Ford Transit Custom Van (2025) Review

Introduction

Ford talks about the Transit being the backbone of Britain, but it’s the smaller Transit Custom that is the go-to choice of plumbers, builders, and countless other workpeople. It’s so popular that it’s not just the best-selling van in the UK, but, on occasion, the best-selling vehicle full stop.

That makes replacing it a daunting task, but after more than a decade, Ford has done just that.

This second-generation Custom sits on a new platform, designed to accommodate not just traditional diesel engines but also plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions. For now, despite the government’s insistence that we all switch to EVs, it’s the diesel-powered Custom that will remain the mainstay of the range.

With sharper styling, a more refined cabin, and a car-like chassis, Ford is hoping to steal a march on its rivals, some of which have new models coming soon, and continue to dominate the roads at the hands of both the country’s small businesses and its big fleets.

At a Glance

The country’s best-selling van has been replaced with one that’s more luxurious, more refined, and more capable. Ford has nailed the balance between performance and economy, size and cargo carrying ability, and price and equipment. It’s not the cheapest van on sale, but against an influx of new rivals from the likes of Farizon, Kia and Maxus, it still holds its own. And then some.

Key Features

The Transit Custom has always been about versatility, and the new generation goes further than ever before. Alongside panel vans in two lengths, there’s a Double Cab-in-Van, an eight-seat Kombi, and the unusual MultiCab with a clever L-shaped bulkhead that allows for full-length loads and an extra row of passengers.

All versions get a wide side door and twin rear doors that now swing through 180 degrees without obstructive retaining arms, but Ford has improved access further by lowering the step-in height.

Inside, a completely new cab includes a 13-inch infotainment screen with Ford’s SYNC 4 software, even on the entry-level Leader trim, backed up by a digital instrument cluster. Options include the “Cab as Office” pack, with a tilting steering wheel that doubles as a desk or table, and the Delivery Assist system that automates doors, hazards and locks for multi-drop drivers.

The options list is long, and you might not want everything, but there’s little Ford’s designers haven’t thought of.

Performance & Drive

Transit Customs have always been the best driving vans on the road. Suggesting it’s car-like in how it behaves is, perhaps, going a little too far, but the new model is a marked improvement over what’s gone before. There’s feedback from the front of the van that makes you feel connected and in control, which is reassuring as there are many vans that feel inert, as if you’re simply sending instructions to the wheels and hoping something, somewhere, follows your commands.

Independent suspension is found at all four wheels, so ride quality is improved. There’s no solid axle, and Ford has seemingly tuned out almost all of the bounce you associated with driving a van with a light or even non-existent load. With a few hundred kilos in the back, it’s as smooth as anything that’s gone before.

Steering is light at low speeds, helping manoeuvrability in town, yet quick and direct enough on faster roads. The new platform moves the front wheels forward slightly, improving stability and giving a tighter turning circle. Road and wind noise are impressively well suppressed for a van, although there’s a low background grumble under load.

The 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel comes in four outputs. A 110hp entry-level model is suitable for fleets looking to keep costs down, but it’s the 136hp engine that most will choose — and rightly so. It’s a strong all-rounder, with plenty of torque for motorways and enough flexibility around town. An upgrade to 150hp doesn’t add a great deal, but there’s a noticeable difference when you step up to the 170hp model. Only the 136hp and 170hp models are available with an automatic gearbox, which is a smooth eight-speed unit, and they’re also the only two that have a four-wheel-drive option.

There’s also a plug-in hybrid version, with 232hp on tap. It’s a 2.5-litre petrol engine backed by an electric motor with an 11.8kWh battery pack. That’s enough for a range of 35 miles without touching anything in the fuel tank. Given that the average van does around 50 miles a day, that could reduce your fuel bills significantly.

An electric model, the unimaginatively named E-Transit Custom, is also available. With a 64kWh battery able to cover up to 209 miles, it’s a viable proposition. There are 136hp and 218hp options, and a top-of-the-range 285hp model for the bonkers MS-RT model. It’s the one Ford is pushing — like every manufacturer, they have emission targets to hit — so we’ll look at the E-Transit Custom in its own review.

Running Costs

Official fuel economy ranges from around 41mpg for the entry-level 110hp diesel to 33mpg for heavier, all-wheel-drive models. In mixed driving, mid-30s is realistic — we managed close to 36mpg in real-world use, with up to 40mpg on gentle motorway runs, with a representative 400kg load in the back.

Service intervals are every two years or 25,000 miles, which should help to keep downtime under control. Ford’s impressive Liive service is also available, which remotely monitors your van to ensure everything is in tip-top condition. If it’s not, an alert is sent, enabling minor bugs to be sorted quickly before they become major problems.

Warranty cover is three years or 100,000 miles, which is typical for the class — you’ll get the same with a Renault Trafic or Vauxhall Vivaro. Mercedes will cover the Vito for unlimited miles in that time, while Volkswagen extends coverage to five years for its mechanically identical Transporter. Only Toyota is a real outlier, providing up to ten years of warranty cover on its Proace, although you do have to jump through a few very simple hoops.

Ford’s vast dealer and service network makes maintenance straightforward, and strong demand and solid resale values help offset higher list prices, which start at £33,350 plus VAT. You’ll likely want to consider a higher spec (think Trend or Limited) model with the 136hp engine, though, so factor in another £5,000 on the outright price, or a proportionally similar amount for a monthly lease.

