Ford Transit Custom Van Lease

Ford’s Transit has ruled the British large LCV market for around half a century, its very name synonymous with its purpose. In the past, this may have had a great deal to do with tradition and the vast choice of derivatives on offer but today’s sales success is very much down to quality of product. Four products in fact that make up the modernday Transit range. Transit Connect and Transit Courier models look after customers with more compact cargo carrying needs, but we’re going to look at a larger option, the Transit Custom. It slots into the range beneath the largest model, known simply as ‘Transit’, and is there to take on medium-sized vans in the volume part of the LCV sector. It’s a very complete commercial vehicle indeed.

The Custom hits the sweet spot in the medium range LCV marketplace for a vehicle not too big – and not too small. The Blue Oval brand is offering an enormous range of choice to British businesses, with over 300 Transit Custom derivatives on offer. As a result, whether your large van needs are to carry packages or people, then this Ford remains an option that you simply can’t ignore.

The last generation version of this vehicle was better than its competitors to drive and the Transit Custom continues that trend, its steering feel being especially impressive. Like any commercial vehicle, it handles better fully loaded, but even in the unladen state, cornering response is impressive and bodyroll well controlled.

Under the bonnet, the range these days is based around one engine, an improved version of Ford’s 2.2-litre TDCi Duratorq unit which operates with a clever Auto-Stop-Start system and is offered in three states of tune for Front-wheel drive drivers – with either 100, 125 or 155PS. All of these units feel usefully pokier than they did in their earlier feebler guises, The other thing you notice at the wheel with these engines is how much quieter they are thanks in part to the 6-speed manual transmission with its long gearing. And of course the provision of a standard bulkhead across the range helps further here. It’s all a world away from the rattly old TDdi diesels that Transit drivers had to put up with not so long ago.

The sprightly handling and performance makes it important that the brakes are up to the job. This was something Ford improved in later versions of the previous generation model, which by the end of its life featured disc brakes all-round. You’ll also want this vehicle to be manoeuvrable, hence a decently tight turning circle, and should you be at an uphill junction, standard Hill Launch Assist will help you get away smoothly.

A van needs to look smart, modern and professional. This one does, with signature kinetic design features that bring a sportier stance and bold rising shoulder line, clearly marking out this design as a cargo carrier very much of its time. Pride of place on the bold trapezoidal front grille goes to the biggest Blue Oval badge that Ford uses on any of its vehicles worldwide.

Inside, the cabin design is very different from what went before, the dash featuring the same herringbone-style layout for stereo and ‘phone functions and blue backlit infotainment display that we’re used to seeing in the latest Ford passenger cars. The overall level of fit and finish is a big step forward in terms of what you expect from a Transit.

Certainly, the cabin itself is a well thought-out piece of designwork, normally a three-seater in straightforward panel van guise or a front two-seater in the double cab-in-van model form. Getting comfortable at the wheel is certainly a lot easier than it was before thanks not only to a height-adjustable driver’s seat but also, at last, to the provision of a steering wheel that can be adjusted for both height and reach.

Most models get the option of being able to fold down the middle of the three seats to create an impromptu desk big enough for a laptop or a clipboard with two cupholders, a pentray and an elasticated band that’ll keep your paperwork in place. I also like the way that folding the base cushions of both the passenger seats forward opens up a roomy, concealed 93-litre storage area for hiding away valuable items like tools. Smaller things can be stored in the now lockable glovebox in which you can hang A4 folders.

In fact, when it comes to the cab storage of smaller things, there are few other vans that can match this one, Ford’s research identifying the fact that this was a key priority amongst drivers. Each of the cab doors gets a couple of stowage bins, the upper one able to hold a flask of tea or a 2.0-litre bottle. Separate cup or bottle holders can also be found at either end of the dash. There is also a lidded shelf on top of the fascia just above the instrument panel, concealing as it does not only a powerpoint but also a socket for an MP3 player

The Custom model remains such a simple, straightforward one-stop choice and it’ll help that it satisfies a wider variety of commercial needs than any other Transit derivative. Very few rivals can these days beat either the Ford’s practicality or its day-to-day operating costs. It is, once again, number one for a reason.