2 weeks Ago By Andrew Whiteford
I DON’T know why you’re reading this.You know what I’m going to say.SuppliedI drove the Ford E-Transit Courier – it’s beyond brilliant[/caption]SuppliedThe baby Transit balances comfort with practicality a van driver needs[/caption]It’s a baby Transit.
It’s beyond brilliant.Now get back to work. Time is money.
Still with me?OK.Let’s price up the multi-talented Courier.Petrol from £18k.
Diesel from £19k. Pure electric nudging £29k. All excluding vodka and tonic.
Your choice.You do get £2,500 back on the electric version with the plug-in van grant and you should save a heap of cash in running costs and servicing over time.Courier is a bit longer and wider than before.
So the cargo space is bigger. It can swallow two Euro pallets. Not a prayer with the old one.
The width between the rear wheel arches is now 1.2 metres.The load length has grown 18cm to 1.
8 metres. Make that 2.6 metres with a bulkhead hatch for pipes and skirting board.
Payload: 700kgLoad volume: Almost 3m squared.Decent.Dual sliding doors if you want them.
Up front, the cabin balances car-like comfort with the practicality a van driver needs.That twin-screen dash carries loads of technology – including a pin-sharp reversing camera to stop you hitting something you shouldn’t.The squircle steering wheel gives you more knee room.
There’s buttons to turn off all the beeps and bongs.Grippy phone charging tray. Handy file rack.
Lots of drink holders. Armrest. Secret storage up high for .
. . secret things.
Two coat hooks between the seats. All things that please.Also, your van is your business card, remember, and Courier looks classy and cool from all angles.
This little van shares many common parts with the Ford Puma. So it handles like one. Which is good.
SuppliedGrippy phone charging tray. Handy file rack. Lots of drink holders.
Armrest. Secret storage up high for . .
. secret things[/caption]The 1.5-litre diesel is best for economy, 54mpg.
Six-speed manual only. The 1-litre petrol has the option of a seven-speed auto.The electric version has a 43kWh battery in the floor.
The equivalent of 12,000 AA batteries.It’s the nippiest with 136hp and should clear 180 miles on a charge.That won’t suit everyone.
But plumbers, painters, sparkies, dog walkers, even DPD couriers, ask yourself this: How many miles do you do a day?Not even half that, I’d imagine.Plug it in like your iPhone to recharge overnight.Ford likes to say Transit is the “Backbone of Britain”It is.
If it’s blue, it’ll do.KEY FACTSPrice: £28,807 exc VAT and plug-in grantBattery: 43kWhPower: 136hp 0-62mph: 10.7 secsTop speed: 90mphRange: 182 miles CO2: 0g/kmOut: May.
