2018 Ford Transit LWB 350L review

What is it?

This is the Ford Transit 350L LWB front-wheel drive van. It features Ford’s next-generation Euro6 emission certified 2.0-litre EcoBlue turbo diesel engine and, for the first time, has a six speed automatic transmission as standard equipment.

How does it drive?

For a decent size van it's more car-like than you would think, as the Transit is very composed on the road and comfortable even when unladen.

You do feel bumps in the rear-end a little but that’s to be expected of a vehicle like this. The steering has a good feel the brakes are strong with an excellent pedal modulation and the suspension is well controlled with surprisingly good handling and comfortable ride.

The engine itself has no shortage of grunt or acceleration when moving the 2319kg van along, partly thanks to the seamless shifts of the six speed automatic transmission. Another positive of this transmission is that it uses a torque converter and doesn’t have the annoying characteristics of other vans fitted with dual-clutch transmissions.

What’s the interior like?

Built from durable, hard wearing materials the Transit's interior is functional and generally a nice place to be.

There is plenty of storage with a full width bulkhead shelf in the top of the cab, an average size glove box, storage compartment on top of the dash with 12volt and two USB sockets, two cup holders, a pair of two litre bottle holders, large door pocket storage and excellent under seat storage.

The cabin is sealed off and occupants are protected from the cargo area by a solid steel bulkhead which also assists the cooling/heating system, reduces load area NVH and also has some coat hooks mounted to conveniently hang clothes out of the way. The seats are comfortable with mild bolstering while the driver’s seat is ten-way manually adjustable with arm rest, lumbar support and a tilt base cushion. The standard seat heating is a nice touch.

Our test vehicle is optioned with the City Nav Pack which consists of a 6.0-inch multi-function display screen with Ford's latest SYNC3 infotainment that integrates sat nav, reversing camera, Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring. There's also front and rear parking sensors and fog lights, as well as a leather wrapped steering wheel with cruise control and audio buttons, reach and height adjustment on steering wheel, sealed rubber flooring that looks like it will withstand plenty of punishment plus be easy to clean.

There is also adjustable height seat belts for driver and outer passenger while the centre passenger seat belt is a three-point lap sash not just a lap type that is still found in some commercials.

What’s the payload and towing capacity?

Payload for this variant is 1231kg, and its towing capacity is 1800kg with a braked trailer and 750kg unbraked with a maximum 4250kg GCM.

What about load space dimensions and anchor points?

The cargo area is 3533mm long, 1784mm wide, 1886mm tall and it measures 1392mm between the wheel arches. Overall there is 10.8 cubic metres of space.

How does it perform under load?

We didn’t load the Transit to its maximum payload, but 850kg is a fair lump of weight in anyone’s language and the van handled it with ease.

The suspension and chassis was never compromised dealing with rough country roads full of imperfections leaving you confident and reassured in all situations.

The steering was weighted well with a positive feel, as were the brakes. The 2.0-litre engine was surprising (in a good way), coping sufficiently on steep hills without any real struggle, utilising its maximum torque from just 1750rpm.

The automatic transmission works perfectly with the motor and knows what gear to be in and when. As mentioned before, the torque converter type auto makes the van easy to manoeuvre around in tight spots and complete hill starts when compared to dual-clutch systems used in other vehicles.

Any special features worth mentioning?

Ford gives you a choice of over 100 paint colours available on all Transit commercial vehicle models. All the colours are painted at the Ford factory and retain the factory warranty.

Great safety credentials including six airbags, trailer sway control and load adaptive control. Power foldable and heated side mirrors are a handy feature. Rear barn doors open 270 degrees and are held in place with magnets.

Any criticisms?

With all the gear and safety features this Transit has, not having a reversing camera as standard seems ludicrous. But it's part of the $2100 City Nav pack as fitted to our test car.

An issue I have with all auto Transits is the height difference between the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal; it won’t bother some people but after a day in stop-start city traffic your leg can ache.

How does the warranty and servicing costs rate?

From the first of May 2018, any vehicle purchased will have Ford’s new five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. Ford has its Service Price Promise (capped price servicing) which you can use the online Service Price Promise Calculator to see the maximum price you'll pay for a Standard A (minor) or B (major) logbook service. The first three years/90,000km will currently cost you $1515 with intervals every 12 months or 30,000km.

What else should I consider?

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Iveco Daily, Renault Master and  VW Crafter are all competitors and worth a look.

Verdict

The Transit is one of those vehicles that has a good feel to it from the moment you sit in it, with solid build quality and a comfortable driving character that makes it a great work horse.

With the bonus of a new strong warranty, the Transit needs to be on the top of your list of vans to check out if you’re in the market.

The Checklist

0-60km/h time: 5.5 seconds (unladen), 6.5 seconds (loaded)

0-80km/h time: 8.7 seconds (unladen), 10.1 seconds (loaded)

0-100km/h time: 13 seconds (unladen), 15.1 seconds (loaded)

Load testing weight: 850kg

Safety rating: 5 star

2018 Ford Transit LWB 350L Price and Specifications

Price: $51,380 (plus on-road costs)

On sale: Now

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel

Power: 125kW at 3500rpm             

Torque: 405Nm at 1750-2500rpm 

Transmission: Six-speed automatic, FWD

Fuel usage: We averaged 9.5L/100km