Ford has a brand new van, and it’s a system that’s exhausting to argue with.

Take the tried and examined Transit nameplate, mix it with a brand new structure, and also you get the second-generation Ford Transit Customized – it’s a neat unit too.

Ford says its underpinnings, which can be shared with the Volkswagen T7 Transporter, have allowed for a decrease ground top whereas holding the van at lower than two metres tall.

It has unbiased rear suspension, a big infotainment show, and the identical refreshed diesel engine throughout the vary, all of that are supposed to current the least intimidating and most user-friendly model of the Transit Customized but.

On take a look at right here is the lavatory normal short-wheelbase 2025 Ford Transit Customized Pattern, which prices upwards of $55,000 earlier than on-road prices. Meaning it’s greater than $5000 dearer than not solely its outgoing equal, but additionally its Toyota HiAce rival.

Each short- and long-wheelbase Pattern variants share in the identical normal gear and security gear, and provide a barebones expertise for many who simply want a van to get the job achieved with out the spice of the Sport.

Do the updates justify the value enhance, or are you continue to higher off going for a van from one other model?

How does the Ford Transit Customized examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Ford Transit Customized in opposition to equally sized automobiles.

Ford

Transit Customized

How a lot does the Ford Transit Customized value?

Our tester was the base-spec Pattern SWB, and it’s priced at $55,990 earlier than on-road prices. That’s $5800 greater than the previous base mannequin, and round $5100 greater than the equal base HiAce.

To see how the Ford Transit Customized stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s the Ford Transit Customized like on the within?

So far as range-opening industrial vans go, this one is surprisingly good.

Earlier than we get to the cargo area as the explanation why you’d by a van within the first place, it’s troublesome to keep away from praising the brand new Transit Customized for its up to date entrance cabin.

Positive, it may not be the flashiest place to spend time, however there’s a satisfying high quality to its straight edges and huge, flat surfaces. It’s virtually completely lined in exhausting plastics, however the sprint and doorways function a two-tone color scheme and a few textured surfaces on prime of the sprint to maintain issues fascinating in a subdued method.

It’s quite simple in its format too, which comes with its personal set of advantages.

For a begin, much less happening means much less to go improper. Buttons are saved to a minimal and every little thing within the cabin is extremely hard-wearing and can get up nicely to regular use, which is supported additional by the exhausting rubber flooring spanning the width of the cabin.

All of the surfaces round the important thing contact factors are both some type of rubber or dull-finish black plastic, which is once more appropriately sturdy with out being grating to each take a look at and contact.

The usage of such supplies is to be anticipated in a car like this, and whereas it’s just like what you’d discover in a HiAce, its utility within the Ford feels way more clear and recent.

Every little thing is kind of the place you’d count on it to be. There are just a few European quirks peeking out across the cabin, however virtually every little thing else is pretty self-explanatory.

Want cupholders? They’re on the highest of the sprint, or you may fold one out from the centre panel. Wi-fi telephone charger? It has one, and it’s that slot beneath the sprint. Cabin storage? You have got a passenger glovebox, a big minimize out on prime of the sprint, and a hidden under-seat compartment.

There are some oddities although. The primary one is the gear selector, which has been moved away from the everyday cabin-centre perch. It’s as a substitute taken the place of the right-hand steering column stalk, and also you’d be forgiven for struggling to search out it at first.

In contrast to another trendy vehicles with an analogous setup, the selector appears like a standard indicator stalk. The indicator has been moved to the left facet of the wheel like most European vehicles, although it shares a stalk with the windscreen wiper controls.

Whereas this association helps preserve litter down, it could take a second to get used to. As with different Volkswagen-influenced merchandise, the headlight controls are situated down and to the proper of the wheel on a devoted panel.

Uniquely, the Transit Customized can function a cellular work station. It has an embedded 5G modem as normal, and you’ll go for a cellular workplace pack with a foldable steering wheel which may act as a makeshift laptop computer stand.

