Ford_Transit

Our test van was the long wheelbase, high roof version but really, there are so many combinations of height, length and payload that you’re bound to find something to suit your business

 

What’s hot?

  •  Just about everything to be honest. The old Transit was definitely beginning to show its age against an ever-more sophisticated set of rivals but this new model (and it is new from the nuts and bolts upwards) puts it right back in the lead.
  • The old Transit driver’s seat was a right pain in the back in my book but this one is just brilliant. It hugs the figure from top to toe and I managed a five-hour journey without stopping – and without any back twinges.
  • The cab has loads of handy cubby holes and a 12V take-off right on top of the dash so the wires from my sat nav unit aren’t left trailing all over the place.
  • There’s a coffee cup holder right near the driver’s right hand on top of the dash. That might sound like small beer (or maybe we should say skinny latte!) but if you want a brew on the move and there isn’t a holder for it, you’ll soon realise how important this item is.
  • The engine is silky smooth and cab occupants can converse quietly with each other (unlike in the old Transit where you had to shout).
  • Our test model had additional LED lights in the rear. They cost £96 extra but boy do they make a difference at night from those pathetic little lights you normally see in the back of vans.
  • Can a 3.5 tonne GVW van ever feel like a big car? Normally no. But in the case of the new Transit it really does feel as though you are behind the wheel of an overblown Focus or Mondeo. This impression is helped by the fact that the dashboards in all these vehicles are virtually the same but the ride and handling are not just up there with the best – they’re way ahead in our opinion.

 

What’s not?

The downsides are few but as ever we have managed to pick up a few whinges (and they are just that to be fair).

  • Our test model didn’t have reversing sensors. In the Business Vans book, these should be a legal requirement on all panel vans. Without them it’s just too easy to back into something or even worse, someone.
  • Our test van also lacked a wipe clean plastic floor. You can get one added at a price but we reckon Ford should add this simple little “luxury” in the main package and hide the cost somewhere.
  • The miles per gallon figure is calibrated on a rolling road in a shed and as such the official combined figure of 39.2mpg is the same as that for the low roof version. Now we all know that hi-roof vans use more fuel because they have greater wind resistance so we reckon that this figure is on the optimistic side, especially with a full load on board. What we are trying to say is: don’t be disappointed if you buy this van and don’t get anywhere near that magic figure.

 

Business Vans Verdict

We just can’t praise the new Ford Transit highly enough.

Transit Custom won International Van of the Year in 2013, Connect won it in 2014 and we would not be at all surprised if this van doesn’t make it a hat-trick for the blue oval.

 

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