If you had to describe a van in one word, “fun” probably wouldn’t be the first that comes to mind. Roomy? Sure. Practical? Absolutely. Big? Without a doubt. But fun? Surprisingly, such vans do exist – especially when they are built on the sweet-handling, class-leading platform of the Puma small SUV.
Enter the latest Ford Transit Courier – the entry point to the Blue Oval’s extensive van range. It shares more in common with its passenger car relatives than you might expect, and that gives it a noticeably refined edge. If anything can break the monotony of spending much of your day behind the wheel, it is a van like this.
We rate the Courier highly in that regard; its compact wheelbase, precise steering, and slick six-speed manual gearbox combine to make this a van you can place confidently on the road, with a level of control and engagement that is hard to come across in this class. It is comfortable, too, whether the 2.9 cubic metre cargo area is empty or jammed to the rafters; on seventeen-inch bi-tone alloy wheels on ‘Active’ trim, the suspension was more than capable of absorbing common obstacles, from potholes to sunken drainage covers.
So, the Transit Courier is a van that you won’t mind spending your time in, and competitive numbers could avoid repeat runs. The load floor is 1,802mm long and the space between the wheelarches is 1,220mm wide which is big enough to squeeze in a Euro pallet. As for height, the cargo area is 1,253mm tall, the load lip is 602mm from the ground up to make loading and unloading straightforward, and rear doors that open 1,233mm wide is sure to be a help. As standard, the side-opening door is on the passenger side, although a second is an option, as is the through-loading feature that is handy for longer pipes – or ducting.
There is also the choice of two payload options: 680kg is standard and for £180 including VAT, this can be uprated to almost 850 kilos with the help of meatier, dual-rate springs. Courier buyers are given the choice of a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo diesel rated at 99bhp, a pair of 1.5-litre, three-pot turbo petrol engines with either 99bhp or 123bhp, and a pure electric version that, says Ford, can cover 180-miles on a single charge and tow 750kg.
We tried the bigger of the two petrol motors mated to the manual transmission, although as a high-mileage, long-term proposition, the diesel’s all-round numbers – torque and real-world efficiency to name but two – are going to be more appealing to more owners. A lot has also been written about the EcoBoost petrol giving trouble due to these running a so-called ‘wet belt’ – essentially a timing belt that runs through the engine’s oil. If the correct oil is not used during routine services, this has been known to speed up damage to the rubber damage, leaving you with potentially costly – and significant – repair bills.
That, however, should not put you off the idea of what is a strong, rev-happy engine that forms the basis of the beating heart in the ST-inspired Fiesta and Puma. Except for when you push it into the higher reaches of its rev range, you barely hear it from inside the neatly presented and superbly packaged cabin. As for fuel efficiency, you should expect to get anywhere between 42.8 and 43.5mpg for the manual and 41.5 to 42.8mpg for the auto. Safety kit is strong, too, and consists of ABS, stability and traction control systems, driver and passenger air bags, tyre pressure monitors, roll stability control as well as lane assist, driver alertness warning, rear parking sensors, traffic sign recognition and a speed limiter.
In all, the Courier comes in four specifications – ‘Leader’, ‘Trend’, ‘Limited’ and, as tested here, ‘Active’ which comes complete with black body mouldings, honeycomb mesh grille, and front and rear skid plates. Every van is decently equipped, and boast a fully digital instrument cluster, but most are going to start their search at ‘Trend’ as air conditioning, heated seats, steering wheel and windscreen all feature. Alloy wheels, climate control and keyless go, a rear-view camera, more body-coloured parts feature on ‘Limited’ and ‘Active’ examples, meanwhile. Storage is equally strong as there is an overhead area that is big enough for coats, folders, torches and small hand tools, plus a central bin for A4-sized folders and deep door pockets that can swallow water bottles up to 1.5-litres. The front driver seat has six-way adjustment ensuring you can make the most of the excellent visibility offered by the deep, expansive windscreen.
Prices start at £23,340.20 for an entry-level ‘Leader’ using the lower-powered petrol and climb to £30,180.20 for seven-speed ‘Active’ versions using the 123bhp petrol. Battery-power is currently reserved for ‘Trend’ (£34,500) and ‘Limited’ (£35,700) Couriers.
