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is wearing its Van award with pride,
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a 1 rightly so. But this is one
champion that dare not rest on its laurels because the pack is snapping at its heels.
o open this roadtest we could harp on about how Ford'sraansit is in a class of its own. We could point out that people grew up with this icon, recalling how it helped save the day at Dunkirk and brokered peace in the Cuban missile crisis.
But for all that iconic status,this is just another van fighting for sales in an ultracompetitive market. Its latest incarnation debuted last year alongside a flurry of rival launches, and past glories don't guarantee future victories.
We've tried the latest Transit in 2.2-litre, 2.8-tonne, double-cab guise ( CM 12 October 2006) and ran a 145 3.3-tonne rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model in our longterm test fleet.
From these encounters we've concluded that Ford has thrown down the gauntlet to its rivals and now we have driven the definitive version: a 3.5-tonne RWD longwheelbase, high-roof model with 114hp under the bonnet. The Transit is available from 2.6 to 43 tonnes GVW with four wheelbases. three roof heights and load volumes ranging from a compact 5.2m" to 12.3m3.
Power is a tale of two engines.The RWD configuration relies on the company's 2.4-litre Duratorq unit, rated at 99,114 or 138hp; its front-wheel-drive stable mate gets the 2.2-litre lump that was developed in collaboration with PSA and is rated at 84,109 or 128hp, And if you're really in a hurry Ford has come up with a five-pot powerplant which churns out 198hp.
Standard equipment includes ESP,ABS with EBD. traction control, CD/radio and remote central locking— but our test vehicle came packed with options.
The £1,400 GLX package includes a quickclear windscreen, rain-sensing wipers, autoheadlights, air-con,six CD changer, metallic paint, electric windows and (heated) door mirrors, body-coloured bumpers and steering column radio controls; other goodies included sat-nay (£800),configurable locking (£125), cruise control (£145).Thatcham Cat I alarm (1150) and £200 worth of Bluetooth phone pack. All these extras bumped the £21,050 base price to £24,200.
Productivity
Though the Transit is only rated at 114hp this was only half the story as the torque delivery allowed you to drive without revving significantly, whether with or without a load. Running laden it delivered 31.2mpg round our fuel route, while unladen things perked up even more to 35.5mpg — both figures beating the vehicles in our comparison group.
Moving to the rear, the Transit's loadspace remains as well planned as ever though the RWD configuration inevitably raises the loading height; this is particularly noticeable when filling up from the rear.
Access is good,with the offside sliding door opening apart considerably.
The rear doors benefit from Ford's simple but effective push-button release which allows them to open from 90 to 180°.The doors close with a reassuring clunk that speaks well of the Transit's build quality. That extensive options package also ran to a £150 load protection kit and £40 worth of cargo stowage rails mounted on the sidewalls to back up the eight standard tie-down points on the floor.
On the road
Ford has made much of theTransit's driving credentials, marketing the latest version as 'a van you won't want to get out of . Compared with the previous version, which left us all to eager to exit, this is certainly a significant step forward.
At the heart of this enhanced driveability is the 2.4-litre,16-valve Duratorq engine with 'torque overboost' which provides as strong a power delivery as we've experienced at this power rating. It's smooth and progressive with a generous dose of torque from 1,500rpm, making light work of a full payload.
However, all that urge makes this Transit feel a little skittish when running without a cargo,particularly when power is put down in tight corners at low speeds. It chomps at the bit on initial take-up and demands that you feather the clutch.
This isn't a major problem hut it does demand caution lathe wet so drivers on lightly loaded urban work will need a little time to get used to it.
Once up and running the chassis offers reassuring composure, tracking true through sweeping bends and feeling unshakeable when powering down motorways.
The verdict's still out on the small-for-a-van Ford Focus steering wheel that hints at car-like manners but is out of keeping for a vehicle that's nearly 3.5m long.
However, it doesn't detract from the excellent steering, with its positive weighting and fast response.
We have no complaints with the transmission, which is well matched to the engine with six well chosen ratios. Sixth is just right for relaxed top-end cruising.
Cab comfort
It might look all new at first glance but the Transit's interior dimensions are unchanged from the previous model.The front wheelarch intrudes far enough into the footwell to hinder access and it leaves little room for the drivers' feet when they're off the pedals.
'There's no adjustment to the standard steering wheel, which has drivers stretching when the seat is moved back wards. But once seated there's much to like, with the controls well designed and labelled, and switchgear feeling nice and solid.
There are also excellent storage facilities with two gloveboxes on top of the dashboard (one with a 12V power point);they are separated by a cubby with a flip-over tray incorporating cup-holders.
You also get large door bins with a bottle holder,another glovebox, more cup-holders and a passenger tray.
On the move therfiransit does a good job of insulating the driver from the outside world with effective soundproofing that minimises road noise, whether in town or on the motorway.The engine also remains in the background, making the cabin a relaxing place to be on long journeys.