2020 Ford Transit Custom Sport: Review

Trucksales has reviewed a host of variants of Ford's Transit Custom since the nameplate's introduction in 2014, and now – in collaboration with our sister site, Bikesales – we've sampled the medium van in one of its latest incarnations, the smartly styled 2020 Ford Transit Custom 320S Sport.

The 2020 Ford Transit Custom Sport provided Bikesales with a mobile base from which the team could conduct a five-day road test, allowing them to carry a range of spare parts, tools, water and snacks. It also served as transport for their stills photographer, Stu, and could potentially carry one of the smaller of the nine bikes on test in the event of a breakdown or accident (neither of which, fortunately, ever came to pass).

The 2020 Ford Transit Custom Sport arrived in Australia in late 2019 and is part of a raft of updates for the Ford's medium van. Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection is now standard across the Ford Transit Custom family, as is a range-wide powertrain upgrade that boasts a claimed 30 per cent increase in power, more torque and higher emissions compliance (now Euro 6.2).

The short-wheelbase Ford Transit Custom 320S Sport reviewed here is in fact one of three new variants to enter the range – it slots in alongside two new long-wheelbase 'Double Cab in Van' (DCiV) dual-cab models, one a 340L standard model and one a 320S Sport variant. The numbers refer to the vans' GVMs, by the way – 3400kg and 3200kg respectively – while the letter denotes the wheelbase (long or short).

Output for standard Transit Custom models is now 125kW and 390Nm, up from 96kW and 385Nm for its predecessor, while the two Sport variants offer even more, with maximum outputs of 136kW and 405Nm.

The newcomers see the family swell to seven models spanning a choice of two wheelbases, six-speed automatic or manual transmissions, and standard or dual-cab formats, with options including any of over 100 'Special Vehicle Options' (SVO) paint schemes (add $1400), dual side sliding doors (add $1000), and a high-roof (add $1500), among others.

Don't, however, confuse the medium-size Transit Custom Sport with its big brother, the Transit. The latter is Ford's large van and a model which, in Transit 350L form, served as our backup van on the 2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year test.

This year's test vehicle, a short-wheelbase Transit Custom 320S Sport with standard roof and six-speed auto, has a payload of 1046kg and a braked towing limit of 1800kg.

Barn-style rear doors are standard but this particular model is fitted with a top-hinge tailgate (add $550).

True to its name, this Sport variant also features a number of cosmetic enhancements, such as the 17-inch alloy wheels, racing stripes, and a body styling kit with unique front and rear bumpers and side skirts. Then there are the colour-matched side mirrors, the gloss-black grille, the bi-Xenon HID headlights and LED daytime running lights.

The special treatment continues inside with a leather-accented driver's seat with 10-way electric adjustment, gloss black interior design highlights, and chrome vent surrounds, while the load bay features new LED lighting.

This new Ford Transit Custom Sport is decidedly perky off the line and that's saying something – even the older, lower-power model had a spring in its step, even if on paper it fell short of several of its competitors in terms of claimed power and torque.

The six-speed auto is effective and efficient, swapping ratios quickly and smoothly for what is at heart a commercial vehicle, the four-cylinder 'EcoBlue' engine spinning at 1850rpm at 100km/h in sixth gear.

That places the engine in the middle of its meaty torque curve, and in fact performance is strong from around 1500rpm to beyond 4000rpm, with good go on tap just about all the way to its 4800rpm indicated redline.

Noise, vibration and harshness is commendably low through the rev range, although we did note the presence of a small rattle from the bulkhead (a small price to pay for the protection offered by the steel barrier in the event of an accident or emergency stop).

Handling is far superior to what you might expect of a 'humble' van, and while it's still a bit on the brittle side when empty, it's far from the rock-hard ride you could expect of an LCV of not too many years ago. With a limited load on board – just some tools and provisions, really – the Transit Custom Sport corners with minimal body roll and for a front-drive van has an impressively tight turning circle.

Its steering is relatively short too, at just three turns from lock to lock, and with its standard roof height of 2011mm (with its nifty roof racks folded down) it shouldn't prove too tall for most multistory car parks.

