Ford Transit Custom 2020 review: Sport 320L LWB

As a big fan of vans, I think the Transit, in this Custom Sport guise and resplendent in Orange Glow paint, is a stand out, and dispels any notion of being a boring, boxy van.

Starting up front, there's the LED daytime running lights that frame the Bi-Xenon headlights located at either end of a wedge-shaped nose featuring a gloss black grille and twin racing stripes. 

You will stand out in a crowd bouncing around the suburbs in this machine.

The side profile features a narrow black decal running down its length, wheel arch flares and side skirts, body-coloured mirrors and a set of smart-looking 17-inch alloy wheels.

Rest assured you will stand out in a crowd bouncing around the suburbs in this machine.

The Sport scores a set of unique 17-inch alloy wheels.

The Transit in long wheelbase guise is the equivalent of a warehouse on wheels. Split into two sections, there’s a cabin with space for five passengers and a large cargo area separated by a solid plastic wall.

Rear passengers are spoiled with heaps of leg and head room.

Passengers have heaps of leg and head space, with my kids given plenty of room to stretch out.  

The cargo bay in the rear is accessed by twin barn doors which open 180 degrees, and, despite their size, are relatively easy to open.

Inside, you are greeted by a space that includes four tie-down points and space enough to fit a 1165mm-square standard Aussie pallet, or about four kids' bikes plus two weeks’ worth of luggage and supplies. It's an extraordinarily generous space that makes this Transit an ideal family holiday hauler. 

If the cargo area somehow isn't big enough to cater to your needs, there’s three retractable roof racks for longer items such as surfboards.

The Transit was pretty easy to live with as daily driver, though its size proved the main drawback. With a height of 2023mm with the roof racks retracted, and a length of 5340mm, this van is no small fry.

Everyday usability was tested at the local underground car park (roof racks retracted), where I had to unscrew the aerial from its roof mounting to narrowly squeeze in. Extending the roof racks increases the height to 2149mm.

With a height of 2023mm with the roof racks retracted, and a length of 5340mm, this van is no small fry.

Parallel parking was a pretty simple exercise, thanks to the big door mirrors and their wide-angle lens that allows for excellent views down the side, as well as a rear-view camera and parking sensors (front and rear) to assist with the blind spots.

The steering is well weighted and provided further welcome assistance.

The cabin offers moderate storage levels, with two large bottle holders and two cupholders at either end of the dash, in addition to large storage pockets in the front doors. There’s also three open storage bins set into the top of the dash, and a large glovebox.

Inside, there are three open storage bins set into the top of the dash, and a large glovebox.

It’s somewhat sparse in the backseat, with only a bottle holder in each of the sliding doors the only creature comfort on offer. Rear doors come with flip-out rather than wind down windows, not that the kids minded. They did make mention of how awkwardly upright the back seat seemed to be positioned, though.

The Transit has a five-star ANCAP rating (tested 2012), and comes with a decent amount of passive and active safety kit - if you’re sitting in the front seats.

Standard inclusions of note are AEB with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping assist with driver alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, side-wind stabilisation, trailer sway control and the six airbags. Disappointingly, the six airbags only offer protection for front seat passengers.

There are two ISOFIX points available for parents using a car seat.

Our Transit Custom Sport 320 LWB is priced at $53,690, with the Orange Glow paint job adding an extra $650.

In addition to the Bi-Xenon HID headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels already mentioned, the Custom Sport also comes with a body styling kit with unique front and rear bumpers, wheel arch flares and side skirts, racing-inspired matt black stripes and side decals, plus body-coloured mirrors and a gloss-black grille. Those alloy wheels are shod with 215/65 R17 Michelin Pilot tyres and there’s a full-size steel spare included.

Interior features include chrome air vent surrounds with contrasting piano black fascia highlights, leather-appointed seats and steering wheel, plus a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat. The rear load area features new LED lighting for greater visibility.