Imagine you have just started a business, and one of the main things you do is transport equipment to and from a job site. You also need a mobile workshop space to complete your job. Traditionally, South Africans would immediately open a car sales website and look for a practical bakkie. But things are done differently in other areas of the globe, and nations like the UK would favour a van.
Vans offer a more secure and larger volume-carrying ability, and they might be the solution to many local companies' problems. So I had to find out what the Brits were fussing about and test the new Ford Transit Custom.
As you can imagine, the Ford Transit Custom is about as far from plush as it gets. The fabric seats are comfortable and should withstand years of wear and tear, while most of the cabin is lined with rough, durable plastic finishes. Normally, a journalist would start criticising the design at this point, but the Transit Custom is a sturdy workhorse that was intended to last. This extensive use of plastics reduces the damage caused by tools and steel-toed boots, allowing you to enter and exit the vehicle with near reckless abandon.
I was surprised by the size and ease of use of the infotainment system. It's huge—13 inches, to be precise—and offers an easy-to-use and modern user experience with the added benefit of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The speakers are also good, ensuring that you maintain the level of home comfort you desire while working away from home. The driver's display is also sizable, easy to read, and offers large and clear information readouts to ensure you don't strain your eyes after a long day at the work site.
The back is obviously what distinguishes the Transit Panel Van as a panel van. With a volume of 5.8m3, the bed is sizable and can accommodate a payload of up to 1,269kg. If you are in the business of carrying longer loads, the Transit Custom can accommodate items up to 3,050mm by making use of its load-through feature. At TopGear SA, we rarely need to carry items this size, but we fit a bath and a traffic bollard inside to give a visual representation of its volume, and it had plenty of room left over.
So you may be wondering where the "custom" in its name comes from. Ford now provides a customisable option for its new Transit, allowing buyers to create a workspace in the back for more complex projects. This can be created to your liking and adds a sense of authenticity and workplace simplicity to your daily grind.
Driving a van is a different experience from the traditional bakkie driving exercise. The first thing I noticed once I hopped into the Transit Custom was how high your seating position is. It imposes a rather freeing, king-of-the-road sensation and immediately reminds you that this particular vehicle is big.
To ensure that the size meshes with the power needed to get the job done, Ford plonked its 2.0-litre turbodiesel motor under the bonnet. It produces a mediocre-on-paper 100kW and 360Nm of torque, which seems insufficient for a vehicle designed to carry loads weighing more than a tonne. To ensure this arguably small motor meets the demands of a Transit customer, the magic was found in the gearbox. Its 6-speed manual is a treat to work through, and it’s the gear ratios that help make sense of the smaller power figures.
The gears are short, and although you find yourself shifting gears more often, it allows the small figures to gather up the strength to pull heavier loads. Running a business can be a costly venture, and the Transit does what it can to help with a more frugal consumption of 8.2l/100km. Although this isn’t the most impressive consumption figure out there, it's not bad for a panel van.
On the ride quality front, the Ford took me by surprise. It’s a comfortable ride quality when unloaded, with noticeable stiffness in the rear. The back end softens under load, and the ride quality improves noticeably. It's smooth on the road, and once you hit the gravel, it absorbs the bumps well. I found it to be playful and actually quite enjoyable to drive. Its smooth gearbox and torquey motor were enjoyable to work through, especially without a load in the back. Despite being a larger vehicle, it is easy to drive, even for inexperienced drivers.
The Ford Transit Custom comes in at R692,200, and considering the diverse applications of this vehicle, the price is quite competitive, not that there is much to compete within the panel van segment in South Africa. The Ford Transit stands alone in its segment with no real competitor when it comes to size and price, but its closest rival in SA would be the Peugeot Partner LWB, which comes in at R499,900. The Peugeot is slightly smaller in both carrying capacity and engine size but is a more affordable option.
On the other hand, if you want to move around the back of your vehicle without crouching or bending your back, the Ford Transit is the best option. It’s a taller variation of the Transit Custom and comes in at R769,300. It also boasts the slightly larger 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine.
For your business vehicle, comprehensive coverage is crucial, and thankfully Ford provides a 4-year/120,000km warranty with the option to extend it to a 7-year/200,000km warranty. On top of mechanical coverage, you can also purchase an 8-year/165,000km service plan to cover the nitty-gritty side of car ownership.
Bakkies rule South African roads; we all know this, but panel vans offer an arguably better business solution for practical business owners. It offers a greater load capacity on a smaller footprint, but the most significant advantage is the security of your belongings. The fact that all your tools and equipment can be stored away, out of sight, and locked up is a massive addition to your peace of mind when out and about. Steel wheels and plastic bumpers further eliminate the element of new car caution, as these features can take a hit and keep moving with little damage, while they're also cheaper and easier to replace.
The Ford Transit Custom LWB is a great addition to the Ford utility fleet, offering a secure and spacious alternative to the traditional bakkie workhorse. It's comfortable and practical, ensuring a pleasant journey to and from your destination with rather impressive consumption. As far as vans go, the Custom is a touch on the pricey side, but as long as your goods are safe and secure and the music is pumping, the Transit Custom makes those days out in the heat a pleasant outing.
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