The Ford Transit Custom is the UK’s number 1 light commercial vehicle, but one of the big keys to its success is the sheer number of heights, lengths and body styles the vehicle is available in. Case in point is the Double Cab-In-Van version, which Vanarama Van Expert Tom Roberts reviews this week.
Another year, another top 10 LCV list with the Ford Transit Custom (and its derivatives) in the top spot. The key to its success with the trades and fleets is simple - for a good price the Transit Custom offers great running costs, good payloads in the cargo area and a superb cabin. But another string to its bow is how versatile the van is, and that is thanks to the multiple height options and body types it’s available in.
While the Ford Transit Custom has been around in one guise or another for nearly a decade, it was 2018’s facelift - or ‘mid-cycle action’ as Ford refers to them - that really put it on the map. It went from being ‘just another medium van’ to ‘THE medium panel van’.
That’s where the Double Cab-In-Van version slots in - it’s a Ford Transit Custom with some new additions: primarily, glass-filled sliding doors, a second row of seats to maximise your people-carrying capability and a bulkhead to separate the bigger cabin and slightly smaller cargo area - check out the rest of the article or the video below for more information.
How Different Is The Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van To The Standard Van?
In the conversion from a standard Panel Van to a Double Cab-In-Van, not a whole lot has changed apart from the addition of a second side-sliding door, a second row of seats and a slightly smaller cargo area. The engines are the same, the cabin comfort is the same (apart from more seats and more room), and the cargo area is still versatile and flexible (albeit a little smaller).
What Engine Does The Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van Use?
The Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van packs the powerful 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine under the bonnet. It’s well noted for its power, competitive running costs and relatively quiet drive, although I’d say they’re not AS quiet as the first versions we saw in 2018, but then they have gotten more powerful - it’s an even trade-off. Really, one might even refer to the EcoBlue engine as the jewel in Ford’s crown - it’s so good they put it in everything, including the Transit Custom, the big Transit, and the dropsides, tippers and Luton conversions.
What Is The Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van’s Cabin Like?
The Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van’s cabin is bigger than a standard Transit Custom because of the addition of the second row of seats, but it is just as comfortable and filled with storage.
In the cabin, Ford’s 2018 update of the Ford Transit Custom redesigned the fiddly controls, added more storage, more cup holders and better space for seating. It’s now considered the benchmark in the medium van sector, epitomised nowhere better than through Ford’s Sync 3 Infotainment System - it is the most intuitive software system you’ll find in a modern van. Seriously, check out the Stellantis systems as a comparison and you’ll see what I mean - they’re not bad by any means, but Ford’s system is just far easier to use and nicer to look at.
The Double Cab-In-Van version benefits from the same range of storage options - including the excellent under-seat storage. It also packs excellent connectivity including USB sockets, 12V sockets and there’s even an option to have a 240V socket fitted, if you need one. You’ll also benefit from Ford’s array of driver safety and assistance technology, which is exactly the same across all versions of the Ford Transit Custom.
How Many Seats Are There In The Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van?
The second row of seats added to the Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van increases the seating from up to 3 in the standard van (if you have a bench seat) with a second row of 3 more seats.
Accessibility is increased by the addition of a second door so your crew can pile in from both sides. The metal door panels on the side doors are replaced with tinted glass so no one gets dazzled. The 3 additional seats are spacious with plenty of leg room and ample head height, and they back onto the bulkhead. The addition of the bulkhead is why Ford calls this the Double Cab-In-Van version - it keeps your cargo nicely separated from your crew and is definitely a preferred option.
How Big Is The Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van’s Cargo Area?
On the Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van version, you still get a surprisingly large cargo area despite the addition of a second row of seats. However, the payload remains above the 1-tonne magic number at a hefty 1163kg (excluding the additional weight of passengers), load volume is obviously smaller at 4.3 cubic metres, but this van is a people puller. You’ll still have plenty of weight to play with in terms of straight cargo-carrying ability and the added ability to carry more people.
Tom’s Takeaways
So, there you go, a quick look around the Ford Transit Custom Double Cab-In-Van. In a nutshell, all the quality and proven ability of the UK’s favourite medium van with more emphasis on people carrying. If you need that, you need this.
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