We video test the 2018 Ford Transit Custom van range, the Transit Custom van and the Tourneo Custom.
Since its launch in 2012, the Ford Transit Custom has been one of our favourites in the medium van segment, thanks largely to its car-like interior, impressive ride and handling and handsome looks. But now Ford has added two more ticks to the "like" column for the Transit Custom van and nine-seat Tourneo Custom bus. Two rather large ticks, as it turns out, because not only is the Transit range now available with a six-speed automatic transmission, it also gains a deeply impressive new diesel engine.
The Transit is the first vehicle in New Zealand to get Ford’s new EcoBlue diesel engine, in the form of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit that produces 127kW of power and 405Nm of torque. In other markets, the new engine is offered with several different power outputs (78kW, 97kW and 127kW), with Ford New Zealand only taking up the most powerful variant.
Ford claims the engine is capable of producing more than 150kW and will soon feature in its passenger cars, alongside further EcoBlue diesel engines, including a 1.5-litre variant. The 2.0-litre unit is impressively torquey down low (maximum torque kicks in at 1,750rpm), with a nicely flexible and willing spread of power across the entire rev range.
Smooth and civilized, the engine helps deliver new levels of refinement to the Transit Custom (particularly the more insulated nine seater Tourneo Custom), as well as a big dose of hugely satisfying drivability, particularly around town. This impressive drivability is added to even more by the slick six-speed automatic transmission that is now an option on the Transit range. Ford claims the fuel economy on the Transit Custom and the Tourneo Custom is from 6.5L/100km.
Of course, gone are the days where - for some reason - we accepted lower standards of safety in light commercial vehicles, so the Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom are packed with the latest safety systems and technology, with hill launch assist, trailer sway assist, load adaptive control, a backing camera, front and rear parking sensors, roll mitigation control, cruise control with an adjustable speed limiter function and six airbags.
The Transit Custom comes with a choice of two wheelbases, with the LWB model coming with a higher roof, while a glass pack is also available on the SWB model.
Up the back of the Transit Custom, it has a large and flexible load space that is 2,555mm long in the SWB model (2,922 in the LWB), 1,406 high and 1,775mm wide (with 1,390mm available between the wheel arches), the additional 530mm load extension under the passenger’s seat allows for longer items, while a good number of load tie down points are scattered around the rear.
On top of this impressive load space, the Transit Custom is also capable of towing up to 2,800kg on a braked trailer.
The Tourneo Custom adds a number of exclusive luxury and convenience touches over the van, like rear seat air conditioning controls, extra sound insulation and carpet, privacy glass and a rear seat 12v power socket, along with the six extra seats.
The second two rows of seats can be arranged in a frankly massive range of ways, and even with the third row in place cargo space is a still-impressive 1.93 cubic metres, while with just the second row in places, this balloons up to 3.69 cubic metres. Of course, the seats are even removable altogether, if a proper van-like load space is required.
Both the Transit Custom van and nine seater Tourneo Custom were always impressive entrants in their respective segments, but the addition of the excellent new engine and the option of an equally excellent automatic transmission take them to another level altogether.
For more information go to www.ford.co.nz
