2019 bikesales Bike of the Year: Ford Transit Custom Sport

Good backup is a vital part of our bikesales Bike of the Year test, and for 2019 Ford Australia gave us a hand by placing a new 2020 Ford Transit Custom Sport at our disposal.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport gave us a mobile base from which we could conduct our five-day road test, allowing us to carry spare parts, tools, water, fuel and snacks.

It also served as transport for our stills photographer, Stu, and could potentially carry one of the smaller bikes on test in the event a breakdown or accident (neither of which, fortunately, came to pass).

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

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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 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 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 which, in Transit 350L form, served as our backup vehicle on our 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 (the sole transmission choice in this variant), 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).

The Transit Custom Sport benefits from more power and torque than standard Transit Custom variants (with 136Nm/405Nm from its four-cylinder, EcoBlue turbo-diesel, versus 125kW/390Nm), and comes exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Sport also features a number of cosmetic enhancements, such as the 17-inch alloys, racing stripes, and a body styling kit. 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 output.

The six-speed auto is effective and efficient, swapping ratios quickly and smoothly for what is at heart a commercial vehicle, the four-cylinder engine spinning at a relaxed 1850rpm at 100km/h in sixth gear. That places the vehicle in the middle of its meaty torque curve, and in fact performance is strong from around 1500rpm to beyond 4000rpm.

Noise, vibration and harshness is commendably low throughout the rev range, although we did note the presence of a small rattle from the bulkhead (a small price to pay for the protection it offers).

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 our 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.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport comes bristling with safety and driver comfort and convenience features.

The list of standard inclusions spans 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, even 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 position.

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 on both the steering wheel and dash place the van's many functions and features within easy reach.

The load bay is 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 beneath the front passenger seat unit, plus 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, and we measured the load space as being 2450mm long (or 3100mm utilising the load-through flap) by 1680mm wide (1350mm between its wheel arches) by 1410mm high. The floor height is 550mm (unladen).

The side aperture is 990mm wide at its shortest point by 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 (or more than one) should look at either the long-wheelbase standard van with high-roof option 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 impressive, 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 variety of standard colours, 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 – we're sure this new, high-power and stylish variant will lend some extra momentum to Ford's medium-van family, and satisfy those buyers after 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
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
Test vehicle supplied by: Ford Australia