Interior & Tech

Step inside and it’s clear Ford has pushed for a car-like environment, although we’re not sure the gloss black plastic trim is quite suitable for a working van.

Every model — including the fleet-spec entry-level Leader trim — gets a vast 13.0-inch central touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment software. There’s also wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can bypass Ford’s system and use your own maps and apps.

In the push for digital connectivity, the climate controls have been moved to the screen rather than retaining physical rotary knobs, and some switchgear (such as the starter button and parking brake) feels oddly positioned.

Storage space is generous, with multiple door bins, gloveboxes and hidden cubbies, plus the option to fold the middle passenger seat into a makeshift desk. However, taller passengers may find that headroom is a little tight thanks to the slightly lower roofline.

The high driving position does provide excellent visibility, though. The old model’s quarter lights have also gone, leaving a larger uninterrupted side window, which, combined with large mirrors with a dedicated wide-angle lens, makes urban use a piece of cake.

Payload & Practicality

Practicality remains a strong suit. The L1 panel van offers 5.8m³ of space, while the long-wheelbase L2 increases that to 6.8m³. A high-roof model is promised, although it hasn’t arrived yet. When it does, Ford says the back will hold a maximum of 9.0m³ of cargo.

Maximum load length ranges from 2,602m to 3,002mm, while between the wheel arches there’s 1,392mm of space — easily enough for a standard pallet.

Payloads stretch from just under 900kg to just over 1,400kg, depending on spec — our L1H1 panel van in Limited trim, with the 150hp engine and a manual gearbox, could take 1,330kg. Towing capacity varies from model to model, but reaches up to 2,800kg. That’s competitive with the Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro and Volkswagen Transporter, though the Stellantis-group vans offer slightly more outright space.

The floor height has been lowered slightly, making access to the cargo box a little easier. The barn door-style openings swing back 180 degrees, without any irritating retaining arms, and the single side door is enormous, creating a class-leading opening over a metre wide.

Useful touches include LED lighting in the load bay and optional extra locks or alarms for added security.

Safety

Ford hasn’t skimped on safety kit. Even the entry-level Leader model gets automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed assist, hill launch assist, trailer sway control, and rear parking sensors.

Higher trims add adaptive cruise control, cross-traffic alert, exit warning and rear or 360-degree cameras. Some systems can be over-zealous — particularly the driver attention alerts — but overall the Custom has one of the strongest safety packages in the segment.

Euro NCAP has put the van to the test, awarding it a five-star rating, as the safety organisation has done with all current Ford vans.

Options

With five trims — Leader, Trend, Limited, Trail and Sport — there’s plenty of choice. Leader is the fleet-friendly workhorse, Trend adds key comfort kit, and Limited piles on tech like heated seats and alloy wheels that will appeal to owner-operators. Trail and Sport add off-road style or sporty looks.

A model festooned with spoilers, splitters, wheel arch extensions and side skirts is also available. The Transit Custom MS-RT makes no sense at all, but it’s a wonderful van to drive and will make your business stand out in a crowd of otherwise almost identical vans.

Alongside the usual array of options, such as upgraded sound systems (from Bang & Olufsen, no less) to stylish alloy wheels, there are some quirky and innovative items you might want to consider.

A mobile office system, called Cab as Office, includes enhanced interior lighting, extra USB connections, and laptop storage. More impressively, it can also be specified with a tilting steering wheel. This folds to create either a flat table to eat your lunch off, or an angled platform to rest a laptop on and catch up on emails, work orders and invoices. Gimmicky? Perhaps a little, but as most drivers don’t leave their van for lunch, it’s a gimmick you might want to consider.

Multi-drop drivers will appreciate the Delivery Assist option, which is coming to the vans soon. This can be programmed to stop the engine, lock the van, close the windows, set the hazard lights and unlock the sliding side door automatically when you open the door. It’ll do it all again in reverse when you get back in, too. It only saves a few seconds, but an Evri driver with 120 drops in a day might get as much as half an hour a day back.

Rival Vans

The Volkswagen Transporter is the most obvious rival, as it’s literally a Ford Transit Custom with a VW badge on the front. Ok, there are a few more changes, but it’s built on the same production line and is mechanically all but identical. Volkswagen includes five years of warranty cover and servicing, which might swing the balance for those keeping their van beyond three years.

It’s been updated, but the Renault Trafic is beginning to feel its age. It’s still a smooth drive and has plenty of safety tech, but the cab is less polished than the Ford.

Stellantis build five rivals, but they’re all the same. Whether you choose the Citroen Dispatch, Fiat Scudo, Peugeot Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro or even the Toyota Proace, you’ll find the same strengths (efficiency, payloads) and the same weaknesses (dated tech, compromised cab).

If a premium badge is important, the Mercedes-Benz Vito will look great outside your business. Payloads are low, though, and it’s pricey!

Verdict

The Ford Transit Custom has been Britain’s favourite van for a reason, and the new model only strengthens that position.

The diesel versions offer the right blend of performance and economy, backed up by a class-leading cabin, wide range of trims and clever options. Ride and handling are more refined than ever, payloads remain competitive, and Ford’s dealer network is unrivalled.

It’s not cheap, and some interior quirks remain frustrating, but as an all-round package, the Transit Custom is still the medium van to beat.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent van website reviews of the Ford Transit Custom.

**Correct as of 12/09/2025. Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 24 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £2,492.88 ex VAT (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.