The What Van? Road Test: Ford Transit Custom PHEV (2020)

Date: Monday, November 30, 2020

 

Cab

Interior and equipment

Creature comforts in the three-seater cab include heated driver and outboard passenger seats – the centre passenger has to do without – and very effective air conditioning. Aircon is standard on all Transit Custom PHEVs, including Leader. 

The dashboard is dominated by an 8in colour touchscreen, which controls a DAB radio, with remote switches on the steering wheel. Ford’s Sync 3 communications and entertainment system is installed, with Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. 

Provided too is emergency assist, which can summon help promptly if there is an accident, and a Ford Pass Connect onboard modem. Among other things it allows drivers to monitor their vehicle’s state of charge remotely using a Ford Pass app.

Also worthy of note is the large power/charge gauge, which replaces the rev counter and tells you how efficiently you are driving. Present too is a smaller gauge, which gives you the battery’s state of charge.

Cruise control with a speed limiter is fitted, as is a trip computer. So are electric windows and heated electrically adjustable exterior mirrors, with a lower wide-angle section. The windscreen is heated too. 

Storage facilities include two bins – one with a moulding, which can hold a bottle of water – in each of the doors. Cupholders are positioned at either extremity of the dashboard and have a bottle/can holder underneath. 

A deep, lidded and lockable glovebox, which can swallow an A4 file, is present, as is a shelf above the windscreen that incorporates a slot for your sunglasses. You will also find a sunglasses holder above the driver’s door. 

Four shelves are located on top of the dash, one of which boasts a USB socket and a 12V power point. Another 12V point sits on the passenger side of the fascia next to a second USB socket.

The middle seat is fine for short journeys, despite the lack of shoulder room. Most passengers should hopefully find that their legroom is only marginally compromised, with the moulding that accommodates the gear shift just missing their right knee.

The centre section of the middle seat’s back folds downwards and turns into a desk complete with two cupholders, a pen tray, and an elasticated band to keep paperwork in place. 

Beneath the passenger seats you will find a compartment, which in our case played host to the van’s charging cables and a first aid kit complete with gloves and a high-visibility vest. A hatch in the bulkhead enables extra-long items to be pushed into the void, although items such as cables may have to be removed first.

The leather-trimmed steering wheel is height-adjustable, as is the driver’s seat. The angle of the seat cushion can be altered too, and the wheel can be adjusted for reach.

Turning to safety, driver and passenger airbags are installed along with side airbags.

Disc brakes are fitted all round and the Custom PHEV is equipped with ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, emergency brake assist, electronic stability control and roll stability control. 

Also in place are traction control system, which can be switched off, and side wind stabilisation, which is intended to prevent the Custom from being blown into an adjacent lane on the motorway if it is caught in a crosswind.

Enhanced park assist was installed as an option. Designed to help manoeuvre your van into a tight parking slot, it includes front and rear parking sensors. Front fog lamps form part of the deal.

Another option installed was a Visibility Pack, which embraces a reversing camera, power-folding mirrors, and lane keeping alert.

The suspension system employs MacPherson struts with variable-rate coil springs plus an anti-roll bar at the front while leaf springs help support the rear. Gas-pressurised shock absorbers are fitted all round.

Our demonstrator’s 16in alloy wheels were shod with Goodyear Efficient Grip 215/65 R16C tyres. The van comes with a full-size spare wheel.

Delivered by electric power steering, the turning circle is 12.2m wall to wall reducing to 11.6m kerb to kerb. 

Side rubbing strips help to protect the van’s sides and (in our case) its optional metallic paint from minor damage. The rubbing strips, bumpers, door handles and mirror casings are all colour-coded so that they match the body’s finish.



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