Ford Transit Custom vs Foton Tunland

What's the difference?

VS
Ford Transit Custom
Ford Transit Custom

2026 price

Foton Tunland
Foton Tunland

2018 price

Summary

2026 Ford Transit Custom
2018 Foton Tunland
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.8L
Fuel Type
Diesel

Diesel
Fuel Efficiency
7.6L/100km (combined)

8.3L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

2
Dislikes
  • Side window/cargo bay rattles
  • No assist-handle on L/H A-pillar

2026 Ford Transit Custom Summary

For tradies, mid-sized commercial vans (2.5 to 3.5-tonne GVM) are like warehouses on wheels given they can offer up to 6.0 cubic metres or more of secure load volume.

However, these workhorses usually only have seating for two (sometimes three) which is a deal-breaker for those that need to carry a larger crew. And they generally don’t have visual appeal with a utilitarian mix of fridge white paint, unpainted plastic bumpers, steel wheels and minimal bling.

By comparison, full-size dual-cab US pick-ups offers palatial rear seat comfort for three large adults, with flat floors and ample leg, shoulder and headroom. However, their formidable external dimensions can be impractical for urban use and they usually come with six-figure price tags.

However, for tradies prepared to look beyond the usual offerings, a vehicle like Ford’s Transit Custom Sport Double Cab could provide the best of both worlds, by combining much of the cavernous load volume of a mid-sized commercial van with the spacious rear seating of a big American pick-up.

We recently spent a week aboard this unique blue-oval offering to see it if has the comfort, performance and practicality to be a genuine alternative to a ute or conventional van for tradie use.

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2018 Foton Tunland Summary

Beiqi Foton Motor Company Ltd (rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?), established in 1996, is one of China’s leading manufacturers of heavy-duty commercial vehicles. It also produces a light commercial range including the Tunland ute, which has ridden a rocky road in Australia with minimal sales traction since its local launch in 2012.

Back then distribution was handled by Queensland-based FAA Automotive Australia. In 2014, Ateco Automotive took over, but that only lasted until mid-2017, when Foton itself took charge of all Australian distribution and sales under the Foton Motor Australia Ltd banner.

A key factor in this move was a rationalisation of the local Tunland fleet, which now consists of only a dual cab ute. But through Foton’s numerous joint ventures with premium OEM suppliers (including Cummins, Borg Warner, Dana, Bosch and ZF), the latest Euro 5-compliant Tunland combines known brand components in a low-priced ute with which Foton plans to finally build a solid following.

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Ford Transit Custom 2018 Foton Tunland

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