Bigger doors mean easier access with a forklift
With prices starting at £20,795 ex-VAT, the Transit is available in front, rear and all-wheel drive at weights of between 2.9 tonnes and 4.7 tonnes.
A single 2.2-litre turbodiesel powerplant offers 100bhp, 125bhp and 155bhp. There is also the choice of new HDT6 engines at 125bhp and 155bhp which already meet the forthcoming Euro 6 emissions standard, although these use an additional AdBlue tank which will have to be filled at regular intervals.
Ford has put a lot of work into lowering maintenance costs. Service intervals are now two years/30,000 miles
ECOnetic versions feature such additions as stop-start and a speed limiter and bump official combined fuel economy figure to 44.1mpg – that’s 6% better than the already-frugal outgoing ECOnetic model.
Three lengths and two roof heights are on offer and in the business end the new Transit offers up to 11% more loadspace than the old model. The sides are more vertical and the side loading doors have been enlarged for easier loading with a forklift.
Ford has put a lot of work into lowering maintenance costs too. Service intervals are now two years/30,000 miles and the maintenance time has been cut over 90,000 miles from 5.4 to 4.2 hours.
Ford’s analysis with a basket of 23 repair items shows the van is class-leading for non-scheduled maintenance. For example, the labour required for a rear brake disc repair has been cut from 2.6 hours to 1.3 hours. Meanwhile expensive mis-fuelling mistakes will be a thing of the past avoided with new standard-fit Easy Fuel system.
The load space is generous – and there are 3 lengths and 2 roof heights to suit all shapes and sizes
It’s just miles to expensive: 28k plus vat that is seriously overpriced, they really have priced themselves out of the market.
Editor’s comment
Don’t forget Des this is for the larger 2 tonne model: the first time Ford has split its Transit range into 1 tonne (Transit Custom) and 2 tonne (Transit). The Transit’s price range is below that of the VW Crafter and Mercedes Sprinter panel vans which offer the same package.
Ralph Morton, editor