The latest – and largest – Transit Courier is a smart addition to the Ford range, says John Kendall.
When Ford launched the original Courier in 1990, it was awaited with eager anticipation by competitors, because sales of rivals were small scale and the entry of the market leader into the sector would surely stimulate interest and increase sales. While much has changed in the LCV marketplace, some things have not. Ford still dominates UK LCV business, for example. Meanwhile, the light van sector still commands relatively few sales and they have been in decline for a while.
This time, Ford is not new to the sector, but the company is trying a slightly different tack: Transit Courier has grown up. It is almost the same size as the larger Transit Connect, which shares a platform with the Volkswagen Caddy and is due to appear later this year. To distinguish between the two, Courier is being offered as the slightly downmarket little brother of the Connect. It’s likely that this is more a case of unfortunate timing, as Ford and Volkswagen develop their collaboration on LCVs. The Courier was obviously already too far down the line to stop, while it offers the full battery electric variant, due later this year, that the Connect does not (more on that another time).
Transit Courier is available in four trim options. Leader is the entry level, followed by Trend, Limited and Active. Most of the models that Ford had available for us to drive were in Limited spec, with a few Active vans available, too. Active is decidedly not downmarket. Standard equipment includes an 8-inch touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4 system, automatic air conditioning, keyless entry and start, a suite of Euro NCAP Platinum-rated driver assistance systems, LED headlamps with auto high beam and 17inch alloy wheels. The models we drove came with a list of options too, such as the driver assistance pack with navigation and heated seats and steering wheels – included in the Winter Pack.
Limited is very similarly specified and most differences are cosmetic. Active comes with specific wheel arch mouldings, front and rear skid plates, roof rails and 17-inch black alloy wheels with machined facings.
UK customers will not get the option of the double-cab in van version available to us at the launch, although Ford says that if there’s sufficient demand for it, it could make an appearance.
The load space, offering up to 2.9m3 of volume, is a regular shape with minimum intrusion from the wheel arches. Our test vehicles were all carrying around 250kg as a representative load.
Ford offers several neat storage ideas in the cab, such as the ‘letterbox’ storage on the side of the centre console for laptops, tablets or unfolded A4-sized documents. The control and instrument layout has similarities with the larger
Transit models, with many functions controlled from the central touchscreen. Although systems such as the climate control are operated through the screen, there are shortcut keys. That said, the temperature control is a touchscreen slider and it’s difficult to change it accurately on a bumpy road.
We drove petrol and diesel models. Both petrol models featured the 125hp variant of Ford’s three cylinder, one-litre engine – one with manual transmission and the other with a seven-speed dual clutch automated system. The diesel was Ford’s 1.5-litre 100hp engine with manual transmission. There was very little difference in noise between petrol and diesel. Low mileage users may find that petrol is the better option, with no AdBlue costs and lower prices.
IN BRIEF
WHAT IS IT? Compact high-cube van
HOW MUCH? From £16,200 (ex-VAT)
MAX PAYLOAD? 465kg (including 75kg driver)
ECONOMY? 42.8-53.3mpg (WLTP) DRIVE? 1.0-litre petrol engine
or 1.5-litre diesel
VERDICT
Ford is on to a winner here. Transit Courier is well-equipped, easy to drive and offers a broad range of trim and power options. Electric versions will arrive later in the year.
