Ford Transit Custom (2012-2022) review | The default do-it-all used van

What is the Ford Transit Custom?

For many years now, the Ford Transit has been a range of commercial vehicles rather than a single model. Slightly larger than a Fiesta panel van (no longer sold), the Transit Courier is the range's compact commercial vehicle. The Transit Connect is for anyone looking for a small van, while the Transit (no suffix) is the Big Mac of Ford’s professional line-up. And the Transit Custom reviewed here? It sits between the middling Connect and the full-size Transit, making it the sweet spot for many business owners and fleets.

The Transit Custom was updated a number of times after first going on sale in 2012. A 2018 facelift didn't reinvent the wheel, but it did make the cab more modern and more practical, with a lot more storage space. The infotainment system was updated as well, while the van’s styling was given a gentle makeover. Slimmer headlights, a three-bar grille and LED daytime running lights on most versions gave the Transit Custom a familiar ‘family’ look, in line with Ford's contemporary passenger cars.

Further changes in 2018 included improvements to structural rigidity and the return of the fuel-sipping Econetic diesel. This was followed in 2019 by the most technically advanced version of the Transit Custom, the Plug-In Hybrid. It offers an electric-only range of 35 miles and a total driving range of 310 miles.

Rivals to the Ford Transit Custom include the Renault Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro and Volkswagen Transporter.

The generation of Transit Custom seen here was relieved of its duty in 2022, after a second-generation Transit Custom was unveiled to the world. The latest model gained many of the features Transit Custom drivers had asked about for years, including a fully electric powertrain to complement the conventional petrol and diesel models. Nonetheless, a first-generation Transit Custom remains a solid buy for anyone in the market for a lightly (or perhaps less-than-lightly) used van.

How practical is it?

As you'd expect of a commercial vehicle, the Transit Custom was available in a variety of configurations. What is key to understand from the outset, however, is that while the Transit Custom varied meaningfully in length and height, its width always stayed the same.

Starting with body lengths, there are two – called L1 and L2. L1-spec Transits are 4,973mm long, while L2 versions measure 5,339mm from bumper to bumper. The L2 also has a larger wheelbase, rather than simply being stretched at either end.

Then there are two heights: H1 and H2. H1-sized Transit Customs are between 1,922mm and 2,020mm tall, depending on their exact specification. H2 versions vary from 2,286mm to 2,366mm.

As well as a regular van version with a single row of seats and a large load space, there are versions of the Transit with additional rows of seating, namely the Double Cab and Kombi. The Double Cab seats six, with space for a pallet or two behind the seats depending on whether you’re driving an L1 or an L2. The Kombi, meanwhile, has nine seats in three rows of three, but still offers a lot of space for tools or luggage behind the third row.

In addition, the rear door of the Transit Custom can open to 90 degrees as well as 180 degrees, depending on the version, while the sliding door on the van’s side will give you a 1,030mm wide aperture in the regular single-cab Transit Custom – or 930mm in a vehicle with additional seating.

Then there’s the payload, and it’s a definite strong point for the Transit Custom. As production of the first-gen vehicle came to an end, the three-seat version could take a maximum gross payload of between 686kg and 1,459kg, depending on the specific engine, body type and gearbox (both manual and automatic versions were available).

Of course, you’d need to dive into the stats about whichever version you are interested in buying, as we can’t cover every little detail here. Suffice to say, however, the Transit Custom is very flexible and useful. Ford’s huge experience in the commercial vehicle market produced a brilliant all-rounder.

What's it like to drive?

The mainstay of the Transit Custom engine line-up is the 2.0-litre diesel. In later versions of this first-generation Custom van, this 2.0 EcoBlue diesel produced 104bhp, 128bhp, 168bhp or 182bhp, depending on its state of tune. There was also a hybrid version of the engine in 128bhp tune, which gave an economy boost of more than 10%. Furthermore, a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol plug-in hybrid version was available, with an electric range of around 35 miles and 310 miles of range in total.

Earlier versions of the Transit Custom were powered by a 2.2-litre TDCi turbodiesel, producing 99bhp, 123bhp or 153bhp. These TDCi diesel engines were under the bonnet of Transit Custom vans built from 2012 to 2016.

Whichever version of the Transit Custom you choose, the big Ford drives very well. Its ride is a little bouncy if the van is unladen, but the steering is direct and handling feels neat and tidy, especially with a short-wheelbase L1, rather than the long-wheelbase model. The action of the manual gearbox is light and precise too, while the brakes are strong and progressive. If a car-like driving experience is something you look for in a van, the Transit Custom could be for you.

Refinement isn’t bad for a van either, which is a relief when you consider how long many Transit drivers spend behind the wheel. The diesel engines can sound a little agricultural at idle, but they smooth out with speed, while wind noise is well suppressed. Obviously with a large, metal-lined empty space behind you there can be a fair bit of road noise, but the bulkhead behind the driver helps keep the intrusion to a minimum.

Technology, equipment & infotainment

As well as the various sizes and internal configurations available, Ford offered the Transit Custom in a variety of trim levels. Later on in the vehicle’s life, Leader was the entry-level model, and therefore rather basic. You got a DAB radio, Bluetooth, a trip computer, electric windows and a height-and-reach adjustable steering wheel, but not a lot else.

