Ford Transit Custom Sport PHEV 2025 Review

Two models make up the 2025 Ford Transit Custom PHEV range: the $67,590 long-wheelbase Trend and the $69,990 short-wheelbase Sport – complete with those distinctive GT stripes.

Expect to pay around $10,000 more for the PHEV than for the comparable diesel variant.

However, when compared to the E-Transit EV equivalents – priced between $77,590 and tops at $79,990 – the PHEV range comes in about $10K cheaper, positioning it as a practical choice for operators balancing sustainability with upfront costs.

The Transit Custom PHEV is significantly more expensive than the market-leading Toyota HiAce, which remains diesel-only, long-wheelbase, and starts at just $51,880 plus on-road costs – a gap of more than $20K.

It’s appropriate the PHEV sits between diesel and EV in the price walk.

Its powertrain combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor (171kW/400Nm) and an 11.8kWh NMC battery, aiming to deliver the best of both worlds: zero-emissions driving in urban areas and petrol-powered range for longer trips.

Exterior equipment basics shared between the Trend and Sport models include: a single sliding side door, rear barn doors, a rear window, collapsible roof racks, wing mirrors with a handy magnified view (all cars should have them – brilliant!), and an optional digital rear view mirror.

The Sport upgrades 16-inch steel wheels for 17-inch alloys, adds smart keyless entry, and throws in a rear spoiler, body kit, and signature stripes for extra flair.

Both variants come with a space-saver spare tyre, while dual sliding side doors ($1000) and a liftgate ($700) are available as options.

No high-roof version or second row seats are on offer.

Prestige paint adds $700 and specialised treatments such as wraps with company logos can be executed for as little as $1400.

Inside, both PHEVs share a front beach seat (option bucket seats are applicable), dual digital screens for infotainment and instrumentation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite-navigation, wireless phone charging and the Ford Pass connected smartphone app.

A solid metal bulkhead with a window separates the passenger compartment from the cargo box.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport PHEV is distinguished from the Trend with dual-zone climate control, a powered driver’s seat, an upper glovebox, and blue-striped interior trim, plus extra USB-C ports for added convenience.

Safety equipment shared across the two plug-in hybrids include: autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, various forms of lane keeping (slightly intrusive but switchable), blind spot monitoring and assist, rear cross traffic alert, and roll over mitigation.

The Transit Custom is protected by a five-star the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) rating, comes with six airbags, a reversing camera, and front and rear parking sensors.

The Transit Custom scored 96 per cent in the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) van testing last year. This program no longer includes crash testing.

Ford covers the range with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the high-voltage battery gets eight years/160,000km of protection.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 30,000km.

Capped priced servicing is available and costs $2471 over the first 60 months/150,000km – that’s an average $494.20 per dealer visit.

Ford’s second-generation Transit Custom has already made waves since its diesel debut in late 2024, but the PHEV Sport adds a clever twist.

Built on a new platform and body that’s 100kg lighter, 13 per cent more aerodynamic and 30 per cent stiffer, it also swaps the old leaf spring/beam axle for a coil spring/independent setup.

The PHEV van that feels surprisingly nimble, with its wheels pushed to the corners, a tight 10.9m turning circle and commanding forward views that make you feel perched on its nose.

Ride quality is better than you’d expect from a delivery van, even if sharp bumps occasionally sneak through.

The Sport offers a better ride than expected from a delivery van, although it generates noise and sharp inputs but not annoyingly often.

We tested the Transit Custom Sport PHEV with only a 200kg load, and it can take over a tonne, so that presented no challenge. More testing needed.

The squared-off body means the Sport swallows up to 5.8 metres cubed (Trend manages 6.8 metres cubed), and yes, an Aussie pallet fits between the arches.

Payload is higher for the Sport at 1255kg versus the Trend’s 1206kg because the short wheelbase (SWB) (5040mm in comparison to 5450mm) has a lighter kerb weight (1970kg versus 2019kg).

