Test-Driving The 2025 Ford Transit Custom PHEV—Power To The Masses

Forbes

15-05-2025

2025 Ford Transit Custom PHEV
Matthew MacConnell
The Ford Transit Custom PHEV is the blue oval's entry into efficient hauling.
Remember the 2007 Ford Transit SportVan? It featured heaps of sporty trimmings like go-faster stripes, twin exhausts, lowered suspension, and 18-inch alloys, things usually reserved for Ford's ST range.
It was for those still connected to their youth and yearning approval from fellow construction site colleagues; underneath its athletic bodywork was the usual 129 bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine.
Ford has since evolved its sporty Transit by giving it a meatier plug-in hybrid powertrain to match its looks—that's more like it!
If racing stripes and rear spoilers aren't your thing, you can opt for the non-sport guise and still get the 228 bhp powerplant. Like the all-electric E-Transit Custom, the PHEV drives the front wheels via a single-setting continuously variable transmission, meaning it drives like an automatic.
It has eight driving modes: Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul, Slippery and Sport. These settings can be found in most Ford's nowadays, but the PHEV can tow a 2.3t trailer.
Being a hybrid, it gets three more modes: EV Auto, EV Now and EV Later. EV Auto is all you'll need for real-world driving. Here, the van will choose between electric and petrol power depending on the environment. EV Now engages the electric motor only, and EV Later preserves battery range.
Ford Transit PHEV
Matthew MacConnell
During my week with the Ford Transit Custom PHEV, I ran the 11.8kWh battery flat, because let's be honest, van drivers might not have time to charge it as they skip from job to job. With the battery charged, the van returned 173 mpg. Battery drained, and using only the 2.5-litre engine, it returned 37 mpg.
It's the quickest van I've driven; cracking 0-to-62mph in 8.3 seconds and 30-70mph in 8.6 seconds. There's heaps of power and torque for overtakes, although it can be fitted with a 70 mph governor. A handy feature if it's a company vehicle.
Up front, you'll find three reasonably sized seats, and because it's technically an automatic, there's no gearbox tunnel, meaning cabin entry from each side is easy.
Likewise, it has heaps of storage from large door bins to cupholders and in-built dashboard cubbies. But there's no overhead storage for clipboards or books.
The steering wheel is littered with buttons to control the radio, cruise control and various digital dashboard settings, but the vehicle's settings are changed via the 13-inch touchscreen.
Ford Transit PHEV interior
Matthew MacConnell
The Sync 4 touchscreen is quick enough and includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Below the touchscreen are five physical buttons, which control the driving modes, parking sensors, window demister, radio volume and reversing camera display. There are also two USB ports and a 12v socket.
At motorway/highway speeds, it remains relatively hush; my sound meter recorded 70dB at 70mph. An E-Transit is quieter, but that's to be expected.
Ford Transit PHEV load area
Matthew MacConnell
My loaner was the 320 L2 H1, which means it can take a 1,361kg gross payload and has a load capacity of 6.80 m3. Opening the 90 through to 180-degree rear doors reveals a 3,002mm loadspace length, which came in handy during various junkyard runs.
There are a few tie-down loops in the load bay to secure loads, and a full-height steel bulkhead protects the cabin from loose items.
It's quiet, smooth, powerful, efficient, and it's easy to lose smaller items in its vast loading area (ask me how I know), but it comes at a cost.
The base vehicle costs £44,384, but my loaner tipped the scales at £49,749 because of a few extras like the stunning Digital Blue Aqua paintwork, a B&O sound system, 19-inch alloys and a digital rear-view mirror.
A diesel equivalent will return circa 40mpg; most of my journeys were short motorway runs with occasional backroad and town driving. Therefore the Ford Transit Custom PHEV would make more sense if your journeys were shorter.