Best Ford Transit vans

Everyone loves the Ford Transit — a range of vans that's become as much an intrinsic part of British working life as a mid-morning brew to wash down a bacon sarnie and tradespeople sucking air in through their teeth as an involuntary response to being asked 'is it going to be expensive, then?'.

Without the humble Ford delivery van, which celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025, many British businesses wouldn't exist, for generations of hard-working Transits have proved themselves as reliable members of the workforce.

What's less well-known is that since 2021 the Ford Transit Custom has been the UK’s best-selling vehicle range full-stop, outselling each of Ford’s cars as well as other popular models such as the Vauxhall Corsa and Nissan Qashqai.

The backbone of Britain is the UK’s number one — here are our 10 favourite Ford Transits that helped put the famous van on top.

Ford Transit Supervan

There have been six generations of Supervan but the original is by far the best. Created as a secret project by Ford motorsport engineer Terry Drury, who put the body of a Mk1 Ford Transit onto a chassis derived from a crashed GT40 racing car, complete with a mid-mounted V8 engine. It was an incredible PR stunt and helped lodge the Transit into the nation's collective conscience. Drury's original Transit Supervan was found and restored in 2024.

Ford Transit Mk 3

Every new generation of Ford Transit commanded respect but the Mk 3 was one that truly drove the whole van market forwards. Designed by Patrick le Quement, who was also responsible for 1982's bold Ford Sierra, his take on the Transit formula went on sale in 1986. It brought fuel-saving aerodynamics and car-like interior refinement into the van world — we think it still looks great today.

Ford Transit Connect

Ford entered a brave new world in 2002 with the launch of the first Transit spin-off — a move that begat the multi-tiered line-up we have today. Called the Ford Transit Connect, rather than being based on a shortened version of larger Transit vans, it used a modified version of the original Ford Focus's underpinnings. It wasn't cheap, but its driver appeal was worth the extra over established rivals such as the Renault Kangoo as well as the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner twins.

Ford Transit Courier

When the original Ford Transit Connect was replaced 2013, the second-generation model grew in size, creating space below for a small van range to make the Transit range even broader. The company duly obliged with the Ford Transit Courier, its compact dimensions making it a doddle for urban deliveries. With the Courier, another car platform was adopted, this time that also used by the contemporary Ford Fiesta and Ford B-Max.

Ford Transit Dormobile

Volkswagen and Bedford had the camper van market pretty much tied-up by in the late 1960s — at least until the Ford Transit Dormobile came along and shook thinkg up. More spacious and more comfortable than the VW Type 2, it was also faster and more refined. As good as the Dormobile was new, it's the VW that commands higher prices in the classic campers world.

Ford Transit MS-RT

A tie-up between ex-Ford works rally driver Malcom Wilson and Welsh van dealer Ed Davies, MS-RT — Motor Sport Road Technology, seeing as you asked — was founded in Pontypridd in 2014, developing a rally-inspired body kit and bespoke sports interior for the Ford Transit Custom. Customers loved it and so did Ford, eventually buying MS-RT itself.

Ford Transit Mk 2

The Mk 2 Ford Transit wasn’t much of a deviation from the original in terms of its bodywork — in truth it was a heavy facelift and not an all-new model. Nevertheless, to our eyes it became one of the best-looking vans ever made — a truly handsome beast, styled under the guidance of Uwe Bahnsen. Launched in 1977, the Mk 2 Transit's longer bonnet, with a matt black grille beneath, brought it visually into line with the firm's contemporary cars, such as the Ford Cortina and Ford Granada. Not only that, the extra room provided by new nose allowed Ford to switch to a more modern range of fuel efficient engines.

Ford Transit Mk 6

From the launch of 1993's Ford Mondeo, the Blue Oval became a benchmark for other carmakers in terms of balancing an engaging driving experience with comfort. Successive generations of models set new standards for ride and roadholding but it wasn’t just the likes of the original Ford Ka and Ford Puma that pushed those boundaries. Launched in 2000, the Ford Transit Mk 6 was also a class leader in terms of chassis dynamics, proving to be a great van to drive without compromising its cargo-carrying brief.

Ford Transit Custom

Ford separated the big Transit range from the mid-sized models in 2013, with the introduction of the first Ford Transit Custom. It ushered in a new era of cabin features, comfort, handling and performance for Ford’s perennial best-seller, rapidly becoming the most sought-after mid-size van on the market. That it was still selling strongly up until the latest Ford Transit Custom arrived in 2024 is a testament to how good it was.

Ford Transit Mk 1

Every one of the Transits mentioned above is brilliant but without this one, none of them would have existed. The absolute star of our run down of Top 10 Ford Transits has to be the original and best. Launched in 1965 with modern styling, curvaceous arches and an oddball V4 engine, little did Ford know it has created a vehicle range that six decades on would be the UK’s top seller.

Ask Honest John

Real MPG