H&C News seized the opportunity just last week to join the commercial vehicle press on a trip to Frankfurt to see and drive the all-new Ford Courier range of vans. Why? Because across hospitality, food service and catering operations of all sizes there are many commercial vehicles in use and, no doubt, in need of replacement. The new Ford Courier seemed likely to provide a good option for those businesses – and our trip definitely proved that to be the case.
Ford’s Transit range has long held a strong position in the UK commercial van market, and has been redesigned and expanded in the last two years (see below): the Courier completes the range, and in our view is certain to be a formidable and successful competitor in the small van segment.
Background
Business confidence in the UK is improving with the economy, and so are Commercial Vehicle (CV) sales: after years of recession, there are many vans out there overdue for replacement.
At the same time, both fleet operators and smaller organisations are looking to downsize where possible in order to reduce running costs and improve flexibility, as well as use both safer and greener vehicles: as foodservice organisations well know, customers are looking for suppliers to reduce carbon footprints.
The market, therefore, is looking for a compact and functional small van range that offers the right options – including economy.
Building on Ford’s award-winning Transit range
Ford has been very busy in recent years completely redesigning and expanding its Ford Transit CV range. In 2013 alone it launched two new models, gaining significant market share (Ford already has 22.1% of the UK market) – and winning no fewer than 27 awards – and a further 12 so far in 2014!
So what does the new Ford Transit Courier offer for van users considering their options? For a start –
- best-in-class fuel efficiency and load-carrying ability for small businesses and urban delivery services
- Ford’s first-ever small Transit van delivers unsurpassed fuel efficiency across diesel and petrol engines. The 95 PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine achieves 3.7 l/100 km (76.3 mpg) and 97 g/km CO2 emissions, and the multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost offers 5.2 l/100 km (54.3 mpg) and 119 g/km – 15 per cent better than the closest rival.
- The stylish all-new Transit Courier offers 10 per cent more load volume than its direct competitors with 2.3 m3 behind the bulkhead, as well as longer load length at floor level, and greater access width through the sliding side doors.
- The compact and versatile van also brings a new level of technology and functionality to the segment with class-leading safety features, in-cab stowage space and voice control connectivity, including Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance.
- Transit Courier, available for order for June delivery, completes the top-to-bottom redesign and expansion of the Ford Transit range in Europe
Class-leading efficiency, cost-of-ownership and durability
The Courier’s highly-efficient diesel and petrol engines contribute to class-leading cost-of-ownership.
In addition to the 1.6-litre diesel and 1.0-litre EcoBoost engines, customers can specify the 75 PS 1.5-litre diesel that also betters all rivals with 103 g/km CO2 and 3.9 l/100 km (72.3 mpg). Fuel-saving Auto-Start-Stop is available as an option throughout the range. All powertrains offer extended one-year/20,000 mile service intervals.
The vehicle design has been optimised for ease of serviceability and repair. A multi-piece rear bumper, rugged body-side protection and high-mounted front and rear lights help to reduce the cost of accident damage and lead to lower insurance premiums. Expensive fuelling errors are avoided by the unique, standard-fit, Ford Easy Fuel system.
The all-new Courier delivers exceptional reliability, and prototypes have been tested over the equivalent of 1.6 million km, or two return trips to the moon. The durability testing is designed to simulate years of extreme use, and includes more than 400,000 km in typical customer operating conditions on public roads. The doors alone have been slammed 250,000 times in non-stop endurance tests to ensure reliability!
Best-in-class load-carrying ability and practicality
The Courier has a load compartment which offers superior load-carrying features compared to its direct rivals, including:
- Longer load length at floor level of 1.62 m, and easier loading of bulky items via wider sliding rear side doors (width 453 mm with bulkhead)
- Full-height, full-width steel bulkhead (glazed or unglazed)
- Optional folding mesh bulkhead and fold-dive passenger seat for longer items up to 2.59 m, and maximum load volume of 2.6 m3 (SAE)
- Six cargo tie-down points, including four rear side-mounted points to avoid obstruction of the floor area
- Multiple pre-installed bodyside fixing points to mount racking or framework
- Optional ultra-bright LED loadspace lighting for the vans
Payload capacity of 660 kilogrammes
With a maximum payload capacity of 660 kilogrammes, the Transit Courier can accommodate a wide variety of cargo and equipment, including a standard Euro pallet. For optimum access to the load compartment, twin asymmetric rear cargo doors with an opening angle of up to 158 degrees are standard; single or dual sliding side load doors can be specified.
Kombi versions
Commercial Kombi versions offer room for up to five occupants with flexible 60/40 split folding rear seats with a tip/tumble mechanism for additional versatility or dual business/personal usage; a generous load volume of 1.69 m3 is available with the rear seats tumbled.
Mobile-office environment
For those who need to communicate or process paperwork and other ‘office’ functions’, the cabin offers an ideal mobile-office environment, with a class-leading range of stowage features including a large centre console capable of storing A4 documents and small laptops; a full-width overhead stowage shelf; and a drawer under the front passenger seat.
Drivers can use the unique new MyFord Dock to store, mount and charge their mobile devices such as phones and navigation systems; other smart interior features include Rear View Camera.
Segment-first safety features, class-leading driving dynamics
The Transit Courier introduces new safety features to the segment, and the Commercial Kombi offers side curtain airbags, knee airbags and second-row seat beltminders as part of a comprehensive restraint system that also includes driver, passenger and side thorax airbags.
Customers can specify Ford SYNC with Emergency Assistance, the latter of which assists the occupants to call the local emergency services operator in the event of an accident, along with Speed Limiter and Tyre Pressure Monitoring. The standard Electronic Stability Control system features Hill Start Assist, Traction Control and Roll-Over Mitigation.
The new vehicle’s chassis has been tuned with a unique steering ratio and innovative dual-rate rear springs that help to deliver class-leading driving dynamics under all load conditions. The springs enable the vehicle to offer a smooth and refined ride even when unladen, while maintaining the agile handling and manoeuvrability of a compact vehicle in busy city streets.
Impressive attention to comfort and detail
We test drove the Courier in both the 1.0 T Eco Boost and the Kombi 1.5 TD 75 PS versions, with different load weights, and on roads varying from urban, to motorway, to countryside including long hill ascents and descents. Both versions performed impressively, with the smaller engine delivering remarkable (to this driver) power and speed – no slouch on motorway or hill, easy acceleration.
Even more impressively for a driver well over six feet tall was the level of comfort: seat position was easily adjusted and remained comfortable; clutch and other pedals well-positioned for comfortable, smooth gear changing; controls easily identified and mastered; and all-round vision was good,
These vehicles may have been designed to be economic, reliable workhorses, but they will also be comfortable to drive and park as well as to load and unload through the day.
There’s an impressive attention to detail that contributes to this: from seat fabrics, to the overhead stowage and under seat storage, and the deep centre console for paperwork. Then there are the safety features: Ford claims ‘segment first safety features’, and we can see why.
Pricing
It’s obvious that purchase price is critical in a crowded market and, as you’d expect, the Courier range is priced competitively: prices begin at £11045, with the Kombi at £12413.
Last word
In the words of Paulo Giantaglia, chief programme engineer, Transit Courier, Ford of Europe:
“The all-new Transit Courier is an affordable, hard-working van that offers unrivalled fuel economy and bigger load space than its closest competitors. This is the perfect vehicle for today’s busy city streets, and will bring Transit capability to a whole new group of customers.”
The H&C News view? Quite simple: foodservice, hospitality and catering operators should take a good look at the Transit Courier and its potential for their business.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive industry leader and manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.
For more information regarding Ford’s products click here