1984 Ford Econovan Reviews

The Ford Transit Custom Sport variants include both plug-in hybrid and full electric drivelines. Compared with the lower-spec Trend specification of the same vehicle, the Sports adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a body kit including a rear spoiler, external stripes, a 10-way powered driver’s seat and dual-zone climate control. The Sport PHEV costs $69,990 and the EV variant costs $79,990.Mechanically, the Sport is identical to the Trend versions, apart from a shorter wheelbase for a 400mm shorter overall length.The PHEV variant of the electrified Transit Custom comes with a 2.5-litre petrol engine teamed with an electric motor and an 11.8kW battery that gives up to 54km of EV-only running. Selectable modes allow the driver to generate or save battery power, but the EV range is poor compared with the competition. Power is 171kW and torque is 400Nm, but the PHEV Transit can’t use commercial fast-chargers. The PHEV Transit Custom is front-wheel-drive.The EV version, meanwhile, switches to rear-wheel drive with a single electric motor between the rear wheels and a 64kW battery under the floor.The cargo area is accessed by a single sliding door (with the option of double doors) and barn doors at the rear which open wide enough for fork-lift loading. The cargo bay walls are lined and a tough plastic mat covers the floor. There are tie-down points, LED lighting and an illuminated step and there’s also a space-save spare tyre.Six airbags including front, side and side curtain are standard and the Transit Custom PHEV also boasts the latest driver aids including auto emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, a 180-degree rear camera system and onboard tyre pressure monitoring.Servicing is every 12 months or 30,000km and the Transit is covered by Ford’s five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty as well as eight years/150,000 on the PHEV battery. Capped-price servicing is also offered.

Are you sitting on a future classic?

ANCAP turns gaze to big American pick-ups on Australian roads.

It was a matter of time, but Ford has now extended electrification to its popular Transit Custom range. But instead of a single model, there are two distinct drivelines; a pure EV and a plug-in hybrid. There's also a choice in specification and even wheelbase, and we reckon there are more variants to come. But for now, which of the sparked-up Transit Customs does the best job?

Favourite Ford engine reaches its end.

Australian new car market continues to shift in October 2024.

Jeep out, Ram SUV in at Stellantis?

Ford has come out swinging against Chinese rivals in Australia's growing plug-in hybrid ute segment, but does its Ranger-based PHEV have the right mix of price, power and performance to be the tradie's choice?

A top-end ute has received a major set of upgrades. The price and specifications for Ford’s 2026 F-150 range have been revealed. There are three variants, all in dual-cab form, with the base XLT starting from $114,950, which is an $8,000 jump from the previous model.There is some good news on the price front, with buyers now able to choose from short or long wheelbase options without additional cost. It keeps its 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin turbo-petrol engine that produces 298kW and 678Nm, with a 10-speed auto transmission. The XLT gets a part-time four-wheel drive system, while the two more expensive variants get a full 4WD set-up. There is plenty of new kit available on the base XLT, receiving several standout cosmetic additions such as chrome door handles and an exhaust extension. It also gets a 12-inch touchscreen and 12-inch digital drivers display as standard. The F-150 will battle Chevrolet’s Silverado and the RAM range for market share, with the two brands combining for more than 80 per cent of Aussie large dual-cab sales.All F150s are imported to Australia and then re-manufactured to right-hand drive in a Victorian RMA Automotive factory.Deliveries will commence in early 2026.The XLT grade comes as standard with20-inch alloy wheelsChrome door handles12-inch touchscreen12-inch digital drivers displayChrome exhaust extensionCloth seats12V port in load box Lariat adds20-inch chrome-like alloy wheelsPower tailgate14-speaker sound systemWireless phone chargerHeated and cooled front seatsRear heated seatsLeather accented seatsTwin panel sunroofExtended chrome side stepsRain-sensing wipersPower and heated mirrorsPlatinum adds20-inch painted gloss alloy wheelsBlack Ford badgingSmokes colour exhaust tip extensionAuto side stepsMulti-folding tonneau coverMassaging seats2026 Ford F-150 safetyThe Ford F-150 has not been crash tested. Safety features on XLT grade: Auto emergency breakingReverse brake assistRear parking sensorsPost-impact brakingBlind spot monitoringTrailer backup assist360-degree camera Lariat addsAdaptive cruise controlEvasive steer assistIntersection assistFront parking sensorsPlatinum addsRear cargo view cameraFord offers a five-year/unlimited km warranty on its vehicles. 

A computer chip company bust-up threatens to send global auto supply chains for cars back to the COVID-19-era with extensive manufacturer delays. According to Reuters, computer chip maker Nexperia NV, is embroiled in a standoff involving the Chinese and Dutch governments, which has seen exports of its finished products banned. Nexperia is an important supplier of basic chips used in cars, it manufactures them in large volumes in Germany, before being packaged and distributed from China to the wider car industry. China has now banned the export of finished chips.China’s ban was in response to the Dutch government’s decision to seize control of Nexperia in late September, which is a subsidiary of Chinese-owned Wingtech. The Dutch government took the decision after it got wind of Nexperia potentially transferring ownership of some of its technology to Chinese parent company Wingtech in response to US restrictions. Nexperia became at risk of being impacted by a new US rule extending export control restrictions for certain companies. Wingtech was added to this new US restriction list, and because the company owns 100 per cent of Nexperia, they also fall onto the restriction list. Nexperia reported a net profit of $331 million in 2024, highlighting its value to the car manufacturing supply chain. While there are alternatives available to Nexperia chips, car manufacturers' significant dependence on them means there will likely be a lag in transition. Earlier this month, US-based Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen and Hyundai said Nexperia’s shutdown would quickly hamstring production. “If the shipment of automotive chips doesn’t resume quickly, it’s going to disrupt auto production in the US and many other countries and have a spillover effect in other industries," he said according to Reuters. The good news is that negotiations are ongoing and the dispute could be resolved within the next few days.The growing Chinese car industry is also reliant on Nexperia chips, giving incentive for all parties to end the standoff according to Netherlands’ Economy Minister Vincent Karremans. “We have a mutually dependent relationship,” he said in an interview on Dutch television show Buitenhof. Karremans will personally meet with the Chinese minister responsible soon to attempt to resolve the industry-threatening dispute.