First Drive
2024 Ford Courier First Impressions
The new Ford Courier is finally here providing drivers with a new entry in the smaller-than-small commercial vehicle and car marketplaces. Auto Trader’s Tom Roberts was invited to Barcelona to experience the vehicle firsthand.
Words by: Tom Roberts
Published on 17 January 2024 | 0 min read
The roads of Barcelona provided a great setting for my first bit of hands-on time with Ford’s all-new Transit Courier panel van and Tourneo Courier multi-person vehicle. It seems apt that the sunrise visible from my hotel window in the morning was so stunning, it was clearly setting the scene.
Where am I going with this? Well, if you'd asked me which small panel van was the best currently available in the UK the day BEFORE arriving in Spain, I'd have said the Renault Kangoo - now, it's a tie between that and the Ford Transit Courier. I don't say that lightly, and I'll get to why.
Where am I going with this? Well, if you'd asked me which small panel van was the best currently available in the UK the day BEFORE arriving in Spain, I'd have said the Renault Kangoo - now, it's a tie between that and the Ford Transit Courier. I don't say that lightly, and I'll get to why.
The Courier In Context
This isn't the first Courier that Ford has brought to market, but it's certainly the best. The previous generation was launched in 2014 and enjoyed success in the domestic market as a very small van among small vans - clearly enough to warrant a completely new ground-up generation built on the same platform as the latest Ford Puma in 2024.
I used to find it hard to classify Courier as anything other than a smaller-than-small van, and some may still question Ford's decision to stray from the standard small, medium and large vans usually offered by manufacturers in the UK market. But Ford is using the new Courier the same way as it used the original - another size of van in the market is another chance at market dominance.
I used to find it hard to classify Courier as anything other than a smaller-than-small van, and some may still question Ford's decision to stray from the standard small, medium and large vans usually offered by manufacturers in the UK market. But Ford is using the new Courier the same way as it used the original - another size of van in the market is another chance at market dominance.
Ford Transit Courier
Starting with the light commercial vehicle version, Transit Courier is available in two body styles - panel/cargo and double cab-in-van - and four familiar trim levels: Leader, Trend, Limited and Active - each level enhances the vehicle further. For example, Limited includes features including 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view camera, front parking sensors, keyless start and a wireless device charging pad. While the Active trim adds unique wheel arch mouldings, front and rear skid plates, roof rails and 17-inch black alloy wheels with smart machined face elements.
Bigger Than Before
Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice is the significant increase in size from the first Courier. For business users, this translates in real terms to a cargo length increase of 181mm to 1,802mm. New rear suspension with angled shock absorbers work to increase the load width between the wheel arches to 1,220mm and unlocks the vehicle’s ability to carry two Euro pallets. In the vehicle’s boxy loadspace, total cargo volume is increased by 25% on the new model to 2.9 cubic metres. There’s also a new load-through bulkhead option on the list, which will let users carry several items over 2,600mm long.
Sticking with practicality, customers will be able to choose between a standard payload model or a high payload version (created by fitting the vehicle with dual-rate springs) to carry payloads up to 854kg - towing weights for all variants is a useful 1,100kg. All panel vans models feature 180-degree rear doors, six floor-mounted tie-down points as standard, LED loadspace lighting, rubber or wooden floor covers and half-height cargo stowage rails.
Sticking with practicality, customers will be able to choose between a standard payload model or a high payload version (created by fitting the vehicle with dual-rate springs) to carry payloads up to 854kg - towing weights for all variants is a useful 1,100kg. All panel vans models feature 180-degree rear doors, six floor-mounted tie-down points as standard, LED loadspace lighting, rubber or wooden floor covers and half-height cargo stowage rails.
Engine Choice
The vehicle is powered by a range of engines including a 125PS variant of Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and a 100PS version of the same engine - both can be paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, or Ford’s new seven-speed dual clutch transmission. A new version of the familiar 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine outputting 100PS is also available, with an electric version expected in 2025.
Improved Cabin
Okay, the new Courier’s cabin is excellent and provides a vehicle experience similar to the new Ranger - a touch of luxury, digital screens and durability combined excellently.
The interior is dominated by the vehicle’s new ‘digiboard’ instrument panel containing a digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and an 8-inch centre touchscreen running the modern SYNC 4 system. The system provides navigation control, vehicle info and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility as standard! Onboard connectivity is linked to the Ford Pro system and wireless software updates happen automatically. There are some smart new storage solutions throughout the cabin including easy-access open storage behind the digiboard, above the glovebox, a storage brace for tablets or paper pads on the side of the centre console, and door bins large enough for 1.5-litre bottles.
The interior is dominated by the vehicle’s new ‘digiboard’ instrument panel containing a digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and an 8-inch centre touchscreen running the modern SYNC 4 system. The system provides navigation control, vehicle info and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility as standard! Onboard connectivity is linked to the Ford Pro system and wireless software updates happen automatically. There are some smart new storage solutions throughout the cabin including easy-access open storage behind the digiboard, above the glovebox, a storage brace for tablets or paper pads on the side of the centre console, and door bins large enough for 1.5-litre bottles.