Towing? A maximum 2300kg braked towing capacity.

Inside the load bay, you’ll find LED lighting, moulded floor and side coverings, and clever touches like a bulkhead hatch for long items and under-seat storage hidey-holes.

Cabin storage is equally impressive: three-tier door bins, a dash cubby, and even a fold-down tray in the middle seat backrest.

The Sport feels like a proper work environment but a pleasant one, with decent trim, tech-savvy screens, and physical buttons for climate and audio.

Outboard seats are sizable enough, with the middle seat much tighter.

The driver gets dual armrests and a steering wheel with reach and rake adjustment for a more comfortable setup.

The selector is a stalk in the steering column, keeping well out of the way, as does the flat bottom of the steering wheel rim and the electric park brake.

As for the powertrain? The PHEV can run EV-only for 40-50km, which is respectable for its 11.8kWh battery.

When the 2.5-litre petrol engine kicks in, it delivers a solid punch and a chesty soundtrack when pushed, while the e-motor handles low-speed urban duties with ease.

If zero-emission zones arrive in city centres, this van will make a lot of sense.

Fuel economy during our test hovered around 6.0L/100km versus the theoretical 1.7L/100km claim – still better than the diesel’s 8.0L/100km. With a 63-litre tank, the PHEV should be good for a range over 800km.

The higher price of the PHEV makes it a business decision, weighing up against the traditional diesel option.

Will the savings in running costs (like fuel and servicing) over time be enough to offset the higher upfront purchase price of the PHEV compared to a diesel?

Of course, a significant part of the added cost is the battery pack, however, is 50km of EV driving enough? That figure is bound to go down as loads go up.

The Ford Transit Custom Sport PHEV also lacks DC fast charging and is limited to a modest 3.5kW maximum AC charge rate.

Sure, the small battery can be replenished on a 240V plug, but DC charging capability would mean quicker turnarounds and more time on the road earning money.

It also lacks vehicle to load charging – or ProPower as Ford calls it.

The Ranger PHEV gets it, but apparently, Ford’s PHEV van is not engineered for this older set-up.

Another weakness is that the PHEV runs out of puff early in the acceleration curve and, even in EV mode, will ask permission to engage the petrol engine.

There appears no electricity consumption meter available (I couldn’t find one and nor could the Ford people) to show real world consumption. The claim is a sizable 19.7kWh/100km.

EV mode integrates more seamlessly with the eCVT, while the HEV setup felt chunky decelerating to a stop or accelerating again.

There was a noticeable tyre roar off coarse bitumen, but then the Transit Custom is a van, and the PHEV powertrain can be quiet.

Another business consideration is payload.

Diesel Transit Customs generally carry more and tow better than the PHEV, while the E-Transit – heavier again – drops further on payload but equals the PHEV for towing capacity.

In the cabin almost all surfaces were hard-to-the-touch, which is to be expected.

The way the lower glovebox plummeted open slack-jawed was less acceptable.

Australia’s first PHEV delivery van is laudable in terms of what it delivers (pun intended) – good driving manners, spacious cargo box, strong safety credentials and the ability to run clean and green for a reasonable distance.

However, buying a van is a business decision – although Ford wants to change that – and the initial outlay especially for a small operator is going to be a challenge.

Until city centres introduce zero-emission zones, the Transit Custom PHEV will mostly attract eco-minded operators and businesses serious about shrinking their carbon footprint.

When the price falls, plenty more will jump on the PHEV bandwagon.

2025 Ford Transit Custom Sport PHEV at a glance:
Price: $69,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol-electric
Output: 86kW/209Nm (electric motor: 111kW/390Nm)
Combined output: 171kW/400km
Transmission: e-CVT
Battery: 11.8kWh NMC
Range: 54km (ADR)
Energy consumption: 19.7kWh/100km (ADR)
Fuel: 1.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 38g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Unrated

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