed by the practical cargo facility. Twin rear doors plus a near-side loading door provide access to the load bay, an offside loading door can be specified if desired. An integrated step makes it easier to get in and out of the side door.
Highly Commended: Maxus eDeliver 7
Unveiled at the Commercial Vehicle Show in 2023, the eDeliver 7 sits at the heart of SAIC Maxus’ electric van portfolio. It is available with either 77kWh or 88kWh batteries, with a range of up to 230 miles between charges on the official WLTP combined cycle.
An 80% charge takes 43 minutes with a DC charger, while a full charge takes between eight and 9.3 hours with an AC charger.
A comprehensive choice of models includes L1H1, L2H1 and L2H2 configurations, and payload capacity is an eminently useful 1t. Load volumes range from 5.9m3 to 8.7m3.
Overall the eDeliver 7 is a strong all-round package and represents a viable alternative to the electric vans from the better-known brands in the market place.