The steering wheel itself is a pleasant unit. It’s squared-off and leatherette-wrapped, which one way or the other appears to only make sense in a industrial van. Key controls are situated right here too, and if you understand the Ranger it’ll look very acquainted.

Like the remainder of the cabin, the buttons are massive and durable and are recognized by clear labels. A criticism right here is the gloss black plastic across the buttons and on the break up backside spoke, which – regardless that it’s the one place you’ll discover it within the cabin – will get grubby in a short time.

One other Ranger similarity is the instrument cluster, which is dominated by a 7.0-inch display screen flanked by two vertical gauges for temperature and gas degree. It’s a clear setup with nothing pointless happening, although it does add a bit of little bit of flavour with its Ford-blue background.

The headlining function is the Transit Customized’s 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment show.

It’s remarkably crisp and reliably responds to all inputs, with a great deal of data and settings tucked away throughout the menus. It takes a second to navigate, however as soon as you understand what you’re on the lookout for it’s easy sufficient.

Fortunately, there are minimal choices that may solely be adjusted utilizing the display screen, so that you’ll primarily be utilizing it with wi-fi Apple CarPlay or native features like DAB+ digital radio or satellite tv for pc navigation.

The primary situation right here is the dearth of a bodily local weather management system. As an alternative, there’s a hard and fast touchscreen strip on the base of the display screen.

As sensible as the remainder of the cabin is, I want there was a devoted system elsewhere, like on the skinny panel under the display screen across the hazards swap. There are already buttons right here for drive mode and the entrance demister, so why not go all the way in which?

Commonplace within the Pattern are cloth-trimmed seats. It’s a smart materials given the Transit’s hard-working roots, they usually’re snug to sit down in for lengthy intervals of time with the assistance of the motive force’s fold-down armrest.

Ford has managed to squeeze in three seats, which is a pleasant little bit of added passenger capability that you simply don’t get within the equal HiAce. You’d hope your passengers are snug with each other although, as a result of these two seats are fairly shut collectively.

There’s a fold-down tray on the center seat, and each seats can fold ahead like a truck cab to disclose further storage. It’s additionally accessible by the hatch on the bulkhead, which lets you match longer gadgets like pipes alongside the ground.

Behind the seats is the black steel bulkhead, which in contrast to the HiAce comes normal. It separates the cabin from the cargo maintain, and means it’s simpler to regulate the temperature whereas getting some additional sound deadening. It additionally has a small window to permit rear visibility.

The cargo bay is the place the cash is made for the Transit Customized, and it’s a well-appointed setup. Protecting the whole lot of the ground is a black plastic panel, which presents ample safety when loading and unloading items.

Its partitions are completed with eight particular person panels, that are unremarkable in look however add additional safety, and like the ground masking offers some additional insulation from sound. There’s not as a lot sound coming in as there’s a few of its rivals although, because the Transit Customized is front-wheel drive solely.

Meaning there’s no pesky transmission tunnel to take care of, which offers a very flat ground up entrance and permits for the three seats.

Included as normal are rear barn doorways and a passenger facet sliding door, which opens to the kerb when parked. You may add a driver’s facet sliding door for an additional $1000, however we really feel it might make sense to have one included as normal.

Apart from that, there’s actually nothing else to spruce it up. The ceiling is naked however comes normal with vivid lights, there’s uncovered wiring operating the size of the bay, and there are a number of tie-down factors on the entrance, center, and again.

There’s additionally restoration gear like a jack tucked away within the again nook, nevertheless it’s usually fairly utilitarian in look and does nicely for the aim it serves.

Being a short-wheelbase mannequin you get much less capability than a base HiAce, however the added safety and strong bulkhead included as normal are value having. Quantity within the SWB is rated at 5.8m³, whereas the LWB model will increase it to six.8m³; bigger than the LWB HiAce’s 6.2m³

If want, you may choose to have a digital rear view mirror and built-in dashcam added, that are each extremely helpful in a van.

To see how the Ford Transit Customized stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

All Transit Customized variants in Australia utilise the identical 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Drive is shipped to the entrance wheels solely through an eight-speed automated transmission.

