Ford Transit Courier van review

There’s overhead storage, plus a central bin for A4-sized folders and door pockets big enough to hold 1.5-litre bottles.

Back-up matters in commercial vehicles, and the Transit Courier has always-on connectivity, allowing it to be integrated into and managed through the Ford Pro digital ‘fleet ecosystem’. In truth, most of the big van retailers offer similar back-up, although the sheer scale of Ford’s UK dealer network does give it a small advantage.

Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo

The cabin has a fully digital instrument cluster and, more usefully for van users, a functional dash that includes an eight-inch infotainment system, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a built-in mount that’s designed to house a variety of aftermarket smartphone holders. It looks modern and is easy enough to use, although time can only tell how well it stands up to sustained daily use. You would hope Ford had thought of that when designing it, though.

Buying and owning

All Transit Courier models come with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electric windows, heated door mirrors and a steel bulkhead but air conditioning and side access to the load bay are not included, so unless you’re a large fleet buyer you probably won’t want the base version. 

Trend adds a single sliding side door, with a second as an option plus air-con, heated seats, a heated steering wheel and a heated windscreen. Limited adds climate control, 16-inch alloys, keyless go and a rear-view camera. 

Active is the top spec car but it only really gets cosmetic add-ons like larger 17-inch alloy wheels, so the mid-spec models are the best value. We’d stick with a diesel engine if possible, but the petrol versions will make more sense for vans that stay around town (although the upcoming EV may suit those users even better).

Alternatives

Rivals include the Renault Kangoo/Nissan Townstar/Mercedes Citan, which all use the same platform and tech. Then there’s the Citroen Berlingo/Fiat Doblo/Peugeot Partner/Vauxhall Combo/Toyota Proace City, which again all share the same underpinnings. You might also consider the Ford Transit Connect or Volkswagen Caddy, which are larger and a bit pricier but aimed at a similar market.