Ford_Transit_Courier_review

Smart looking thing isn’t it? Goes very well too, and low mileage users should get out the calculator and see if the petrol version might save them money

What’s hot?

Talk about the little van with the big kick! Gosh, where do we start?

  • Styling: the Transit Courier beats the rivals into a cocked hat when it comes to looks. It’s elegant and chic and will speak volumes about any company which uses it for work.
  • Cab: it may be small but there is plenty of legroom even for six footers like me. Also the steering wheel and driver’s seat adjust in all directions, so everyone will be able to find a comfy position. There are two coffee cup holders in the centre console, a space for A4 papers or a laptop, a mobile phone holder next to a USB port, and an overhead parcel shelf too, which all adds up to max cubby holes in a small space.
    Ford_Transit_Courier_review

    Bags of legroom and storage space in the cab – and it’s packed with all the latest kit with ESP as standard

  • Technology: unlike the Nemo, Bipper and Fiorino, the Courier has anti-skid Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard. It helps stops sideways skids and has been dubbed the best safety device since the invention of the seatbelt.
  • There are shedloads of other gadgets you can choose (for a price!), including a connectivity package for your iPhone (with a clip on top of the dash to hold the gadget, called the ‘Device Dock’), connectivity to Ford’s SYNC system that includes Emergency Assistance, more airbags than you can shake a stick at, tyre pressure monitoring, Hill Start Assist and Roll-Over Mitigation. Mind you as most of these vans are destined to go no further than the edge of town, we’d question how many of these extras are really that relevant.
    Ford_Transit_Courier_review

    10% bigger than the competition in the load area and it’ll take up to 2.5m in length

  • Cargo area: it’s 10% bigger than the rivals for starters and comes with half-height protection and a full bulkhead. But just check out that optional swivelling mesh bulkhead and fold-down seat that comes as a £200 extra. It means you can carry loads of 2.5 metres in length, which is quite something for a van of this size.
  • Engines: we tried the 1.6-litre 95bhp diesel and the new 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engines on our test drives in the hills around Frankfurt and while the diesel proved a real honey with plenty of grunt even with a 150kg weight in the back, the perky little petrol engine took us by surprise. It’s a lot smoother than the diesel and cheaper to buy too, so that’s the boy we’d recommend if you aren’t going to do many miles during the course of your business. It doesn’t do as many miles per gallon but then again petrol is cheaper to buy than diesel so you’d have to do a fair few miles to get your money back.

 

34_Ford_Transit_Courier_review

Nice big parcel shelf, but we can’t see it sticking heavy handling

What’s not?

Blimey, that’s a question! We’d be tempted to say “absolutely nothing” but if you want to be nit picking, here goes:

  • The overhead parcel shelf seemed a little on the flimsy side. Heavy-handed users might damage it over time.
  • We’d have liked to see stop-start as standard as with the bigger Fiat Doblo Cargo. As this van is made for urban use, it is reckoned that this gadget can save 15% on fuel. On most variants it’s a £150 option.
  • All models have a five-speed gearbox. On the German motorway section of our test route we reckoned we could have done with a sixth cog. Maybe Ford has one kicking around somewhere in the dark recesses of its Dagenham engine plant!

 

Got a spare 30 seconds?

 Help us to provide you with better market insight by completing a very short survey. It is anonymous and only takes 30 seconds. You will get free access to the quarterly results.

Thinking of the switch to electric?

Need help in finding the right electric vehicle for you? Compare driving range, battery capacity, charging time, price, and features to find the perfect EV for you.

logo