New electric and hybrid options join Ford Transit lineup

Unless you’re a courier, most people don’t get too fired up about commercial goods vans.

In fact, they’re often derogatorily referred to as ‘white goods on wheels’ despite their essential role in keeping Australia’s economy moving.

But if you haven’t looked inside a van lately, you’re likely to be pleasantly surprised at the level of passenger-car like safety, comfort and technology they now offer.

At least, that is in their front rows, given that their primary purpose remains goods transport, so having a cargo bay that is as big and boxy as possible remains a highly desirable asset.

A case in point is the Ford Transit, which turns 60 this year and is Australia’s second most popular van behind the omnipresent Toyota HiAce which accounts for almost one in every two light-duty goods vans sold in this country.

The Transit’s 15% segment share is less than a third of the Toyota’s but the Blue Oval has shown with the Ranger ute that it can rival the Big T when it gets its product mix right, and the Transit is carrying momentum following a record year in 2024 which it’s on track to better in 2025.

Part of the key to Transit Custom’s local sales success has been the fact the model has gone from a single derivative to a whole family of models, with different body styles, wheelbases, and lifestyle-oriented variants like the Trail and Sport which give customers the opportunity to spec a work vehicle that can also double as a lifestyle van.

Now, with the introduction of two new electrified powertrain options, Ford is betting it can grow Transit’s share further by tapping into the growing number of brands and businesses looking to lower their emissions and operating costs.

Ford E-Transit.

There are four new variants in the Blue Oval’s latest update to its second-generation Transit Custom range, which debuted in Europe in late 2023 and began arriving here in diesel-powered form in mid-2024.

The Custom designation identifies this as the smaller medium-van in Ford’s broader Transit range which also includes larger heavier-duty variants.

All Transit Custom variants are based on a new architecture developed by Ford but shared with the Volkswagen Transporter which is claimed to be stiffer and lighter than its predecessor.

The new platform is accompanied by more aerodynamic body styling which is claimed to aid efficiency for all powertrains and deliver more cab space, while ride and handling is aided by the fitment of independent rear suspension with semi-trailing-arms and coil springs.

Importantly, the Transit Custom platform was engineered from the outset to accommodate electrified powertrains, which means Ford hasn’t just shoe-horned batteries and electric motors into an existing ICE-platform.

The design packages the batteries under the load-bay floor to maximise storage space with the new Transit Custom PHEV and E-Transit Long (LWB) and Short Wheelbase (SWB) variants both having the same load space as their turbo-diesel powered stablemates.

Maximum load volume is 5.8 cubic metres for the SWB and 6.8 cubic metres for the LWB, with the latter offering space for up to four standard Euro Pallets, LED Load Area Compartment Lights and up to eight tie-down loops.

Maximum payload capacity, based on kerb weight, ranges between 1,111kg to 1,206kg depending on the variant, and braked towing capacity is 2.3 tonnes, which Ford claims is class-leading for an electrified van, although it trails the diesel variants’ 2.5-tonne rating.

It’s worth noting, however, that neither the PHEV nor EV have a full-size spare, with the PHEV providing a space-saver and the E-Transit an inflator kit.

Manufacturers recommended retail pricing for the Transit Custom PHEV Trend LWB and Transit Custom PHEV Sport SWB is listed at $67,590 and $69,990, respectively, while the all-electric E-Transit Custom carries a list price of $77,590 (MRLP) for the Trend LWB and $79,990 for the Sport SWB variant.

The exterior design of the two new Custom variants differs slightly form the diesel models, with the PHEV featuring a sleek front fascia designed to improve its range and efficiency.

The battery-electric E-Transit Custom takes aero-efficiency a step further, with a unique trapezoid grille, featuring polygon detailing that is claimed to direct airflow more efficiently to key powertrain components.

In both cases the Sport variants dial up the design up with larger 17-inch matte black alloy wheels in lieu of the 16-inch steel wheels, Sport body kit, rear spoiler, and stripes package that run the length of the van.

Inside, keyless push button start is standard on both with Sport models benefiting from Smart Keyless Entry.

Other features include a 12.0-inch colour digital instrument cluster, and 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by Ford's SYNC 4 operating system which enables wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, integrated navigation, an embedded 5G modem.

Ford E-Transit interior.

Both PHEV and EV variants also feature FordPass, a mobile app that connects to the vehicle’s embedded modem, allowing owners to perform actions like remotely starting the engine, locking/unlocking doors, and checking vehicle health status.

Other interior design changes aimed at freeing up interior space include the use of a column-mounted auto-shifter, electric parking brake and dual-front airbags repositioned into the roof to free up cabin space.

The standard airbag count is six (driver, front passenger, front side, and front curtain), with a comprehensive array of advanced driver assistance features including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and speed sign recognition.

The Transit Custom doesn’t have a traditional ANCAP star rating as commercial vans are reviewed differently to passenger vehicles but it was the highest-rated commercial van in ANCAP’s 2024 Commercial Van Safety Comparison testing, earning a Platinum rating.

The E-Transit Custom also gets Ford’s Secure Visibility Pack as standard, which integrates a digital rear-view mirror fed by a camera on the rear load door with a built-in dash cam.

Other design features include integrated sidesteps, wide-opening doors and a fully flat cabin floor design which helps when entering and exiting the cabin from either kerbside or roadside.

The standard door configuration includes a kerbside single sliding side load door and rear twin barn doors, with a rear liftgate door and dual sliding side load doors available as options.

Power for the PHEV comes from a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle four-cylinder petrol engine, a front-mounted electric motor and an 11.8kWh (useable) battery.

Combined outputs of the petrol-electric drivetrain are 171kW/400Nm with drive sent to the front wheels through an e-CVT transmission. Electric-only driving range is 54km (WLTP), and combined cycle fuel consumption is 1.7L/100km.

Ford Transit Custom PHEV recharging.

Drivers can choose when to use the PHEV’s battery power, with the option of selecting EV Now, EV Later, and EV Auto drive modes.

This gives drivers the flexibility of conducting shorter, inner-urban style trips on electric-only power, with the range of a regular ICE-powered vehicle available on demand for longer rural trips.

The fully electric E-Transit ditches the combustion motor in favour of a rear-mounted electric motor that sends 160kW of power and 415Nm of torque to the rear wheels.

A 64kWh battery provides a maximum driving range of 301km (WLTP) for the E-Transit Custom Trend LWB and 307km for the E-Transit Custom Sport SWB.

That might sound a bit skinny in an era where a growing number of EVs are exceeding 500km, but Ford claims its own study of the weekday daily driving distance of 4,600 van drivers over 12.49 million kilometres showed a habitual daily drive of 78km, with the longest daily drive being 307km and 90% of drivers travelling less than 178km.

The 64kWh battery can charge from 15-80% in 32 minutes at a charging rate of 125kW, and can fully charge from empty overnight in approximately 6.7 hours using an 11kW AC charger.

The E-Transit also features a one-pedal driving mode which allows the driver to control vehicle speed using only the accelerator pedal, including allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop without engaging the brake.

With the addition of EV and PHEV powered Transit custom variants selling alongside its existing conventional turbo-diesel powered models, Ford can justifiably claim the most diverse powertrain lineup in the segment.

It’s a lineup that gives the Blue Oval the opportunity to tap into the growing number of brands and businesses looking to lower their emissions, as well as expanding its presence in the lifestyle van segment where not all its commercial rivals compete.