Ford Transit Courier Review 2024
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Ford Transit Courier At A Glance
One of the cheapest small vans you can buy. Smart exterior design. More versatile than before.
Strays into Ford Transit Connect territory. Automatic gearbox is clumsy. Electric model to follow.
While it remains the smallest van in the Ford Transit line-up, the new Ford Transit Courier has grown in size compared to its predecessor. That means it's more practical than before, while its car-like handling dynamics (and well-equipped interior) add to its appeal. We reckon it's one of the best small vans on the market today.
The chunkier dimensions of the new Ford Transit Courier mean it's now treading on the heels of the bigger Ford Transit Connect but, with pre-VAT prices starting from around £18,000, the Ford Transit Courier remains one of the cheapest vans you can buy.
From launch, there are four trim levels available: Ford Transit Courier Leader, Trend, Limited and Active. Even the entry-level Ford Transit Courier Leader isn't as basic as you might expect for a budget van.
Standard kit includes an eight-inch infotainment system, cruise control and rear parking sensors. We'd look for a Trend model at least, though, for desirable features like a sliding rear side door, air con and heated seats (with additional lumbar support for the driver).
You also get the choice of petrol or diesel engines, while an all-electric Ford E-Transit Courier is on its way. For now, we'd focus your search on the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol, ideally in 125PS form with the excellent six-speed manual gearbox.
Aside from its chunky SUV design, one of our favourite features of the new Ford Transit Courier is how easy and car-like to drive. It's based on the popular Ford Puma, so that's perhaps no surprise, but we reckon most drivers will enjoy driving the Ford Transit Courier every day more than other small vans.
It's versatile, too. It can now carry up to two Euro pallets in the back, while a clever (optional) load-through bulkhead alloys you to transport long items such as pipes or ladders.
Driving the Ford Transit Courier
Based on the popular Ford Puma, the new Ford Transit Courier feels particularly un-van-like to drive. Its compliant suspension soaks up bumps in the road, while it remains surprisingly composed in corners - ideal if you don't want your load sliding around unnecessarily.
Engine choices are made up of 100PS or 125PS versions of Ford's popular 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, or a 100PS 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine. The former is available with a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the diesel is offered solely with the six-speed manual 'box.
Our favourite combination is the 125PS petrol with the manual gearbox. We found the dual-clutch auto to be rather clumsy and it hampers performance. The manual, meanwhile, is direct and a pleasure to use.
You might want to wait for the all-electric Ford E-Transit Courier, particularly if you're based in an urban area or cover lots of short journeys. Exact details for this are yet to be confirmed, but expect it to have a range of around 170 miles if it's to compete with the Citroen e-Berlingo and Toyota Proace City Electric.
The Ford E-Transit Courier has been awarded a platinum award by safety experts Euro NCAP for its extensive list of driver-assistance features. Standard technology is similar to what you'd find in a passenger car - including a lane-keeping system, pre-collision assist and intelligent speed assist, as well as rear parking sensors.
Further technology (available as an option or standard on higher-sped Ford Transit Courier models) includes intelligent adaptive cruise control, blind spot information system with cross traffic alert, intersection assist and reverse brake assist.
Ford Transit Courier interior
The Ford Transit Courier might be one of the smallest vans you can buy, but it's grown in size compared to its predecessor. With external dimensions of 4337mm long, 2076mm wide (1800mm without mirrors) and 1827mm tall, it's not a great deal smaller than the Ford Transit Connect.
Cargo length has been increased by 181mm to 1802mm, while an optional load-through bulkhead allows you to carry long items (such as planks or pipes) measuring up to 2600mm long. A new rear suspension setup with angled shock absorbers increases the load width between the wheelarches to 1220mm. This means the compact van can now carry two Euro pallets (up from one before).
The total cargo volume is now 2.9m3 - 25% more than the previous Ford Transit Courier and the same as a Mercedes Citan. The load area is easy to access, aided by 180-degree opening rear cargo doors.
The Ford Transit Courier comes with six tie-down points as standard, while customers can have the load area decked in rubber or wooden floor covers. LED loadspace lighting is a desirable extra, as well as the half-height cargo stowage rails.
As standard, the Ford Transit Courier has a payload of around 530kg (depending on trim level), while those needing to carry more can buy a high payload version. This is fitted with dual-rate springs to provide a maximum payload of up to 854kg. All Ford Transit Courier models have a maximum towing weight of 1100kg.
The cabin of the Ford Transit Courier feels like a passenger car. You get a smart digital instrument cluster alongside an easy-to-use eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display. All this is perched on a stylish dashboard which also houses a random assortment of shortcut buttons, although many of the climate control functions are lumpted into the touchscreen.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fitted as standard, while there's even a handy little in-built phone mount next to the central screen. Ford's connected navigation system is also standard across the range.
There's a huge amount of in-cab storage, too. You'll find easy-access open storage behind the digiboard and above the glovebox as well as storage for tablets or A4 pads in the centre console. The door bin inserts feature a separator and a holder large enough for 1.5-litre bottles.
Model History
January 2024
Production of new Ford Transit Courier starts
The all-new Ford Transit Courier is now delivering enhanced productivity and connectivity for customers, with the first examples of the lead-in Transit model now arriving with businesses across Europe.
To maximise productivity, Transit Courier has been completely redesigned around a larger and more flexible cargo area that delivers 25 per cent more load volume than the outgoing model, offering space for two Euro pallets and increased payload.