To see how the Ford Transit Customized stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

How does the Ford Transit Customized drive?

Compared with related vans, the Transit Customized presents a snug and enjoyable trip.

The very first thing you’ll discover is the seating place, which feels prefer it’s significantly greater than in a HiAce. You have got a commanding view over a lot of the site visitors round, and there’s nice visibility because of this.

It makes the Transit Customized a straightforward drive, and also you by no means really feel prefer it’s larger than it’s. The sharply sloped bonnet offers good imaginative and prescient out the entrance for navigating tighter areas, and it feels just like the van is attempting to work with you to make driving as stress-free as doable.

Visibility out the rear is made simpler by the massive facet mirrors, and although it does have blind-spot monitoring, you’ll have the ability to test for hazards your self due to the fisheye mirrors fitted to the underside of every facet housing.

These curved mirrors are one thing the HiAce lacks, and having it in a van the place you may’t look over your shoulder to do a head test is that little bit of additional safety to be sure to’re not chopping somebody off. It additionally makes the Transit Customized a lot simpler to park in tight areas.

Inside visibility out the rear of the Transit Customized isn’t splendid. When you do get a window on the prime of the bulkhead, its small dimension and wire defend make it troublesome to see via utilizing the rear view mirror.

It doesn’t assist that the rear barn doorways add extra steel within the very center of the van, as a result of it leaves you with a small patch of visibility out both of the rear home windows.

That bulkhead window additionally displays the massive infotainment display screen, which might be distracting while you’re driving on busy roads. The white-coloured theme the display screen makes use of in the course of the day doesn’t assist, and any gentle from the display screen displays simply at evening.

One of many possibility packs removes the window on the bulkhead, and replaces the rear-view mirror with a digital possibility and rear-facing digital camera as a substitute.

Underneath the bonnet is essentially the identical diesel as within the earlier Transit Customized, although it’s been refreshed for the brand new mannequin. It wasn’t that spritely, even with an empty cargo bay and just one particular person within the automobile.

It’s mated with an eight-speed automated transmission, and whereas it may get it off the road with none points, there have been just a few unusual stumbles because it shifted between the decrease gears.

At one level as I attempted to tug away from the lights rapidly, it didn’t hesitate to get shifting however then stopped for a second because it shifted from first to second. It’s doable the gear ratios are fairly brief given the variety of gears, which helps to maintain the engine at peak torque when totally loaded.

Whereas that’s good, its acceleration is significantly much less easy than in a HiAce. The Toyota feels sooner too, though that isn’t what these vehicles are about.

In contrast to the Toyota, the Ford does nicely to minimise noise getting into the entrance cabin. The bulkhead helps with this, in addition to the actual fact there’s no driveline operating to the rear of the van, which means no undesirable mechanical noise exists to make its method in.

Wind and street noise are comfortably minimal too, which is spectacular given it’s primarily a big sq. field. There have been some noise points although, and sarcastically they got here from the bulkhead.

It produced an odd rattle and squeak from above the motive force’s head, although it was inconsistent on when it might act up. There have been some small rattles from the dashboard too, which was made worse by chilly climate.

As they weren’t fixed, it was straightforward to place up with the occasional noises. They might do with being ironed out, however in a van I’d somewhat have a bulkhead fitted as normal and take care of the odd noise it makes than not have one in any respect.

The brand new Transit Customized is well-equipped with a spread of driver help tech, most of which works because it ought to with out fault. One such system is the adaptive cruise management, which works easily and behaves persistently every time it’s activated.

There’s additionally lane-keep help, which isn’t intrusive when it prompts and does nicely to maintain the van located. Relatively than clumsily grabbing a brake, it actively steers the car.

It’s fitted with an auto cease/begin operate to save lots of gas, nevertheless it didn’t work flawlessly. It was awkward at instances, and on one event stopped the automobile after which necessitated a shift into park to restart it.

