Ford Transit Custom (2024) Launch Review
“The local arrival of the 2nd-gen Ford Transit Custom could not have come at a better time,” says Braam Peens, who drove the Blue Oval’s new 1-tonne panel van in Gauteng.
As South Africa enters a period of (some might say desperately needed) political renewal, much faith has been put into the transitionary momentum of the Moment to kickstart the country’s ailing economy.
And reinvigorating small businesses – responsible for thousands of jobs that dot the value chain, from manufacturing and artisanal services to distribution and retail – is a key element of that endeavour.
With the Republic’s new (ostensibly pro-growth) cabinet being circumspectly selected at the time of the 2nd-gen Transit Custom’s launch event (June 2024), the model’s arrival seems rather timely. Similar to the way that the company has brought a passenger car-like touch to the interface of the Ford Ranger, the Transit now sports comfort and utility features to make “the courier guy” even more productive.
Ford Transit Custom puts the “Mister” back in delivery
Even though the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA)’s newcomer trumps segment rivals – the Toyota Quantum, Hyundai Staria, Volkswagen Transporter, and recently-launched Mercedes-Benz Vito – for the largest load-volume capacity (6,8 m2) and payload capability (1 269 kg), lowest vehicle mass (1 864 kg) and most airbags (6), there’s more to its newfound capabilities than load-lugging ability.
That’s because the Turkish-built model rides on a new, lower platform and independent semi-trailing-arm rear suspension that lowers the load bay’s access height by 100 mm; combined with a weight saving of 100 kg and a frontal design that reduces drag by 13%, the Ford is said to be notably more fuel efficient.
The (what was already long) wheelbase has been extended further to place a wheel in each front corner to benefit manoeuvrability – and upsize occupant foot space! The business end, in turn, now swallows a trio of Euro-size pallets, or items up to 3 050 mm in length should a through-load access flap be fitted.
Another boon to practicality is that the Ford Transit Custom’s overall height has been reduced to under 2 metres (1 961 mm, to be exact), which facilitates access to lower-roofed collection and delivery points.
The load bay is accessed by a pair of 180-degree swinging wing doors, a passenger-side sliding door or directly – if the optional bulkhead is not fitted. A driver-side sliding door can also be specified if required.
The bay features 8 prudently positioned tie-down rings, partial rubber flooring and, most usefully, bright LED lighting. The distance between the inner wheel wells is 1 392 mm and from floor to roof is 1 433 mm.
Lots of cabin space for… fast-food parcels?
To the delight of the driver and his assistant, there are now several more storage bins to gobble up (well, I’d guess) discarded fast food parcels in the Ford Transit Custom’s cabin. That bucket of fried chicken will find pride of place between the 2 seats where the manual handbrake used to be, the latter of which has moved and morphed electronically to the dashboard as a circuit-breaker-style button.
But really, the big news is the fitment of Ford’s SYNC 4-driven 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with which you can control almost all onboard functions – plus, it complements the 12-inch configurable digital instrument cluster. The former is wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatible, and a pair of USB-A and USB-C ports are also on hand for charging, as is an optional wireless charging pad.
The list of standard safety features is as extensive as the Transit’s 5 450 mm length. The model rolls out of the factory (and off the dealership floor) with ABS, EBA and EBD. Roadholding is assisted by electronic traction and stability control, and nervous rookie delivery drivers will appreciate the automatic hill-holder.
Other standard features include a tyre-pressure monitor, keyless entry (but no self-locking function for the doors on pull-away – a curious oversight), shielded power door deadlocks to thwart vehicle break-ins, speed-sign recognition, a speed limiter, passive cruise control, lane-keep assist, as well as roll-over mitigation and a driver fatigue detector for those exhausting trans-Karoo trips to ferry overnight cargo.
The long-wheelbase Transit Custom, which will be available exclusively in 2.0SiT panel van LWB guise at the outset, is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The motor produces 100 kW at 3 500 rpm and 360 Nm of torque from 1 750 to 2 500 rpm, and is mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
A two-pedal (automatic) version is set to follow later this year. Selectable via the touchscreen are Normal and Eco drive modes (let’s just call them throttle maps) and a solitary traction mode called “Slippery.”
At crawling speeds, where most Transit Customs will spend extended periods tracing satnav directions in search of nearby drop-off destinations, the steering is exceptionally light; the vehicle is easy to position.
While leg- and knee room is generous, the upper and rear areas of the Ford’s cabin don’t feel particularly capacious, although the panel van’s intrusive bulkhead probably exacerbates that sensation.
The rubber floor is a welcome grime-proof addition, too, except that the surface is rather soapy against similarly-soled shoes, therefore grippier aftermarket units will be a must.
For such a large vehicle (tasked with clearing significant volumes of air as travels along its route), the Transit Custom is pleasingly tranquil inside at highway speeds. It changes direction without letting much noise intrude into the cabin, save for tyre rumble and the buffeting of the oversized wing mirrors. But the real hero of the package is the new rear suspension, which converts the ride to a car-like comfort level.
Peak torque arrives mere hundreds of rpm away from idle, and single-digit average fuel consumption is easily attainable, which is just as well, considering that unless a 70-litre tank is optioned, the standard 55-litre unit is the smallest in its segment. Also, the new Ford can tow braked trailers of up to 2 500 kg.
How much does Ford Transit Custom cost in SA?
The Ford’s asking price, which includes a 4-year/120 000 km warranty and 4 years’ roadside assistance, undercuts most of its rivals in the 2 000 units-per-year-segment. The line-up of competitors includes the Toyota Quantum, Hyundai Staria, VW Transporter, Mercedes-Benz Vito and punchier-but-more-analogue Renault Trafic (the latter of which, at R624 000, comes closest as a like-for-like rival for the Transit Custom), well, provided the Ford’s box for the R24 569 6-year/90 000 km service plan is left unticked.
Upgrading to an equivalent maintenance plan adds R39 715 to the price, although FMCSA president Neale Hill says only 3% of customers are forgoing dealer-level aftersales offerings to save a few rands.
Summary
Credited with giving rise to a quasi-subculture overseas, the Ford Transit has, in various forms, enjoyed cult status since 1965. From caravan to courier, it’s inarguably been built for life on the road, triumphing as Europe’s top-selling 1-tonne van and the UK’s best-selling overall vehicle in 2021 and 2022.
On the one hand, the 2024 Ford Transit Custom is unconsidered and unpretentious; on the other, an essential last-mile cog in the daily fulfilment of millions of orders and deliveries. It’ll cross the, um, Amazon and ask for a little, while always giving a lot: in a way, it’s the ultimate public servant.
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