SIXTY years after the Transit took its first steps on the global light commercial vehicle stage comes Ford’s latest iteration.

All-new for 2026, the (2025.75MY) Transit Custom range offers buyers a choice of diesel, electric, and plug-in hybrid power, along with the availability of all-wheel drive, from $61,990 plus on-road costs (see full pricing table below).

Ford Australia says the addition of the plug-in hybrid and all-electric E-Transit duo further bolters the Transit Custom portfolio, offering small business and fleet buyers greater choice, without compromising on safety, design, or packaging.

Short- and long-wheelbase body styles remain available, offering a load space ranging between 5.2 and 6.0 cubic metres. Maximum payload capacity ranges from 1111 to 1206kg depending on variant, while braked towing capacity spans 2300 to 2500kg.

The newly introduced Transit Custom Trail is powered by a familiar turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 125kW/390Nm and driving all four wheels. It is enhanced with underbody protection, black-finished 16-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tyres, body decals and accenting, and FordPass connectivity.

Ford Australia says the model is an ideal blank canvas for camping and/or touring fitouts, retaining the same load capacity and features as found elsewhere in the Transit Custom range.

But it’s arguably the arrival of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery electric (BEV) Transit Custom models that are of the greatest interest to SME (Small to Medium Enterprises) and fleet buyers.

The former is powered by the combination of an 86kW/209Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and 111kW/320Nm electric motor (171kW combined).

With an official WLTP combined cycle fuel consumption figure of just 1.7 litres per 100km and an electric only driving range of 54km from its liquid-cooled 11.8kWh battery, the front-wheel drive Transit Custom PHEV distributes drive via a continuously variable transmission.

The battery pack may be charged from 0-100 per cent in 4.25 hours via a 3.5kW AC charger, or, of course, by running the petrol engine.

As is the case with most PHEVs on the market, the Transit Custom offers driving modes that provide EV-only, petrol-electric (auto), or EV-later usage.

Last but not least is the E-Transit Custom. With its rear-mounted electric motor, the model offers 160kW/415Nm, the latter from zero revolutions. Energy is stored in a 64kWh lithium battery that may be charged from 15-80 per cent in 32 minutes when connected to a 125kW DC appliance or 6.7 hours via an 11kW AC charger.

Short and long-wheelbase variants offer respective driving ranges of 307 and 301km.

As is the case with the PHEV model, the E-Transit does not offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities.

The E-Transit Custom uses a Vapour Injected Heat Pump to recycle powertrain heat for use in the climate control system and incorporates a one-pedal driving mode for ease of use in urban driving.

Across the Transit Custom range, Ford has recognised the needs of trade and commercial buyers in offering greater cabin space, improved ergonomics, and expected levels of safety, connectivity, and comfort.

The line-up includes a flat floor, column-mounted gear selector, electric parking brake, and dual front airbags repositioned in the roof to free up cabin space for additional storage. Seat upholstery is cloth, while a three-seat (front) configuration is available – with heating on the outboard positions.

The seat bases flip up to offer additional storage, while the wide-opening doors allow easy entry and exit, assisted by an A-pillar grab handle and integrated step on both sides.

All grades feature a 12.0-inch digital instrument panel, and 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment array powered by Ford’s SYNC 4 connectivity suite. Wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity are included as standard alongside a 5G modem with FordPass remote access.

Safety highlights include adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and assist, crosswind assist, emergency call assist, evasive steering assist, exit warning, front and rear acoustic parking sensors, hill start assist, lane departure and keeping assistants, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse brake assist, reversing camera, traffic sign recognition, trailer sway control, and tyre pressure monitoring.

Electrified models further include keyless start while Sport grades gain Smart Keyless Entry. Optional on diesel- and PHEV-powered models (and standard elsewhere) is Ford’s Secure Visibility Pack (+$1500) which integrates dash cam, digital mirror, and load area glazing delete.

The standard Transit Custom configuration includes a single, curbside sliding door and twin rear barn doors. A liftgate is available for $700 while dual sliding doors are a $1000 option.

Standard white paint is complemented by five optional metallic or premium hues (+$700), while over 50 ‘SVO’ colour options are offered for an additional charge (+$1400).

As elsewhere in the Ford Australia light commercial vehicle fleet, the Transit Custom range is backed by a national network of 178 dealers, with 152 dealers specialising in Ford electric vehicles.

All models are backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty with high voltage battery cover for eight years or 160,000km (whichever comes first).

Scheduled service intervals set at 12 months or 30,000km. Pricing for scheduled servicing of diesel models is $2531 over five years, $1200 for BEV models, and $2471 for PHEV models.

Driving Impressions

Comfortable and efficient are not words usually associated with boxy commercial vans. More often than not these trade and logistics workhorses are unrefined, built-for-purpose, and bloody noisy, hardly an environment you’d wish to spend a 12-hour day in.

On that note, it is very clear the PHEV and EV are quieter than the diesel. No surprise there… But it’s interesting to note that most of the noise from the diesel-powered model is generated from the road, and not the engine bay.

The Trail version sampled is also unfortunately firm of ride, meaning its all-wheel drive prowess on unsealed roads is let down by a cabin filled with noise and jitter. You’d really want to have your heart set on an all-wheel drive diesel van to own one, especially when the alternatives are so damn good.

Sampling the Trail alongside the plug-in hybrid and battery electric ranges, it is easy to find the sweet spot. Simply, the diesel is coarse, familiar, and stiff, while the EV is heavy, fleet footed, but short on range. For us, it’s the PHEV that ticks all the boxes – assuming, of course, you can live with the price.

Under acceleration the petrol engine offers an energetic, almost throaty warble, combining with the electric motor to deliver strong acceleration, particularly in that useful middle ground between 60 and 110km/h.

The ride is sorted and the steering light, the combination delivering an almost SUV-like experience that puts dual-cab utes – and many rival commercial vans – to shame.

We were also pleased to find the high-set brake pedal of the previous generation Transit Custom reduced, easing the burden on the right leg in stop-start traffic. Better still, set the adaptive cruise control to work and focus on some phone calls or a Podcast. The cabin is quiet enough that you’ll enjoy either without raising your voice.

The cabin is just as enjoyable once you’re parked. Useful lighting, generous storage, supportive seats – just the thing for catching up on invoices between jobs. The vehicle is easy to get in and out of, the grab handle and step providing three points of contact many employers now demand in complying with OH&S rules.

There is plenty of legroom and a sensible match to the pedal box and steering wheel, as well as the central touchscreen and HVAC controls. The flat floor allows easy cross-cab access, while the well-placed ventilation outlets do a terrific job of directing conditioned air.

Beyond the front of house, it’s the load space of the Transit Custom that really sets it apart. The flat floor and large rear aperture make it easy to load and secure bulky items, Ford supplying useful tie down points and a full-height steel bulkhead to protect front-seat occupants from loose objects.

While we’d love to let you know just how well the Transit Custom performed in carrying a load, we can’t. The test vehicles sampled were completely empty, and none were arranged for towing. These are points we’ll have to visit down the track – investigating at the same time the fuel (and energy) economy of the trio in ‘real world’ conditions…

For now, we can report a fuel usage figure of 3.8 litres per 100km in the PHEV, 7.2L/100km in the diesel Trail, and energy usage of 19.0kWh in the battery electric E-Transit Custom. Good numbers, no doubt. But numbers that are certain to change considerably when tasked with a load in the rear.

Stay tuned for a more detailed review of the Ford Transit Custom very soon.