One of many Transit Customized’s strengths is its steering really feel, as a result of regardless of its dimension it’s very gentle and straightforward to make use of. The squared-off steering wheel contributes to that, nevertheless it’s manoeuvrable at low velocity and stays constant at excessive velocity.

It’s additionally snug on the transfer, because the suspension setup does nicely to iron out bumps. The seats are snug too, and it by no means looks like a chore to spend longer intervals of time behind the wheel.

It presents a well-rounded package deal, and regardless of its small hiccups it’s greater than snug to reside with.

To see how the Ford Transit Customized stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What do you get?

There are two variations of the bottom Pattern, and each share in the identical normal options.

Transit Customized Pattern gear highlights:

• 7.0-inch instrument cluster display screen
• 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 5G embedded modem
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• FordPass app connectivity
• 4-speaker sound system
• 8-way handbook driver’s seat with single armrest
• Heated entrance seats
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• Drive mode choice: Regular, Eco, Slippery and Tow/Haul
• Load Space Safety Package
• Facet and rear door safety
• Moulded load ground liner
• LED load bay lighting
• Metallic bulkhead
• Kerbside sliding door
• Built-in roof racks
• Halogen headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Quickclear heated windscreen
• Push-button begin

Choices

Safe Visibility Pack ($1500)

• Metal rear doorways
• Digital rear-view mirror incl. built-in dashcam
• Windowless steel bulkhead

Twin facet load doorways with no home windows ($1000)

Is the Ford Transit Customized protected?

The brand new-generation Ford Transit Customized has but to be examined by ANCAP, and is due to this fact unrated.

It does, nevertheless, have a Platinum ranking from Euro NCAP primarily based on testing of its driver help know-how.

Commonplace security gear contains:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Intersection help
  • Reverse AEB
• Adaptive cruise management
• Blind-spot help
• Evasive steering help
• Lane preserve help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Protected exit warning
• Visitors signal recognition
• Reversing digital camera with 180-degree view
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Entrance, front-side, and curtain airbags

How a lot does the Ford Transit Customized value to run?

Ford backs its automobiles with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with 12 months of roadside help included on the time of buy and refreshed each service – as long as it’s achieved throughout the Ford community.

For different consumers, the primary 4 companies are priced at $580, $915, $715, $915 respectively. By comparability, every service on the HiAce solely prices $290, nevertheless it requires servicing each six months or 10,000km – a lot shorter of an interval than the Ford.

To see how the Ford Transit Customized stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Ford Transit Customized

It’s a industrial van, and it’s fairly a refined one at that.

Ford’s updates have achieved nicely to enhance the Transit Customized and produce it into the present day, all with out sacrificing its practicality as a inventory normal van.

The short-wheelbase particularly is a neat package deal, since you nonetheless get loads of cargo area whereas sustaining diminished dimensions, which – together with the sensors, digital camera, and distorted mirrors – makes it simpler to get into tight areas for parking or loading.

It does lack a driver’s facet sliding door as normal, which might provide you with that additional little bit of flexibility must you want it. Because it stands, we predict the $1000 choice to have one fitted is value the associated fee.

It’s additionally value becoming the digital rear view mirror and dashcam, which for enterprise consumers saves the effort of becoming them after the actual fact and makes it simpler for drivers who aren’t used to the van to get in and really feel assured.

For each enterprise and personal consumers, the servicing prices could appear intimidating as compared with the competitors at first, however the Transit Customized’s service intervals are for much longer than one thing just like the HiAce. Meaning extra time in motion getting cash and fewer time on the seller.

In case you want a bit of bit extra space, the Pattern LWB could be the perfect possibility. If it’s extra luxurious you’re after, the Sport ought to have you ever lined.

However for the small enterprise proprietor or informal hauler, the Pattern SWB presents loads of what you’d want whereas nonetheless packing in high quality tech and driving traits.

This can be a robust evolution of the previous system, and looks like a name to arms for the opposite producers to take observe and examine in opposition to it their very own choices.

Click on the photographs for the complete gallery

MORE: Purchase a Ford Transit Customized
MORE: Every little thing Ford Transit Customized