The What Van? Road Test: Ford Transit Courier Sport

Date: Friday, December 13, 2019   |   Author: Steve Banner

 

Courier Cabin

Interior and equipment

Ford should be praised for equipping the Courier Sport with such comfortable, supportive seats. The driver’s perch features height and lumbar adjustment plus an armrest on the passenger side. The steering wheel is both height- and reach-adjustable, and Sport specification means that its leather trim features distinctive and attractive red stitching. So do the leather-covered gear knob, the gear-lever gaiter and the seats themselves.

The wheel plays host to the remote controls for the DAB radio.

A 6in colour touchscreen is sat in the centre of our test van’s dashboard and forms part of the optional satellite navigation system. The package includes USB connectivity and iPod functionality and is Bluetooth-enabled.

Ford’s easy to comprehend and use Sync3 communications and entertainment system is installed, as is Emergency Assist. It means that help will be summoned promptly if there is an incident. Featuring AppLink, which enables smartphone apps to be accessed, Sync3 can be integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Voice commands can be used to control certain functions.

Air-conditioning is standard, as is a 12V power point. Electric windows and electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors are standard too.

You have to pay extra for the optional Quickclear heated windscreen and heated washer jets, but you may feel that the extra expense is worth it if you do plenty of early starts on cold winter mornings.

In-cab stowage facilities include a full-width shelf above the windscreen, a lidded and lockable glovebox, and bins with mouldings that can grasp a can of energy drink in each of the doors. Another bin is positioned between the seats, along with a couple of cupholders, and there is a shelf on top of the dashboard on the passenger side. Look under the passenger seat and you will find a concealed drawer – somewhere to hide your tablet.

A driver’s airbag is fitted and our Courier Sport came with an extra-cost package that includes a passenger airbag and heated seats.

Front disc brakes help to provide stopping power, with drum brakes doing duty at the back. ABS and electronic stability control with roll stability control are present as are emergency brake assist, emergency brake warning and electronic brakeforce distribution. For your money you also get hill-start assist and trailer sway control. Traction control is installed and can be switched off.

Front fog lights are included in the deal too.

Independent suspension with offset coil springs helps to support the front while a torsion bar set-up helps support the rear.

The Courier Sport sits on stylish black alloy 16in wheels, shod in our case with ContiPremiumContact 2 195/55 R16 tyres. Electric power steering is installed and the turning circle is 10.9m wall to wall, shrinking to 10.5m kerb to kerb.



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