Ford Transit Custom 2025 review: GVM test

The new Transit Custom range consists of four models, comprising the work-focused Trend in a choice of short wheelbase (SWB) or long wheelbase (LWB) plus the more lifestyle-oriented Sport SWB and Sport Double-Cab LWB.

Our test vehicle is the Trend LWB, which like all variants is available only with Ford’s latest 2.0-litre TDCi EcoBlue four-cylinder turbo-diesel and eight-speed automatic for a list price of $57,590. That's considerably higher than rivals including the Toyota HiAce LWB Barn Door ($51,636), Hyundai Staria Load Barn Door ($46,740) and LDV G10+ Barn Door ($39,537).

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)

It comes standard with Frozen White paint, 16-inch steel wheels with replaceable plastic covers and 215/65R16C tyres with a full-size steel spare.

There's fabric-trimmed seating for three comprising an eight-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, with lumbar support and fold-down inboard armrest, plus a two-passenger bench seat. The two outer seating positions are also heated. 

The cabin is separated from the cargo bay by a metal bulkhead which doubles as a cargo barrier, equipped with a central window and load-through hatch (see Practicality). Plus there’s keyless start, USB-A/USB-C ports and a 12-volt socket, Sensico (synthetic leather) steering wheel with ample height/reach adjustment and more.

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)

The dash offers a big 12-inch screen with 7.0-inch colour digital instrument cluster for the driver, plus a 13-inch multi-function colour touchscreen display which controls some vehicle settings and the four-speaker SYNC 4 multimedia system with digital radio, Bluetooth and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

There’s also wireless phone charging, sat-nav and, for the first time in a Ford vehicle in Australia, an embedded 5G modem to optimise connectivity.

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)

With its 2016kg minimum kerb weight and 3225kg GVM, the Trend LWB offers a one-tonne-plus payload rating of 1209kg. It also has a big 2500kg braked tow rating and with its generous 5725kg GCM (or how much it can legally carry and tow at the same time) it impressively can tow its maximum trailer weight while hauling its maximum payload.

The cargo bay is accessed via a standard kerbside sliding-door with large 1030mm opening, plus rear barn-doors that open to 180 degrees. Note our test vehicle has the extra-cost option of sliding-doors on both sides (an optional single-lift tailgate is also available).

The LWB load floor is 3002mm long with 1392mm between the rear wheel-housings. So, it can comfortably carry up to two standard Aussie pallets or up to three Euro pallets, held in place by a choice of eight load-anchorage points.

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)

By opening the hatch at the base of the cabin bulkhead, the floor length extends to 3450mm by utilising spare room under the passenger bench seat. This feature is handy for carrying long lengths of timber, electrical conduit, copper/PVC pipe, rolls of carpet etc.

Its 6.8 cubic metres of load volume is larger than the HiAce LWB’s 6.2 and the cargo bay comes standard with Ford’s ‘Load Area Protection Kit’ comprising a moulded floor-liner plus side and rear door protection. Three internal LED lights provide brilliant illumination in low-light conditions.

Although not fitted to our test vehicle, all MY24.5 models come equipped with Ford’s clever integrated roof-rack system, comprising a trio of hinged racks which lie flat when not in use but can be easily raised and locked into vertical positions. This sturdy design can carry up to 155kg when shared across the three racks.

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)

There’s generous cabin storage too, with each front door offering three tiers of storage with the largest central tier comprising a large-bottle holder and bin.

There’s also small-bottle/cup-holders at each end of the dash and a fold-out small-bottle/cup-holder for the driver lower down, plus a glovebox and on top of the dash two cavernous compartments which negate the need for an overhead shelf.

The centre seat’s backrest folds flat to reveal a small work desk and the bench seat’s hinged base-cushions can tilt forward into a vertical position to access a large hidden storage area beneath. This vast space also serves as the cargo bay’s load-floor extension when carrying long items.

Ford’s latest TDCi EcoBlue 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with AdBlue produces the same 125kW at 3500rpm as its predecessor. It also matches the previous model’s 390Nm of torque, but it's served across a wider torque band between 1750-2500rpm which is also higher in the rpm range.

The new eight-speed torque converter automatic (previously six-speed) is smooth and refined, offering the choice of sequential manual-shifting via a rotating knob on the column-mounted gearshift stalk. There are also four selectable drive modes comprising Normal, Eco, Slippery and Tow/Haul.

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)

Ford claims an official combined average of 8.0L/100km and the dash display was claiming a close 8.9 at the completion of our 273km test.

This was mostly unladen city and suburban driving, plus hauling a near-maximum payload on a mix of highways and backroads. The engine’s Auto Stop/Start feature remained on for the duration of our test.

Our own figure, calculated from fuel bowser and tripmeter readings, was higher again at 9.2 which is still excellent single-digit economy for a van weighing more than two tonnes in real-world use. Therefore, based on our figure, you could expect a realistic driving range of around 760km from its 70-litre tank.

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)

No ANCAP rating as yet but it offers numerous firsts including a roof-mounted airbag for the passenger which enables the expansive top-of-dash storage. There’s also an exit warning system for the driver, which uses the vehicle’s rear sensors to play an audible alert when an object (such as a bicycle) is approaching while the door is being opened.

The safety menu also includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision assist with auto emergency braking (AEB) and intersection assist, reverse brake assist, lane-keeping assist, speed sign recognition, parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, rear-view camera with 180-degree split-view and lots more.

2025 Ford Transit Custom (Image: Mark Oastler)