Ford Transit Custom 2014 Review

With an all-new design for 2014, the Ford Transit Custom feels and drives more like a car than your average commercial vehicle.

It's good to see the gap narrowing, particularly in terms of safety, with six airbags, stability control and a maximum five-star crash rating.

VALUE

Built in Turkey, prices start at $37,490 for the short wheelbase 290S and $39,490 for the long wheelbase 330L.

Both are powered by the same 2.2-litre, four cylinder turbo diesel.

Prestige paint is another $385 and the City Pack for an extra $1500 adds fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, rear camera with trailer hitch assist and an auto dimming rear vision mirror with built-in reversing camera.

DESIGN

The new Transit is designed to appeal to a broader range of customers, including tradesmen and small businesses.

While it provides a more car-like interior and driving experience, the new model has lost none of Transit’s legendary toughness, impressive load-carrying ability or impressive fuel efficiency.

With a one tonne, two pallet load cacity, the short wheelbase 290S has a maximum load space of 5.95 cubic metres and maximum load length of 2555mm while the 330L has 6.83 cubic metres and maximum load length of 2922mm.

Standard integrated roof racks fold flat when not in use, and glazed full-steel bulkhead features a load-through facility and load area protection kit.

ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

The 2.2-litre TDCi turbo diesel develops 92kW of power at 3500 revs and 350Nm of torque from 1450 revs.

In the 290S7 it delivers fuel consumption of 7.1 litres/100km and while the larger 330L uses a smidgen more at 7.3 litres/100km.

The diesel is paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.

A large 95-litre tank gives the van a range in excess of 1000km with either model. 

SAFETY

Ford developed the Transit Custom to meet the latest Euro NCAP requirements for pedestrian protection and as such it has earned a five-star crash safety rating.

Ford’s Emergency Assistance system is also available on the Transit van for the first time, which dials 000 in the event of a major accident.

It also comes with a full complement of safety systems including Hill Launch Assist that stops the van from rolling backwards for up to three seconds when you take your fott off the clutch.

As well as Hill Launch Assist, the all-new Transit Custom comes with Cruise Control with an Adjustable Speed Limiting Device.

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) helps the driver retain control on slippery roads. 

The DSC system includes the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).

In addition to these features, the Transit Custom gains Trailer Sway Control, Roll Over Mitigation, Load Adaptive Control and Torque Vectoring Control.

DRIVING

We don't drive a van for a living, but if we did we'd want it to be easy and fun to drive and the Transit nails it on both points.

The high mounted gearshift falls easily to hand and the cargo wall is not only safe but helps to reduce the echo effect of the load area.

Acess to the load area is via a slider at the side or barn doors down the back.

For a van it also has some surprising even luxury inclusions such as heated seats and digital radio which gives you plenty of variety to chose from when you are spending long hours on the road.

The driver focued instrument panel has a comprehensive number pad for dialing while you can also end or initiate phone calls without taking your hands off the wheel.

We were getting 8.1 litres/100km with just over 300km on the clock.