The What Van? Road Test: Ford E-Transit (2022)

Date: Monday, April 3, 2023

Operating

Ford estimates that E-Transit will cost 40% less to service, maintain and repair than equivalent diesel models.

Service intervals are set at 12 months with no mileage limit and a 12-month roadside assistance package is provided which includes rescue charging.

The basic warranty is three years/100,000 miles but the battery and high-voltage electrical components are protected by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty. It can be triggered if a van’s battery declines to 70% of what its capacity was when new.

A 12-year anti-perforation corrosion warranty is present as well.

While we appreciate the need to keep E-Transit’s unladen weight down in order to maximise its range, we were disappointed to see that a full-size spare wheel had been sacrificed in favour of an inflator/sealer which lurked under the driver’s seat. On a more positive note, deep side rubbing strips help protect the body from minor damage.

Ford E-Transit Trend 350 L3 H2 135kW/184hp van

Price (ex VAT) £52,035**

Price range (ex VAT) £48,045 – £57,235 **

Gross payload 951kg

Load length 3533mm

Load width (min/max) 1392mm/1784mm

Load bay height 1786mm

Load volume 11m³

Loading height 695mm

Rear door aperture 1565mm x 1648mm

Side door aperture 1300mm x 1600mm

Gross vehicle weight 3500kg

Braked trailer towing weight N/A

Residual value 33.7%*

Cost per mile 73.8p

Engine size/power 135kW(184hp) electric motor

Torque 430Nm

Gearbox 1sp

Range 197 miles (WLTP)

Battery 68kWh

Warranty 3yrs/100,000mls (battery 8yrs/100,000mls)

Service intervals 1yr/unltd miles

Insurance group 44A

Price as tested £52,035

* After 48 months/20,000 miles p.a – source – KWIKcarcost

** Basic price before government
Plug-in Van Grant

Rivals

Fiat Professional E-Ducato

Price (ex VAT) £56,625–£76,520 **

Load volume 10–17m³

Gross payload 690–1885kg

Electric motor 90kW

Verdict: Offering a choice of battery packs (47kWh or 79kWh) and WLTP ranges – 230 miles is the maximum that is cited – makes sound sense and could be what many operators are looking for. Many businesses that find they rarely venture beyond their home turf may favour a smaller battery with a shorter range that is comparatively quick to charge while also letting them carry more weight.

Mercedes-Benz eSprinter

Price (ex VAT) £57,870 **

Load volume 11m³

Gross payload 731kg

Electric motor 85kW electric

Verdict: If you are contemplating acquiring an eSprinter then the best advice we can give you is to wait. A new version has been unveiled with a choice of battery sizes and a claimed WLTP range of up to 310 miles. That must be counted as an improvement on the modest 96 miles offered by the current model. The newcomer will not be available
in the UK until the back end of this year/early 2024 however and prices have yet to
be released.

Renault Master E-Tech

Price (ex VAT) £48,400–£49,200 **

Load volume 10.8–13m³

Gross payload 1308–1420kg

Electric motor 57kW

Verdict: Last year saw Renault roll out an upgraded version of Master E-Tech with a bigger 52kWh battery said to be good for a 126-mile range under WLTP testing; better than the meagre 75 miles offered previously. Pricing is competitive and payload capacity is considerably better than what is on offer from rival products. Remember that Master E-Tech is marketed by Renault Trucks as well as through Renault car and van dealerships.

The Final Verdict

Design 8/10 – A cleverly-thought-out package that propels electric vans into the mainstream

Cabin 8/10 – A comfortable working environment with plenty of storage space

Ride 7/10 – Choppy when the van is lightly-laden, but firms up with weight aboard

Refinement 8/10 – Well-built with zero squeaks and creaks

Load area 6/10 – Plenty of tie-down points, but payload capacity is poor

Handling/performance 8/10 – Both are to a high standard, but Ford’s regeneration system needs a rethink

Engine/transmission 9/10 – 135kW is ample for most requirements and motor and transmission combine well

Standard equipment 8/10 – Can’t help but love the SYNC 4 comms and info system

Operating costs 9/10 – Servicing costs look low and warranty package looks generous

What Van? subjective rating 8/10 – Has its drawbacks, but on balance it must be viewed as a winner

Overall Rating = 79/100

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