Forget any notion of delivery vans being bare-bones affairs: the Ford Transit Custom Sport comes bristling with safety and driver comfort and convenience features as standard.

The list includes the aforementioned AEB plus lane departure warning with Lane Keeping Aid (i.e. assisted steering), adaptive cruise control, satellite navigation, speed limiter, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, auto lights and wipers, speed sign detection, six air bags and more. To that add front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera, a choice of drive modes (normal or eco) and stability control with roll-over mitigation, trailer sway control, load adaptive control and hill start assist, along with an idle-stop function, and multi-stage seat heating.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel is adjustable for tilt and reach and the driver's seat comes with a fold-down armrest and a decent dead pedal, so it's easy to find a comfortable driving positon. There are no A-pillar grab handles, however, and no keyless entry or starting – you have to stick the key in and turn it, old-school style!

In general, however, life behind the wheel of Ford Transit Custom Sport is good – it's a high-tech cockpit without being intimidating. The bulkhead also spells effective heating and cooling while the combination of Ford's SYNC3 multimedia unit with 8.0-inch touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto), the TFT instrumentation and the logical layout of controls place the van's many functions and features within easy reach.

The load bay is also a practical and well-thought-out space, with a sturdy plastic floor liner and full-height MDF protection. There's a load-through flap for accommodating longer items into and beneath the front passenger seat unit, eight sturdy tie-down anchor points, four overhead LED lights, a rear 12-volt accessory socket, and a grab handle for easy access via the side sliding door.

Ford quotes a load capacity of 6.0 cubic metres for this van, taking its bulkhead into account. We measured the load space as being 2450mm long (or 3100mm utilising the load-through flap) by 1680mm wide and 1410mm high. There's 1350mm between its wheel arches, so it will accept a standard Australian pallet, and the floor height is 550mm (unladen).

The side aperture is 990mm wide at its shortest point and 1310mm high, while the rear aperture is 1390mm wide by 1330mm high.

The dimensions mean this short-wheelbase, standard-roof model can only really accommodate one small to medium motorcycle, plus some gear. We used the van to transport our BMW scooter the week before the Bike of the Year test and it was a squeeze, so anyone looking to shift bigger bikes should look at either the high-roof option of the long-wheelbase Transit Custom or Ford's Transit large van.

After five days of sprinting through the Victorian High Country, and with the Ford Transit Custom Sport never far behind whenever the bikes pulled up, we achieved an average fuel economy of 9.4L/100km. That's an impressive figure, we think, and one that equates with a safe working range of over 700km.

The truck uses a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to meet Euro 6.2 emissions standards so it also has a 21lt AdBlue tank.

Service intervals are pegged at every 30,000km while Ford's VanCare program sees service costs capped at a maximum of $349 per service for the first four years/120,000km. And the model is covered a five-year/unlimited kilometre factory warranty.

Available in a choice of six different colour (Orange Glow pictured), Ford's Transit Custom 320S Sport is a stylish, safe and feature-packed van. Priced from $48,490 plus on-roads – a $3500 premium over the standard 320S Transit Custom – this new variant is sure to lend some extra momentum to Ford's medium-van family, and satisfy those buyers who want a van that looks every bit as good as it goes.

Price: from $48,490 plus ORC
Engine: 2.0-litre EcoBlue in-line four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power: 136kW (185hp) at 3500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1500-2000rpm
Emissions: Euro 6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Configuration: 4x2
Front suspension: Independent MacPherson strut
Rear suspension: Single leaf/shock
GVM: 3100kg
Braked towing limit: 1800kg
Fuel capacity: 72lt
Brakes: Four-wheel disc
Safety: Dynamic Stability Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, traction control, Roll Over Mitigation, Load Adaptive Control, Trailer Sway Control, Hill Launch Assist, six air bags, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, Driver Alert System, SYNC3 Emergency Assist, auto lights and wipers.
Warranty: Five years/unlimited kilometres
www.ford.com.au