208hp Ford Transit Custom R-Spec review Ford Transit Custom Sport vs VW Transporter Sportline – which is better to drive? Depending on the exact model, there is plenty of technology, while the quality of the materials is higher than you’ll find in many rivals. Under the bonnet is the most powerful engine available for the Transit Custom, a 155hp 2.2-litre TDCi turbodiesel unit with a six-speed manual gearbox. Transit Customs fitted with the FordPass Connect mobile Wi-Fi modem can receive a software update wirelessly, without the need to physically visit a dealer. Externally the Econetic model looks similar to other basic versions of the latest Transit Custom. It’s an extremely impressive piece of mechanical engineering, and together with a 170hp version of Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine and the Transit Custom’s surprisingly snappy and car-like six-speed manual transmission, makes this van super satisfying to drive around town and on bigger roads. Now there’s finally somewhere to put stuff in the cab, there’s one less reason to consider any of the Ford’s rivals…. This is 21 litres in size and will need refilling every 5,000 miles or so – again depending on how and where you drive – adding to your running costs. Just keep in mind that although there is some protective body cladding, there isn’t any additional ground clearance. With a wide range of trim levels, all offering quality levels of standard equipment, the Transit Custom represents good value for money. The interior feels car-like too, with a dashboard design that looks smart and engaging but still feels hard-wearing. The Volkswagen Transporter is a formidable alternative, while the Citroën Dispatch, Peugeot Expert, Renault Trafic and Vauxhall Vivarocan all lay claim to doing much the same job. Euro NCAP’s standards have gotten stricter, but even so up to six airbags are available in the Transit Custom, and there’s a good selection of active safety electronics as well. Transit Custom Sport and MS-RT models get 185hp – and the VW Transporter 6.1 can be had with 199hp – but we didn’t feel like we were missing out at any point. team. It can be disconcerting on motorways where overtaking manoeuvres feel glacial unless two gears are dropped. In addition, the design of the gear selector means you often find you've accidentally stuck it into manual mode instead of drive when setting off, which gets rather annoying after a while. In fact, when you've got a bit of load in the back, they actually ride very nicely, though they can be rather bouncy when empty. We found it made little difference to the driving experience – to such an extent you'll be hard-pressed to know if the van you're in has it fitted. The Transit Custom Double-Cab-in-Van combines passenger comfort with renowned Ford Transit toughness. Short and long wheelbase versions are available with a range of three payloads. If you top 40mpg in real-world driving you’re a saint, and most are lucky if they see mid-30s. Testament to the quality of the Ford factory in Turkey that builds them, we think. There have only been two official recalls for the Transit Custom in the UK, according to the government's official vehicle recall website. The seats themselves have been redesigned to be more comfortable as well. However, in 2018 this distance was slashed back to 25,000 miles or two years, following 'real-world experience' with customer oil life. Ford offers a huge range of optional extras for the Transit Custom, including Special Vehicle Operations features that go even further than the regular pricelist. All Transit Customs get a three-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard. This is not only convenient for reducing downtime, it also promises the possibility that in the future some minor faults may be fixable remotely as well. The eye-catching Sport (above), which features racing stripes, a bodykit, lowered suspension and large alloy wheels, was initially only available as a single model, but choice was expanded to six versions in December 2016. In layman’s terms even this shorter Transit Custom can still accommodate three wooden pallets and their loads. You can also get a Tourneo Custom Active that seats up to eight. So, in this mid-sized crew van you can easily take your team and their tools to the job. There is a security-increasing Guard Mode coming later in the year as a free update to this, too. You can find more payload and load capacity details on our dedicated Ford Transit Custom dimensions page. There are no mechanical changes under the Sport Van’s skin: this van is all about styling and image. Not only does it have one of the highest payload ratings in the medium van class and great availability through Ford’s large Transit Centre dealer network, the Custom also looks and feels far more modern inside and out than most vans. Although the engine produces a useful 310Nm of torque at just 1,300rpm the surge of power soon drops off, requiring much changing between the Transit’s six gears to make any sort of comfortable progress. Just like the regular Custom, it’s a nice machine to drive on the road. The Ford Transit Custom has sold so well it is easily the most widely available medium van, and whether you’re shopping new or used, you’ll certainly find there are plenty to choose from. The integration of the Euro 6 (or Stage 6, as Ford often has it) 2.0-litre EcoBlue engines, in place of the old 2.2-litre Euro 5 (or Stage 5) units, means that the Transit Custom Sport is now available with the go to match the show. It’s well-equipped as standard. It has all the good points of the regular Transit Custom – of which there are many – and it’s extra equipment over the Limited makes it a vehicle you’d be happy to spend time in and live with every day. Ford even has mobile servicing vans that can come to you now, avoiding the added inconvenience of a trip to the dealer, while the latest connectivity helps you keep track of upcoming maintenance and potential downtime issues. Four products make up the modernday Transit range. Show more Show less. And although fuel economy isn't the best in the medium van class, service intervals are lengthy and there are plenty of dealers around, which should help minimise downtime. Ford carried out over 4,500 simulated and 30 real-world crash tests during the Transit Custom’s development – resulting in a five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating when it was tested in 2012. There’s also a lesser 4.0-inch screen running what’s been dubbed Sync Light; this does without touch control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however, and can’t be paired with built-in sat-nav (which remains only optional on the full-fat Sync 3 system). From late 2019, 130hp and 170hp models can be upgraded to EcoBlue Hybrid status, with a mild hybrid (mHEV) package which replaces the alternator with a 'belt-driven integrated starter-generator' (BISG) and a small lithium ion battery (which sits under the passenger seat) in an effort to save more fuel. This kind of thing is very dependent on driving style, journey type and load, however. The victories here recognise the Transit Custom's all-round great capability, including the unmatched breadth of its range, which runs from basic working vehicles right through to attractive lifestyle models. 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