By Sala Masindane

The current economic climate, both globally and especially locally, is at a point where businesses need to be at the forefront for the masses to thrive or survive. Most of these require a logistics vehicle, generally in the form of a bakkie, truck or people mover. This has seen the rise of multipurpose vehicles that are functional, good-looking, and ready for work. We’ve seen the likes of the Mercedes-Benz Vito and VW Transporter take up space in this segment, and Ford has also added a Tourneo Custom Sport panel van into the mix to rival the Germans. We spent some quality time with this all-purpose vehicle.

How is it different from the rest of the range?

A sports body kit, honeycomb grille, rear spoiler, and bold 17-inch matte black alloy wheels set it apart from the more commercially focused Base model. The Sport model also flaunts dual racing stripes that run from the front bumper to the rear doors.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport’s exterior design has always been a head-turner and the talk of the town, thanks to its sporty theme. That same theme continues inside the cabin, which doesn’t feel like a typical panel van. The 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system is intuitive and easy to use. Other notable features include blue-accented sports trim on the seats, piano black accents around the display, and dual-zone climate control. The driver’s seat features 10-way power adjustment with lumbar support, and the cabin includes dual USB-C charging ports. Open the power sliding doors and you’re greeted by a well-lit cargo area, thanks to integrated LED lighting. It also boasts an impressive payload capacity of 1,023 kg.

Power

Under the hood, the Transit Custom Sport is powered by a 2.0-litre Single Turbo EcoBlue diesel engine, producing 125 kW and 390 Nm of torque. Shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Drive

The 2.0-litre Single Turbo EcoBlue diesel engine is smooth and powers the large van with ease. Ride quality is comfortable, making for a pleasant drive. During our weeklong test, which included both inner-city and highway driving, we recorded a fuel consumption of 8.6 L/100 km, making it easy on the wallet too. The Transit Custom Sport is priced from R938,000.