Ford Transit Custom hybrid interior & comfort

The suspension of the Ford Transit hybrid is supple and adept at soaking up all kinds of bumps and ruts in the road, making it very comfortable to sit in. Although it’s no luxury limousine inside, the higher-spec versions of the Transit strike the right balance between soft-touch and durable materials.

Ford Transit Custom hybrid dashboard

The dashboard in the Transit hybrid borrows a lot of switchgear from the rest of Ford’s line-up, while the optional eight-inch touchscreen will also feel familiar to those who’ve spent time in the latest Mondeo or Kuga models.

There are buttons and dials for the climate control beneath this, with the drive mode lever protruding from the bottom of the dashboard. The digital display behind the steering wheel is clear and easy to read, with buttons on the wheel making it easy to find information.

All things considered, the Transit feels more closely aligned with Ford’s passenger cars than you might imagine. Quality is good, and there are some fantastic storage solutions – like the passenger seat that lifts up to leave space to store your charging cables.

Equipment, options & accessories

The plug-in hybrid Transit Custom is available in three of the standard van’s four trim levels: Leader, Trend and Limited. Basic models come with steel wheels, remote central locking, DAB radio, USB connectivity and an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat. Ford’s excellent Quickclear windscreen can be added as an option.

Trend adds power-fold door mirrors, body-coloured bumpers, automatic lights and wipers, parking sensors and an eight-inch touchscreen. Niceties such as cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and LED daytime running lights also feature, while a rear-view camera can be added as part of the Visibility Pack (Premium). Top-spec Limited (Sport trim is not available on the PHEV) gets alloy wheels, heated seats and air conditioning.

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system is clear and relatively easy to use, even if the graphics look a little basic. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto negate the need for a built-in sat-nav, although we’d prefer if Ford made it easier to switch back to the van’s SYNC infotainment system when you want to change the radio station.

Ford has partnered with NewMotion, which it claims will give Transit hybrid drivers “simplified access” to 118,000 charging points throughout Europe. Using the NewMotion app, drivers will be able to locate, initiate and pay for registered public chargers through their smartphone, without being mired with dozens of separate apps for different charging providers and networks alike.

The FordPass smartphone app allows you to monitor the charge of the battery remotely, and in 2020 the FordPass Pro app will be capable of the same for up to five vehicles – useful for those managing fleets.