Safety As Standard
Finally, the vehicle has been awarded a Platinum NCAP rating thanks to a comprehensive set of advanced driver assistance systems. Standard offering includes Lane-Keeping System, Pre-Collision Assist, Intelligent Speed Assist and rear parking sensors. Optional systems include Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring and Reverse Brake Assist.
Ford Tourneo Courier
As you’d expect, there’s a lot of similarities between the Tourneo and Transit version of the Courier, but Tourneo differs hugely in the cabin. Think of Ford’s ability to make a nice car interior and then transplant that into a smaller-than-small van’s interior. That’s the Tourneo Courier in a nutshell. Tourneo Courier is available in one body style - a 5-seater ‘car’ version - and three trim levels: Trend, Titanium and Active - each building on the level below adding new stylings or equipment.
The driver’s experience will change little in the Tourneo version, but passenger space is naturally increased with room for three more in the back and a healthy boot space behind that second row. Access to the boot is a smart top-hinged tailgate, which I really like because it provides shade in the sun and shelter in the rain. What impressed me about Tourneo was some of the little additions they’ve made. In the boot, for example, there’s a removable cubby hole drawer for stashing muddy boots and then carrying them into the house in the box - a lovely touch in a spacious 2,162-litre boot. Tourneo gets two wide side doors allowing very easy access to the second row of seats and will naturally reduce dents caused by accidental openings. Like the Transit version, Tourneo is powered by the 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine outputting 125PS mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or the seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. An electric version is also expected in 2025.
The driver’s experience will change little in the Tourneo version, but passenger space is naturally increased with room for three more in the back and a healthy boot space behind that second row. Access to the boot is a smart top-hinged tailgate, which I really like because it provides shade in the sun and shelter in the rain. What impressed me about Tourneo was some of the little additions they’ve made. In the boot, for example, there’s a removable cubby hole drawer for stashing muddy boots and then carrying them into the house in the box - a lovely touch in a spacious 2,162-litre boot. Tourneo gets two wide side doors allowing very easy access to the second row of seats and will naturally reduce dents caused by accidental openings. Like the Transit version, Tourneo is powered by the 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine outputting 125PS mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or the seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. An electric version is also expected in 2025.
First Impressions
I spent the most time with a cactus grey Transit Courier packing the 125PS version of the 1.0-litre petrol engine mated to the new 7-speed automatic dual clutch gearbox. Being overseas, it was a left-hand drive version and was loaded with a secured dummy load of around 250kg (the wooden box in the pictures) to simulate a typical weight in the back. To sum up, I was impressed with how easily the vehicle handled the motorways, twisty roads and various road surfaces that Barcelona had to offer. But perhaps the crowning achievement is how easily I adapted to driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road in the Courier - to me, that shows just how easy this vehicle is to drive (particularly the automatic version) and Ford deserves a nod for that.
Other than that, it’s a good-looking little van with plenty of options! Is there a better way to put it than that? No, because I cannot get across in photos or words how good this vehicle looks in the flesh. Ford’s design team has worked very hard to give this vehicle an SUV look on the outside while maintaining enough practicality and space inside to work as a van AND a car. There’s an excellent balance at play with this vehicle. For me, the Transit version of the Courier is where the vehicle will prove itself - success as a panel van will pull this vehicle into customer focus as a new choice for businesses and fleet operators, with the added bonus of pushing sales and visibility of the Tourneo version once the marketing goes into overdrive. But one final word on the commercial version - it’s aiming its sights firmly at its competitors. Sitting among the Renault Kangoo (and its platform sharers) and the Stellantis platform sharing small vans, the Transit Courier stands as one of very few unique small vans among a plethora of rebadged vehicles. Platform sharing saves the manufacturers money and allows some savings to be passed on to their customers. But I believe that commercial van customers are overdue for a bit of choice and variety, and the Transit Courier offers exactly that at exactly the right time.
Other than that, it’s a good-looking little van with plenty of options! Is there a better way to put it than that? No, because I cannot get across in photos or words how good this vehicle looks in the flesh. Ford’s design team has worked very hard to give this vehicle an SUV look on the outside while maintaining enough practicality and space inside to work as a van AND a car. There’s an excellent balance at play with this vehicle. For me, the Transit version of the Courier is where the vehicle will prove itself - success as a panel van will pull this vehicle into customer focus as a new choice for businesses and fleet operators, with the added bonus of pushing sales and visibility of the Tourneo version once the marketing goes into overdrive. But one final word on the commercial version - it’s aiming its sights firmly at its competitors. Sitting among the Renault Kangoo (and its platform sharers) and the Stellantis platform sharing small vans, the Transit Courier stands as one of very few unique small vans among a plethora of rebadged vehicles. Platform sharing saves the manufacturers money and allows some savings to be passed on to their customers. But I believe that commercial van customers are overdue for a bit of choice and variety, and the Transit Courier offers exactly that at exactly the right time.
