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The What Van? Road Test: Ford Transit Custom
Date: Monday, July 23, 2018 | Author: Steve Banner
Engine and gearbox
AdBlue is required to ensure the Transit Custom’s four-cylinder 16-valve Ecoblue diesel meets Euro6. You will find the reservoir inlet under the flap that covers the diesel filler point and the 21-litre reservoir usually requires replenishing every 6,000 miles.
With common-rail direct fuel-injection operating at 2,000 bar, a variable-geometry turbocharger and a particulate filter, the engine’s top torque of 385Nm bites across a 1,500-2,000rpm rev band. Maximum power kicks in at 3,500rpm.
A six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard, with a six-speed automatic available as an option.
Driving
The Transit Custom’s mid-term facelift has thankfully not affected its road manners.
Handling is just as good as it ever was, with a combination of responsive steering
and compliant suspension allowing you to sweep through tight bends without breaking sweat.
Moving from one gear to another takes barely more effort than flicking a light switch, and the 130hp diesel offers a lot more performance than it appears to do on paper. It allows brisk acceleration from rest and pulls strongly through the rev band, and noise is never a concern.
Maybe the ride could stand to be better damped, but that is a minor issue when weighed against all the plus points.
Any other criticisms? An intermittent squeak from somewhere deep in the dashboard proved an irritation and suggests that somebody, somewhere, forgot to tighten a screw. It’s a pity given that the fit and finish of the materials used in the cab were otherwise top-notch.
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