Ford Transit Courier Review 2024

If you're looking for a versatile little van that represents impressive value for money, the Ford Transit Courier is a good choice. We like how car-like it is to drive, while it's also got an impressive amount of technology available. If overall versatility is what you're after - or you want to be able to carry more than one passenger - you might want to look at slightly bigger vans like the Ford Transit Connect or Citroen Berlingo.

Unless you're planning to cover a lot of miles, we'd recommend the 1.0-litre petrol engine. It works better with the manual gearbox than the clumsy dual-clutch auto - if you don't want the faff of changing gears, you might want to wait for the electric Ford E-Transit Courier, instead.

In terms of trim level, avoid the most basic Ford Transit Courier Leader - no one wants a van without air conditioning. Other than that, all Ford Transit Couriers are well kitted out for the money. The Trend model more than covers all the basics, while both the Limited and Active models have some nice-to-have features (such as a rear-view camera and wireless phone charging).

The Ford Transit Courier is one of the smallest vans you can buy. In reality, though, you're likely to be considering it alongside slightly bigger alternatives such as the Nissan Townstar, Renault Kangoo, Citroen Berlingo, Volkswagen Caddy and even the Ford Transit Connect.

It'd be wrong to describe the Ford Transit Courier's interior as posh, but it feels perfectly well finished and will no doubt stand up well to general van life abuse. Again, the quality of the interior will depend a little on how much you spend on a Transit Courier - you'll need a Trend model or above for a steering wheel wrapped in faux-leather, while the top-spec Active adds some nice-to-have features such as one-touch electric windows for both the driver and passenger.

Ford's eight-inch SYNC4 infotainment screen is standard on the Transit Courier, meaning you get a user-friendly display with connected navigation as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It's a pretty good system with bright graphics and fast responses but some of the menu layouts could be a bit more logical, in our opinion. Note that, while you can connect your phone wirelessly to the infotainment system, you'll need a Limited or Active model if you want a wireless phone charger.

As well as the central display, the Ford Transit Courier comes with an additional digital instrument cluster, which verges on information overload but at least looks more modern than a pair of traditional analogue dials behind the steering wheel.

Apparently customer feedback said that buyers of Ford's smallest van actually wanted it to be a bit bigger... which is why it's grown in size, both inside and out. The Ford Transit Courier now has external dimensions of 4337mm long, 2076mm wide (1800mm without mirrors) and 1827mm tall - which means it's not a great deal smaller than the Volkswagen Caddy Cargo (or the new Caddy-based Ford Transit Connect), Citroen Berlingo or Mercedes Citan.

The Transit Courier's cargo length has been increased by 181mm to 1,802mm, while new rear suspension with angled shock absorbers has increased the load width between the wheel arches to 1,220mm. This means the Courier can now carry two Euro pallets (the old model could only manage one). Total cargo volume is 2.9m3, 25 per cent more than the outgoing model, while an optional load-through bulkhead allows customers to carry items such as planks or pipes more than 2,600mm long.

As standard, the Ford Transit Courier has a payload of around 530kg (depending on trim level), or you can buy a high payload version fitted with beefier springs to carry up to 854kg. The maximum towing weight for all variants is 1,100kg.

The side-hinged rear cargo doors open up to 180 degrees to enable easy access, while there are six floor tie-down points fitted as standard. Ford offers the Transit Courier with LED loadspace lighting, rubber or wooden floor covers and half-height cargo stowage rails depending on your requirements.

From launch, Ford Transit Courier buyers are offered a choice of one diesel and two petrol engines.

The petrol engine is available with 100PS in the entry-level Transit Courier Leader, while the rest of the range gets a more powerful 125PS version. Both are offered with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

We've driven the 125PS petrol with the automatic transmission and it's a perfectly likeable combination, although the auto gearbox does feel a little clumsy at times. We've sampled the same engine with the manual gearbox in the Tourneo Courier and prefer it to the auto - performance is eager, while the clutch action is light and the gear change feels precise. It's actually quite enjoyable to change gears in the Transit Courier, which makes it very different to any of its Stellantis competitors (such as the Citroen Berlingo).

You can also get the Ford Transit Courier with the 1.5-litre diesel engine and six-speed manual gearbox. With 100PS, performance in the diesel Courier will feel fairly leisurely, although its 250Nm torque figure ought to make relatively light work of a heavy load.

Another thing that's very car-like about the Ford Transit Courier is how quiet and refined it is. Sure, you'll notice a little bit of road and engine noise, but it's no worse than in, say, a Ford Focus family hatchback. You won't notice any rattles, while the bluff front end doesn't create too much wind noise. There isn't that boominess to the cabin that we sometimes associate with vans, either.

If you're looking for a van that's just as safe as the latest passenger cars, your search should end with the Ford Transit Courier. It's the first van to be awarded a 'platinum' rating under the latest Euro NCAP crash test protocol, with the independent organisation describing the Courier's performance as 'excellent'.

All Ford Transit Courier models come with an extensive list of driver-assistance tech, including Cruise Control, Driver Alert, Intelligent Speed Limiter, Intersection Assist, Lane Keeping System, Rear Parking Aid, Traffic Sign Recognition and Wrong Way Alert. The following features are also available (depending on trim level): Blind Spot Information System with Lane Change Warning & Aid, Cross Traffic Alert, Digital Rear View Camera, Front Parking Aid, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Reverse Brake Assist & Clear Exit Assist.

Ford generally has a reputation for making dependable, cheap-to-run commercial vehicles. That's why you see so many Transit-badged vans on the road - you know what you're signing up for (and it's not a lifetime of pain).

The latest Ford Transit Courier is too new for any reliability concerns to come to light, but we'd be surprised if there were any major issues. Its platform is shared with the popular Ford Puma, after all, and its engines are the same as you'll find in a wide variety of its passenger cars.

The Ford Transit Courier is covered by a warranty for three years/62,000 miles.

Insurance groups for the Ford Transit Courier are yet to be confirmed.

Like all small petrol and diesel vans, you'll pay a flat rate of £320/year in VED (or road tax) for the Ford Transit Courier. The only way to avoid this is by waiting for the all-electric Ford E-Transit Courier - although, by the time that hits the market, free road tax for electric vehicles will be coming to an end.

Standard equipment on the Ford Transit Courier Leader includes coloured front and rear bumpers, 15-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights (with automatic high beam) and hinged rear doors. Inside, the Leader model features six-way driver's seat adjustment, electric windows and an eight-inch SYNC4 media system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The Ford Transit Courier Trend adds front fog lights, a single sliding load door, air conditioning, driver's seat lumbar support, an armrest, heated windscreen and heated seats.

The Ford Transit Courier Limited builds on this with 16-inch alloy wheels, body colour door handles, a rear-view camera, electronic automatic temperature control, keyless start, wireless phone charger, one-touch up/down front wheels and a steering wheel wrapped in Sensico faux leather.

Topping the range, the rugged Ford Transit Courier Active features 17-inch alloy wheels and bespoke exterior details (including skid plates, roof rails, wheel arch mouldings and a honeycomb grille). The Active model also gets a rear-view camera, body colour door handles, keyless start and a Sensico-wrapped steering wheel.