Bold exterior design makes Transit Courier a desirable, eye-catching billboard for operators’ businesses. Inside, the all-new load area and cabin design include customer-led features to boost productivity and comfort while at work. A comprehensive array of driver assistance technologies has also made Transit Courier the first van to receive a platinum safety award from Euro NCAP according to their most recent testing standards.
The all-new Transit Courier is fully integrated with Ford Pro’s platform of software and connected services to drive efficient operation, whether for owner-operators or large fleets – including uptime-boosting Ford Pro Software management tools and Ford Pro Service to reduce cost of ownership.
Production of the all-new Transit Courier with petrol and diesel powertrains is now underway at Ford Otosan’s Craiova plant, Romania, which is undergoing a €490 million reinvention. The Courier range will be completed by the electric E-Transit Courier model, with order books opening later this year.
Transit Courier combines a bold new-look exterior with significantly enhanced capabilities. The space-efficient squared form delivers increased load capacity in all dimensions, while its short overhangs and SUV-inspired design emphasise its toughness and capability.
Cargo length has been increased by 181mm to 1,802mm, and new rear suspension with angled shock absorbers increases the load width between the wheelarches to 1,220mm. This means the compact van can now carry two Euro pallets. Total cargo volume is 2.9m3, 25 per cent more than the outgoing model. This can be further increased using the optional new load-through bulkhead which enables customers to carry items such as planks or pipe over 2,600mm long.
Customers can now choose between a standard payload model, or a high payload version fitted with dual-rate springs to handle maximum gross payload of up to 854kg – an increase of over 45 percent compared with the outgoing model. Maximum towing weight for all variants is 1,100kg.
All panel vans feature 180-degree opening rear cargo doors and six floor tie-down points as standard. LED loadspace lighting, rubber or wooden floor covers and half-height cargo stowage rails are available to help operators use the load area more efficiently.
For businesses requiring enhanced security for their vehicle and its contents, Ford Pro is partnering with vehicle security experts TVL to offer a range of convenient factory-fit lock packs, to provide improved protection against a range of threats including physical attack.
Transit Courier’s high level of built-in technology is headlined by a “digiboard” instrument panel containing a digital instrument cluster and eight-inch centre touchscreen with Ford’s latest SYNC 4 connectivity system.Subscription-based Connected Navigation can boost productivity and reduce driver workload with updates on traffic, parking and local hazards. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility is standard.
The onboard connectivity is powered by a built-in modem as standard, 8 enabling always-on connectivity with the Ford Pro ecosystem and wireless software updates that can evolve the vehicle’s capability over time without requiring a dealer visit.
For drivers who need regular access to their smartphone, a built-in dashboard phone mounting fin is standard on all Transit Courier vans. This removes the need for a vent or windscreen mount and keeps the phone in a safe but visible location.
New in-cab storage solutions keep the paperwork, devices and cables necessary for a day’s work organised. Drivers benefit from easy-access open storage behind the digiboard and above the glovebox as well as storage for tablets or A4 pads in the centre console. The door bin inserts feature a separator and a holder large enough for 1.5-litre bottles.
The FordPass Pro mobile app is available to assist busy small business owners who manage their own vehicles. The complimentary smartphone app enables customers to remotely lock and unlock their van, check its location, track fuel spending, and receive health alerts for fluid levels, tyre pressures, oil life and brake condition to help prevent costly breakdowns.
Customers with five or more vehicles can also benefit from one year of complimentary access to the tailored features of Ford Pro Telematics. 10 The system uses live data to help maximise productivity, including dashboards on vehicle location, health and servicing status.
Ford Pro Software users can also benefit from enhanced vehicle security alerts for collisions and break-ins. With Fleet Start Inhibit, fleet managers can remotely enable and disable Transit Courier to help prevent theft or unauthorised use outside of work hours.
The modem also powers connection to FORDLiive, which in 2023 enabled over 700,000 days of additional vehicle availability across Europe worth around €319 million to customers. Ford Pro Service support also includes 800 Transit Centres – more dedicated commercial vehicle service centres than any other van brand.
The all-new Transit Courier introduces a 125PS variant of Ford’s efficient 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, offered alongside the 100PS version of the same engine, which has been optimised to produce less CO2 and improve fuel efficiency in comparison to previous models1.
The EcoBoost powertrain is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, or a new seven-speed dual clutch transmission to support customers who often drive in stop-start traffic. The system’s twin gearsets enable smooth, fast gearshifts with no loss of torque to improve low-speed efficiency 1 and the driving experience.
A 100PS 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine is available for customers with higher-mileage use cases, teamed with a six-speed manual transmission.
Taking advantage of the advanced features and enhanced capability offered by Ford’s latest compact vehicle platform, Transit Courier raises the standards within the segment with a Platinum NCAP-award-winning suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Standard fitment includes:
Lane-Keeping System
Pre-Collision Assist
Intelligent Speed Assist
Rear parking sensors
For more peace of mind during urban driving, customers can also specify systems including:
Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control – with Stop & Go and Lane Centring with the automatic transmission
Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert
Intersection Assist
Reverse Brake Assist
The all-new Transit Courier is available in a choice of four attractive series options: Leader, Trend, Limited and Active. The well-equipped Limited series includes desirable standard features such as 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera, front parking sensors, keyless start and a wireless device charging pad.
The adventurous Active series extends the SUV-led design features with unique wheel arch mouldings, front and rear skid plates, roof rails and 17-inch black alloy wheels with machined face elements.
