Sam says it’s not your average white van

Having never driven a Ford panel van before, I got much more than I expected during our test of the Ford Transit Custom Sport. This is particularly true of the drive, which was closer to what I would have expected of a sporty passenger vehicle rather than a commercial workhorse.

The drive was so much more than that, may I even say, enjoyable. This was a perk from a vehicle whose main purpose is practicality and, at most, a drive capable of carrying the extra weight of a load. Additionally, the Transit Custom has the kind of refinement suited to someone who wants it as a lifestyle vehicle rather than strictly for work purposes.

Ford’s Sport variant defines itself visually with several aesthetic upgrades. Even with this, Transit Custom Sport does not compromise on practicality. It is still very much a capable workhorse underneath all the flair.

The drive

Under the bonnet is Ford’s updated 2.0-litre Single Turbo EcoBlue turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, producing 125kW of power and 390Nm of torque. This is paired with an advanced 8-speed automatic transmission, with a stalk providing the option for manual gear selection when needed.

The spirited drive does not disappoint irrespective of the driving scenario. While we did not have the opportunity to test at its full load-carrying capability, we are confident it will still outperform in this area. Tests carried out by other journalists with more considerable loads, corroborate this.

The Transit Custom Sport also features a drive mode selector enabling drivers to switch between Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Towing. While the temptation is to drive in Sport mode, Normal mode is the ideal option when used for work as it is optimised for daily use and fuel economy.

The independent rear suspension is paired with MacPherson struts in the front front. The result is not only a comfortable ride but one of agility.

Ford claims a fuel consumption figure of 8.0L/100km, and our real-world achieved consumption was near the same, and sometimes even lower. This is the first time I can recall this happening in a vehicle test. Perhaps their claimed figure was determined with a fuller load. Either way, with current diesel prices, that figure is quite possibly the Transit Custom Sport’s biggest single selling point.

The design

Some question the somewhat unusual design choice with the addition of racing stripes down the length of the vehicle in the Sport derivative. Inside, there are other design cues equally unexpected in this segment.

I, however, think this is a clever way to be a practical panel van without sacrificing the style that many will want alongside the utility. This is especially true for the business owner not quite ready to give up the luxuries and design appeal of a passenger vehicle.

The sport body kit includes dual racing stripes extending over the bonnet, along the roof and down the rear twin barn doors. Combined with sport side decals, the honeycomb grille, rear spoiler, matte black alloy wheels, it gives the Transit Custom Sport a distinct presence on the road.

Storage spaces in the interior make excellent use of the available space up front. The large cubby ahead of the passenger is big enough to accommodate a laptop. This practical detail avoids needing to put it in the load bay with everything else.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport offers one of the biggest payloads in the one-tonne sector, with a payload of 1 023kg and a maximum load volume of 5.8m³. It is enough to carry up to three standard Euro pallets.

Stepping inside

One of the standout features of the Transit Custom Sport is the electronically powered sliding side doors on both sides of the van. These can be opened and closed via the door handles, using the fob, or dashboard-mounted buttons. It is a quality-of-life detail that will add genuine ease to daily business operations. These are complemented with twin 180-degree opening barn doors at the rear.

It is worth being aware, however, that the Transit Custom Sport is designed purely for work or specific lifestyle purposes only. Unlike the Tourneo Custom and certain other panel vans that offer additional passenger versatility, the Transit’s configuration provides only two seats. It is built for the purpose it was designed for and does not try to be anything else.

The load bay is lined with a protective mat, guarding it against unnecessary damage and wear during everyday use. Six load area tie-down loops are provided, and LED interior lighting further increases the practicality of working from this vehicle in low-light conditions.

A 180-degree split-view rear camera is fitted as standard. It proves an indispensable tool when reversing and manoeuvring a vehicle of this size. Combined with standard front and rear parking sensors, parking anxiety is all but eliminated.

The interior strikes a considered balance between functionality and a genuine touch of luxury. Functional elements account for the realities of a harder working environment and the kind of daily wear and tear that a tradesperson will inevitably encounter. Meanwhile, several additional touches elevate the cabin above what you might expect.

These include a 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system angled towards the driver with Ford’s SYNC®4 software with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both Type-C and USB ports, a 12-inch driver instrument cluster with an eight-inch configurable display.

Other notable features in the Ford Transit Custom Sport include 6-way electronic seat adjustment with lumbar support for the driver, seat heating for both occupants, dual armrests on both seats, keyless entry and start and 2 500kg towing capacity.

Two things did detract slightly from the experience. Firstly, the infotainment screen caught a glare at night that appeared to come through the window in the bulkhead. It made the screen near impossible to see.

Secondly, Ford committed the ‘cardinal sin’ of placing the air conditioning controls within the infotainment screen. While they are placed below the home screen and do need you to search for it, any function requiring attention on a screen causes too much distraction.

Safety

The Transit Custom Sport is impressively well spec’d in terms of safety. These include:

• ABS
• Electronic stability programme with traction control
• Hill launch assist
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Emergency brake assist
• Reverse brake assist
• Evasive steer assist
• Pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking
• Collision mitigation
• Intelligent adaptive cruise control
• Blind spot monitoring and assist
• Driver alert with impairment monitor
• Lane keeping aid
• Roll over mitigation
• Intelligent speed assistance with speed sign recognition

The Transit has six airbags including roof-mounted front passenger airbag, made possible by repositioning the airbag out of the dashboard to free up storage space. This is joined by the driver’s front airbag, plus dual side curtain and side seat airbags.

Valuable items in the vehicle is protected by power door deadlocks, a two-step door unlocking system, a Thatcham Category 1-specification alarm, and a standard immobiliser. The integrated FordPass Connect modem also enables remote locking, unlocking, and starting of the vehicle via the FordPass app, along with vehicle locator, health alerts, and oil life status.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport fills a gap in the market that I can see appealing enormously to business owners and sole traders. They may need a panel van for their business but are unwilling to give up the luxuries and character that make their vehicle something they want to get into and drive every day. The Transit Custom Sport is that van.

It is practical enough to be a serious workhorse, refined enough to be a pleasure to drive, and distinctive enough to stand out from a crowd of white vans. The Sport variant commands a higher price but for those who see their vehicle as a statement as much as a tool, it makes a compelling case for itself.

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The specs

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