Ford e-Transit Courier Review

​It’s an appealing proposition for urban users and small businesses, as it’s based on the platform of the Ford Puma small SUV, meaning it offers excellent dynamics and a car-like ride, on top of a smartly appointed interior featuring Ford’s latest SYNC4 infotainment system. It’s also offered with Ford PRO telematics, which allows all sorts of business-friendly trickery, such as being able to automatically calculate the value of overnight charging into an expenses claim compatible with some of the most popular accounting software – ideal for the self-employed. 

While it remains the smallest van in the Ford Transit line-up, the Transit Courier has grown in size compared with its predecessor, so the load bay is longer and taller and the cabin more spacious. 

Standard kit includes an eight-inch infotainment system, cruise control and rear parking sensors, and all but the most basic Trend have a rear-facing camera. It’s a funky-looking van with SUV styling cues and appeals further by being easy and car-like to drive. 

It's versatile, too. It can carry up to two Euro pallets in the back, with a payload of 700kg and an optional load-through bulkhead. 

Range, Battery and Charging

While it isn’t class leading – the larger-battery models of the Citroën e-Berlingo, Vauxhall Combo Electric, Fiat e-Doblo and Peugeot e-Partner all offering up to 213 miles of range, the e-Transit Courier will keep most urban operators happy with its 186-mile range (WLTP). 

Just the one battery is offered – a fairly class-standard 43kWh unit whose range almost matches the Stellantis 50kWh models – but do bear in mind that Ford will also offer the slightly bigger e-Transit Connect, which will give a greater electric range and bigger payload when it appears in late 2025. 

It has an 11kW onboard charger and will take a charging rate of up to 100kW DC. That headline figure will give a 10-80% boost in 23 minutes, which is ideal for operators who need to rely on roadside charging. Charge at work and it’ll take a full charge in 5h40m on a three-phase charger.

Practicality, Payload and Dimensions 

There’s only one body style, which keeps things simple – it’s a single panel van design, with one sliding side door wide enough to accommodate a Euro pallet, and 60:40 split rear doors that can open to both 180 and 270 degrees, with a tailgate offered as an option should you prefer. 

The cargo volume is 2.9m3 and has a total load length of 1.8m, meaning you can squeeze two Euro pallets in, while the optional load through bulkhead allows for up to 2.6-metre-long loads such as pipework or poles to be fed through into the passenger side of the cabin. There’s also a small but functional front frunk, ideal for the charging cable. 

It lacks outright payload as 700kg makes it one of the more lightweight small electric vans in terms of outright carrying ability, but it’s by no means outclassed – the impact of a full load on the battery range means many small electric vans are never driven close to payload capacity anyway, and for Ford’s target market of small businesses such as florists, bakers and couriers (the clue is in the name…), it’s never going to be a major consideration.

Interior, Seating and Technology

The e-Transit Courier’s cabin is a nice place to sit and feels both modern and sophisticated, with a digital instrument display and a substantial 12-inch touchscreen sitting in the centre of the dash. 

It’s all very simple and intuitive to use, our only real criticism being that you need to use the screen to operate the air conditioning controls, which is a needlessly fiddly operation when a simple dial does the job just as well. Ford’s SYNC4 infotainment set-up is great, though, and mirroring Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is easy. 

The driving position is good, and most of the fit and finish is smart enough, though there are some areas of exposed metal on the bulkhead that cheapen the appearance a tad. We also remain to be convinced by the ‘Squircle’ steering wheel, which is like a square with rounded edges. It’s said to make the cabin easier to get in and out of while giving the driver a better view of the instrument panel – but that’s exactly what British Leyland said when it introduced the Austin Allegro and its ‘Quartic’ steering wheel in 1973, to similar befuddlement among reviewers. 

Motors, Performance and Handling

The e-Transit Courier is based on the Ford Puma platform, so it has strong credentials – the Puma is one on of the neatest-handling cars in its class, and the taller Transit Courier body doesn’t have any negative impact on the way in which it drives.

Power delivery is smooth and instant, and the turn-in is excellent despite the eccentric (in more ways than one) steering wheel, which provides decent feel and feedback. Even unladen, it rides well, but we also tried it with a 250kg payload on board and the e-Transit Courier felt well-balanced and responsive. 

There’s only one choice of motor, but 134bhp is enough for a small van and its lively enough. There’s a fair bit of road noise amplified by the load bay, especially on models with a load-through bulkhead, but otherwise it’s civilised and enjoyable vehicle to drive.

It’s also capable of one-pedal driving if you press the ‘B’ button on the column stalk, which maximises the regenerative braking. In town, it’s a very relaxing way to drive, and while the regen is pretty strong, it’s also smooth and unobtrusive. If you don’t like it, you can switch it off, but experienced EV drivers will love its functionality.

Running costs, Pricing and Specs

There are two trim levels – Trend and Limited. The Trend is pretty basic and aimed primarily at fleets, but the Limited is well-equipped and comes with functions such as one-pedal driving, adaptive cruise control and the SYNC4 infotainment, plus chunkier wheels and sports seats and optional two-tone alloys. 

The price differential between the two is £1,200 (£34,490 vs £35,690) and we believe the Limited is well worth the extra, not least because it will hold its value far better. 

Verdict

The Ford e-Transit Courier is one of the smallest and most inexpensive electric vans there is on the market right now, and while it’s no heavy-duty commercial vehicle, if you’re looking for a compact van that’s functionally designed, with a spacious load bay and reasonable payload, it’s perfect for the job. Add in the one-pedal functionality and its appeal to urban users is hard to ignore. 

The fact that it’s a lot of fun to drive is a pure bonus.