It's no secret that South Africans go crazy for bakkies. This is partly due to the utility, functionality, and versatility they offer, and partly due to the social aspect. There is nothing quite like attending a braai, where all the blokes are standing around talking about bakkies, from the loading, to the prowess, power, and fuel economy, to bolt-on kits and capability.
Related: Ford Transit Custom 2.0SiT panel van SWB Sport (2025) - Welcoming our long-term utility vehicle
What many don't realise is that there is an entire segment of vehicles that can do all those things without compromising safety and comfort, and to top it off, would actually suit the urban aesthetic better. There will always be bakkies, but unless you are looking for proper off-road capabilities, an MPV van may be a better option. We spent the December holidays getting acquainted with our long-term Transit test van and putting it through the rigours of a suburban South African dad.
Should you buy a Ford Transit Custom? The pros and cons.
Versatility
The cargo area of the Transit makes for an interesting place that has far more uses than you could imagine. The cargo area is designed to accommodate up to three standard Euro pallets (1,200mm x 800mm). The load area protection kit features a moulded floor liner and, recessed in the roof, ultra-bright LED load area lights, making loading in the dark or operating at night a breeze. The walls are panelled in a tough material that can be easily replaced should it be damaged.
We put this to the test when a large volume of garden refuse needed to be transported to the municipal dumpsite. After all the cargo had been unloaded, a brief stop at a pressure wash station made quick work of the cleanup.
Utility
The standard side-loading door aperture is consistently 1 030 mm wide and 1 324 mm high across all standard roof models. The split rear doors swing out 180 degrees, offering a wide 1 400 mm opening. This design facilitates easy loading and unloading of goods, including standard sheet goods. The vehicle architecture features a lower floor height and integrated side steps, further easing access.
The vacuous space is capable of accommodating a wide range of items, from building materials to garden refuse and even motorcycles. It features eight convenient tie-down points to secure almost any load. These came in rather handy when we needed to move a bike, and they stayed securely in place with no deformation at the anchor site.
Frugality
Vans are not particularly aerodynamic and, as such, often suffer from poor fuel economy, especially when loaded down. During our December exploits, the Transit performed rather well, returning fuel consumption between 8.2 and 8.7 L/100 km. Despite the ups and downs, we spent just over R1 500 to cover more than 1 200 km. This is not bad at all when considering the vast number of tasks the Transit is capable of versus the costs of having another service on hand to perform the same tasks.
Safety
The Transit Custom boasts excellent safety, achieving a 5-Star Euro NCAP rating and a Platinum safety grading from ANCAP, marking it as a top performer in commercial vans with comprehensive active and passive safety features like multiple airbags, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Aid, with strong scores for adult, child, and vulnerable road user protection.
Safety features include:
- Multiple airbags (including a roof-mounted passenger airbag).
- Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).
- Blind Spot Monitoring.
- Lane Keeping Aid/Lane Support System (LSS).
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
- Driver Fatigue Monitoring.
- Speed Assistance System
Quality
If the convenience of the cargo area wasn't enough to sway you, then the passenger cab accommodations surely will. Upfront, the Transit offers two very comfortable captain's chairs with stowable armrests, copious amounts of legroom and more storage cubbies than you can shake a stick at. The vehicle features auto climate control and Ford's SYNC 4 infotainment system, which includes a 13-inch touchscreen offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The driver gets a 12-inch digital dashboard and electronically adjustable seat control for their throne. Both seats are heated, but that functionality was not needed during summer break. An elegant addition is the keyless entry system, which not only eliminates the need for a key to manually start the van but also enables remote opening and closing of the electrically operated auto side doors, as well as unlocking the rear door.
Everything has a modern edge to it, giving the Transit an overall feel that it is more SUV or bakkie-like than an MPV.
Cost Effectively
| Ford Transit Custom 2.0SiT panel van LWB | R 770 000 |
| Ford Transit Custom 2.0SiT panel van SWB Sport (2025) | R 949 000 |
The purchase price includes a 4-year/120 000 km warranty and a 6-year/90 000 km service plan, as well as a 4-year/unlimited km roadside assistance package and 5-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty.
*The pricing stated here was correct when published and is subject to change without further notice. The pricing shown here is base pricing.
In closing
South Africans are slowly coming around to the fact that sometimes you don't need a bakkie, a multi-purpose van can do everything you need and more and is a far better option. It's safer, more comfortable, waterproof and surprisingly more economical.
Our long-term test will continue, and we are still finding creative ways to use this van. We are sold on the Transit and hope that more Saffers will see the light and opt in to the van life.
