Vauxhall Combo VS Ford Transit Courier: Small Van Comparison

The Ford Transit Courier and Vauxhall Combo small vans epitomise the growing variety of van sizes that currently sit within the ‘small van’ category vying for consumer attention. The Combo is a small van that looks like a slightly scaled-down medium van, while the Transit Courier could more aptly be described as a ‘compact small van’. Incidentally, both vans were recently featured in our list of the best small vans to lease alongside the Citroen Berlingo, a van that shares the same platform as the Combo (and others from Fiat, Peugeot and Toyota).
Traditionally, small vans often looked like cars at the front with a rising slope to a rear cargo compartment, but have evolved into a mix of car-derived to compact, car-like to smaller-than-medium, and everything in between. Our two subjects today vary in size and use cases, and have been put head-to-head precisely because of the varying needs users will have from a ‘small van’. On the one hand you have the platform-sharing Vauxhall Combo from the Stellantis family of small vans that take medium vans as their inspiration for look and feel, and on the other you have the Ford Transit Courier, a completely new small van that takes SUV styling and runs with it. Let’s see how they stack up.

The Vauxhall Combo is available in two lengths (standard at 4.4m long and XL at 4.7m long) with no roof height options, while the Transit Courier is available in one length at 4.3m long with no roof height options. That puts them on pretty equal ground in their standard lengths, with the Combo offering a slightly longer XL version for those needing extra space in the cargo area. The lack of roof height options always draws some criticism, but if roof height options are needed users tend to move up a size class to medium vans.
Both the Combo and Transit Courier are available as panel or crew vans, providing use cases as people carriers for jobs requiring more staff on the ground or as family vehicles - although both are offered as van-derived cars to personal buyers by their respective manufacturers.

The Combo is available with diesel or electric powertrains, with a choice of a 1.5-litre diesel engine outputting either 100 or 130PS, and a single 136PS electric motor and 52kWh battery pack combination offering up to 220 miles of range (WLTP). Meanwhile, the Transit Courier is available with diesel, petrol or electric powertrains, through a single 1.5-litre diesel engine outputting 100PS, a 1.0-litre petrol engine outputting either 100 or 125PS, or a 136PS electric motor offering up to 181 miles of range (WLTP).
The variety of fuel types offered by the Transit Courier means it could work for a wider range of users, especially those looking for a petrol-powered van (something of a rarity these days). However, the predominant fuel type in vans today is diesel, so the addition of petrol options alongside diesel and electric is more of a bonus than a compelling reason to choose one van over another.

When it comes to vans, payloads always depend on the engine size, fuel type, vehicle length and trim level chosen. However, in today’s market climate where fuel type appears to be the dominating ‘first choice’ people are being encouraged to take, we’ve split the payload ranges accordingly.
For the Combo (image right), if you opt for an electric model you’re looking at payloads ranging from 642-759kg, while plumping for a diesel model will net you a payload somewhere between 840 and 984kg. For the Transit Courier (image left), choosing a petrol model opens up payloads of 618-678kg, going for a diesel will offer 614-672kg, and going electric will offer a tighter 683-698kg of potential payload. All electric Combos and Transit Couriers can tow 750kg braked, and diesel Combos and diesel/petrol Transit Couriers will be able to pull at least 1000kg braked. Load volume in the Transit Courier is 2.9 cubic metres across the range, and in the Combo it varies from 3.3 cubic metres in the standard length version and increases to 3.9 in the XL version. As you can see, once you choose fuel type it’s trim level, engine power and vehicle length that determine what payload you get within those range limits. As for cargo space, the load volume in the Transit Courier is 2.9 cubic metres across the range, and in the Combo it varies from 3.3 cubic metres in the standard length version and increases to 3.9 in the XL version. On both vehicles, these load volumes decrease in their crew van body types due to the second row of seats. Both vehicles can be fitted with load-through bulkheads, with the Combo in standard length offering 3.8 cubic metres and XL models offering 4.4 cubic metres, while the Combo offers a tiny increase to just 3.0 cubic metres. At face value the Combo seems to offer more in terms of practicality, and based only on payloads and cargo space it does, but that’s why this comparison is so interesting. Combo is a larger vehicle almost multi-role in its build, while Transit Courier is more compact with a clear slant towards intra-urban companies.

The Ford Courier (right image) is available in four trim levels from base level ‘Leader’, up through ‘Trend’ and ‘Limited’, and topping out at ‘Active’, with the electric only available at ‘Trend’ and ‘Limited’ trim levels. The Combo, meanwhile, is available in three trim levels from base level ‘Prime’, ‘Prime-Plus’ and top trim ‘Pro’. Both vehicles offer significant equipment levels from their entry models up and all the mod cons you’d expect from modern vans.
The Combo’s interior (left image) feels very van-like, a mix of black plastics and tough fabrics in a cosy cabin environment with a decent infotainment screen on the dashboard. The Transit Courier, however, is more car-like with the infotainment screen more usefully angled towards the driver and slightly nicer fabric colours. However, take a closer look at the reviews of both linked earlier in this article, the pictures paint a better view of what investment in either vehicle will net you. Safety systems are generous in both, it’s worth checking the individual models for the full list, but the NCAP safety ratings for these vehicles are up to date with the Transit Courier awarded five stars and the Combo awarded four.

Combos start at around £23K on base diesel models and top out at close to £28K depending on model and trim chosen. Electric Combos start at over £27K and top out over £30K (that’s including the plug-in van grant). For Transit Courier, you’re looking at petrol models from over £19K to over £25K, diesel models from nearly £25K to nearly £30K, and electric models from nearly £29K to nearly £30K. All prices quoted in this paragraph are the manufacturer’s recommended on-the-road (OTR) price excluding VAT, and remember that there are always finance and lease deals available to help break down those prices.

Comparing two ‘small vans’ that offer such different things has been an interesting exercise and drives home how diverse the product offering is at the smaller end of the market. Stacking them up against each other shows the clear need for test drives, because on paper one van might look preferable to the other but you have to experience them to appreciate their nuances and differing practicalities. In the end, if you’re an intra-urban business, the Transit Courier offers compact style and practicality for less investment, while a business with larger cargo-carrying needs will naturally opt for the Combo or something bigger. Ultimately, check your needs, check the vehicle fulfils them and you can’t go wrong.

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