Above that was Trend, which included an eight-inch colour touchscreen, cruise control, adjustable lumbar support for the driver's seat, a heated windscreen and a reversing camera. The next one up, the Transit Custom Limited, is even easier to live with, thanks to air conditioning and heated front seats. Larger 16-inch alloy wheels make the Limited look smarter, too.

Ford expanded the Transit line-up further in 2020, adding the Trail and Active models. These gave a rugged SUV-style spin to the Transit Custom, with tough-looking cladding for the lower body and wheelarches. The former attempts to live up to its looks with a mechanical limited-slip differential for enhanced traction on rutted tracks, while the latter adds lifestyle extras such as part-leather trim and a 10-way powered seat adjustment for the driver.

Sport models, meanwhile, are next on the pyramid, with a racy-looking exterior stripe, racy body kit and 17-inch alloys. Inside there were part-leather seats and a fancier trip computer. Taking it to another level, Ford brought out the Transit Custom MS-RT, inspired by the M-Sport team that ran Ford’s Puma rally cars in the World Rally Championship. Featuring an aggressive body kit, quad exit exhaust and 18-inch OZ alloy wheels on the outside, plus a chunky three-spoke steering wheel and unique trim within, the MS-RT certainly looked the part, even if it was mechanically identical to other Transits.

What you need to remember is that the Transit evolved over time. After all, 10 years is a mighty production run for any vehicle, and Ford managed it with the Transit Custom because it kept adding new features. So while the Trend model was the entry-spec in 2021, in 2018, for example, there was a ‘Base’ trim. The Trend also had a 4.2-inch touchscreen back then, not the 8.0-inch unit it had later on. Wind the clock back to 2014, the Base trim didn’t have any sort of screen, whereas the Trend made do with a 3.5-inch dot matrix display.

In terms of safety, there were airbags for the driver and front seat passengers (side and curtain bags were optional), plus an electronic stability control programme that included side-wind assist on later models. Other systems include rear cross-traffic alert, which would warn if you were reversing out of a space and a car was approaching from the side, as well as emergency brake assist, roll stability control and pre-collision alert.

The best thing to do if you’re buying a used Transit is ask the Ford dealer for a spec sheet, if indeed you’re buying from one. If not, search online for a brochure for the model year you’re looking at (there are plenty of places to find them), then take a good look at the vehicle you’re thinking of buying to understand which features it has.

Ford Transit Custom running costs

For short journeys with lots of opportunities to recharge, the Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid will be the cheapest model to fuel. However, that needs to be set against its high asking price, and the speed with which the PHEV will consume petrol once its battery charge runs low. It will suit some users better than others, and certainly doesn't make the diesel versions obsolete. Especially when you consider a used diesel Transit Custom will likely be less expensive to buy and less complicated to maintain than a PHEV.

For a low purchase price and good fuel economy from a conventional diesel, choose either the 104bhp or 128bhp versions of the 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine. These offer officially tested fuel economy figures of 43.5-47.1mpg and 42.8-47.1mpg respectively.

The 128bhp mild hybrid bests both of them, with fuel consumption of 47.9-55.4mpg. However, it did cost around £700 more when new, and as such may be pricier to purchase second-hand.

For regularly hauling full loads over long distances, operators may be tempted by either the 168bhp or 182bhp EcoBlue diesels. With a manual gearbox, the 182bhp Transit Custom returns 43.5-47.9mpg, for example, and the extra power means you’ll need to push the engine less to build up speed.

Transit Custom models with a six-speed automatic gearbox have slightly poorer efficiency than those with a six-speed manual gearbox.

One niche that Ford never explored with the first-gen Transit Custom was a pure EV. That has changed for the second-generation model, but if you’re looking for a used electric van, you will need to look towards marques such as Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Citroen, Nissan and Peugeot, all of whom offered electric commercial vehicles at the same time Ford was building this version of the Transit Custom.

Earlier examples of the Transit Custom were powered by 2.2-litre diesels that met the Euro 5 emissions standard. These were updated to meet Euro 6 regulations in late 2016, which is something you’ll need to have in mind if you go anywhere near the London Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ). Real-world economy will vary hugely depending on driving style, the body fitted to the base vehicle and the payload. However, close to 30mpg is a rough guide to what a typical user can expect from one of the older Transit diesels.

Ford Transit Custom reliability

The good news is that a Ford Transit Custom is a very reliable van. Its major mechanical parts are tough and durable, so as long as the vehicle has been well maintained it should rack-up high mileages without complaint.

It's worth keeping an eye on oil use, especially with later 2.0-litre diesels, but really there's not much to worry about. The Plug-In Hybrid, meanwhile, is still too new for us to have any meaningful reliability data. Any major headaches would be a surprise, though, given how reliable the rest of the Transit Custom range has been.

Overall, the usual van-buying advice applies. Check the bodywork for signs of dents and scratches, and ensure the vehicle has been serviced on time and regularly. The cabins are durable, so if the inside of the Transit is looking tatty you should have little trouble finding another that has been better cared for. For extra peace of mind, you could even ask a friendly mechanic or your regular garage to have a look as part of a pre-purchase inspection. Some sellers may not appreciate this, but a pair of knowledgeable eyes is always useful.