Europe’s best-selling 1-ton van has been refreshed and has now landed in South Africa, aiming to win more market share with its all-around improvements over its predecessor. Alex Shahini shares some thoughts from the Transit launch drive.
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Only days after a government of national unity was ushered into a new era of South Africa’s democracy and foreign exchanges have been looking favourably on the people of the country, Ford‘s latest business-oriented partner has burst onto the scene. Unlike other segments, the LCV van segment caters almost exclusively to fleets, businesses and individuals that require the utility of up to 6.8 cubic metres that the Transit offers.
Ford Transit Custom 2.0SiT LWB Fast Facts
- Price: R692 200
- Engine: 2.0-litre, turbo diesel, four-cylinder
- Transmission: 6-speed manual
- Power: 100 kW
- Torque: 360 N.m
- Top speed: 180 km/h
- Fuel consumption: 8.2 L/100 km
- Emissions: 214 g/km
What are we driving and why is it significant?
For a change, a Ford headline is not being dominated by a Ranger or Everest model but instead by a utilitarian product in the Blue Oval’s lineup that bears an accolades list worthy of envy. The first of which is that it reigns as Europe’s top-selling 1-ton van, undoubtedly aided by the fact that it has been the UK’s best-selling vehicle overall in 2021 and 2022, only dropping into second place behind its Puma family member last year. The moniker has also claimed the International Van of the Year title on five occasions since the turn of the century with 2024 and the current generation being the most recent to do so.
In the local market, the LCV van segment hovered around 2 100 units annually prior to Covid-19, with 2023 falling just shy of the 2 000 mark but on the increase. Ford remains hopeful that this number will increase following improving market conditions that encourage business development.
What are the Ford Transit Custom’s rivals?
This local market share tally mentioned above is shared alongside the Fiat Ducato, Nissan NV350, Volkswagen Transporter, Hyundai Staria, Renault Traffic, Mercedes-Benz Vito and the industry-leading Toyota Quantum. Despite the market dominance of the Toyota, Ford’s offering ranks in second spot, with 19% of the pie.
How much does the Ford Transit Custom cost?
In terms of pricing, there is only a single, three-pedal iteration on offer at the moment which comes in at R692 200 and excludes an optional service plan. The more comparable figure to its competitors is R716 770, because this includes the aforementioned service plan which Neale Hill, President of the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa states has a take-up rate of 97% across the Ford lineup. This does mean the Transit comes in higher than most of its key rivals, save for the Vito, but a glance at what the new model features proves why there is an obvious price deficit. As a reminder, the optional Ford Protect Service Plan spans 6 years/90 000 km and costs R24 569.75 – buyers can extend to 8 years/165 000 km.
What is new on the Ford Transit Custom?
Jump into the Transit, and there is an illusion of a product more aligned to the passenger vehicle segment than commercial by way of its impressive list of features and creature comforts. Due to the nature of its purpose, there is expectedly plenty of hard, durable and easy-to-clean plastic that lines the cabin and rubber flooring in the interior. A removable bulkhead with a window behind the seats cacoons the cockpit which is further outfitted with a a 13-inch infotainment screen with Sync 4 capable of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 12-inch instrument cluster with a configurable 8-inch centre display. Impressively, the two-seater Turkish-built van features 6 airbags and a raft of safety features including hill-launch assist, driver alert, collision mitigation, speed sign recognition, lane keeping aid and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Optional features include LED headlamps, dual-zone climate control, wireless charging and a load protection kit. Navigating the 5 450 mm long van around is aided by front PDC and a rear camera.
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In terms of its intended utility, Ford offers a single passenger sliding door as standard but dual sliding doors are optional. At the rear the twin-barn doors open up 180 degrees and inside are 8 tie-down loops that can securely fix a maximum payload of 1 269 kg. More importantly, Ford has lengthened the wheelbase for improved cargo capacity which aids in the Transit’s ability to load 3 Euro pallets onto the floor.
What is the Ford Transit Custom like to drive?
Keyless entry is another boon for ingress into the cabin of the Transit, particularly when the hands are loaded with goodies. Once inside, the elevated driving position provides ample forward visibility. No rearview mirror is mounted for obvious reasons but the side mirrors are large and feature a split which houses a curved panel for the blind spot and standard glass. Once moving, the 2.0-litre motor with its turbocharged assistance provides maximum torque from impressively low down. Total outputs for the oil burner are 100 kW and 360 N.m and despite a displacement smaller than most of its rivals, it delivers impressive fuel consumption with a claim of 8.2 L/100 km in the tested manual variant. On the drive, we managed to get it down to as low as 7.2 L/100 km in our convoy drive dominated by the open road and passive speds but it also included stints of a few hundred kilos of goods stacked in the load bay. This may be accredited to the design and engineering teams at Ford reducing the drag coefficient by 13% and shaving 100 kg off in comparison to the predecessor.
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Another benefit of the reduced drag coefficient is a cabin that is relatively quiet at speeds. Noise, vibrations and harshness when the bulkhead are installed are surprisingly good. An automatic box is on the way but the smooth and tactile feel of the 6-speed manual and light clutch make driving in traffic bearable.
Verdict
Ford hasn’t affixed a specific number of units they intend to sell monthly or the percentage of the market they hope to gain with the arrival of the new Transit but the bottom line is that this would be a welcome addition to businesses who need a capable workhorse to aid with the bottom line. Its billing with the service plan may not make it the most attractive option in terms of outright price, but the inclusion many standard features that would otherwise be optional and highly competitive capacity are where the Blue Oval van will sway buyers in its favour.
