or signup to continue reading has a new mid-sized commercial van, and it's a formula that's hard to argue with. Take the tried and tested Transit nameplate, combine it with a new architecture, and you get the second-generation – it's a neat unit too. Ford says its underpinnings, which will be shared with the , have allowed for a lower floor height while keeping the van at less than two metres tall.
It has independent rear suspension, a large infotainment display, and the same refreshed diesel engine across the range, all of which are intended to present the least intimidating and most user-friendly version of the Transit Custom yet. On test here is the bog standard short-wheelbase . It's more than $6000 more expensive than the equivalent .
Both short- and long-wheelbase Trend variants share in the same standard equipment and safety gear, and offer a barebones experience for those who just need a van to get the job done without the spice of the Sport. Do the updates justify the price increase, or are you still better off going for a van from another brand? Our tester was the base-spec Trend SWB, and it's priced at $57,590 before on-road costs. That's around $6000 more than the equivalent base HiAce.
As far as range-opening commercial vans go, this one is surprisingly nice. Before we get to the cargo space as the reason why you'd buy a van in the first place, it's difficult to avoid praising the new Transit Custom for its updated front cabin. Sure, it might not be the flashie.
