Ford Transit vs Ford Transit Custom: which do I need?
They are two of Britain’s most popular commercial vehicles, but which one do you need?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 17 November 2025 | 1 min read
If you’re in the market for a second-hand van, then you’ve more than likely stumbled across the Ford Transit range.
Ford’s Transit is a status symbol for commercial vehicles here in Britain, as it’s regarded as one of the best all-round vans for business buyers.
There are several different permutations you can get the Transit in, all offering different sizes, load capacities and even powertrains.
The two best iterations on the market are the standard Transit and Transit Custom models with both models available through Cazoo.
So, if you’re in the market for one of these vans and you’re unsure with which one best suits your lifestyle, we’ve put both vans back-to-back to see which one will be better-suited for you.
Styling
Let’s start off with their styling. The standard Transit looks like a typical van with its slab-sided profile, tall roofline and flat front nostril. At the back, there is a completely flat rear tailgate and the tall, horizontally positioned taillights are there to prevent them from being damaged in a busy business environment.
In comparison, the smaller Transit Custom is by far the more handsome of the duo, as it sits lower to the ground, has a more curvaceous body, and you can get the van with a sports body kit, with larger wheels, flared wheel arches and a rear spoiler to make it really stand out from the crowd.
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Interior
As they are both commercial vehicles, don’t expect them to come with ultra-soft plastics and thick carpets, as they’ve been designed to cope with harsh working lives.
The standard Transit has a logically laid out cabin with lots of physical dials and knobs to make everything easy to operate on the move. The tall and narrow dashboard means that everything is within easy reach and on higher-specified models, you get Ford’s Sync infotainment system.
The Custom, on the other hand, has a much more car-like interior design with a lower dashboard and a central display that looks like it’s come from a Fiesta or Focus. You still get lots of physical dials and a high-positioned gear lever to make it easy to drive on a long journey.
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Sizes and practicality
If you go for a standard Transit, there are several different body styles you can opt for including a panel van, chassis cab, leader van, double cab-in-van and even a minibus.
You also have the option of different heights, body lengths, as well as short and long-wheel base versions.
In terms of payload, Ford claims that the Transit can carry items up to 2,447kg - depending on which body style you go for. Plus, it can tow up to as much as 3,500kg, if you go for a rear-wheel drive model.
As the Custom is smaller, it’s not as capable of carrying heavy items or towing large objects, but it’s still up to the job of being an impressive load-lugger.
The Custom is available as a standard panel van, a double cab-in-van or as a nine-seater Kombi minibus.
The standard Custom van is also available with short and long-wheel base body lengths and it has a maximum payload of up to 1,459kg - depending on which model you go for. If you need to tow something heavy, then the Custom can also tow up to 2,800kg, which for a small van is impressive.
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Powertrains
If you go for the standard Transit panel van, it comes equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine that produces a total of 128bhp and 385Nm of torque, giving it great low-down grunt around town.
There is also the option of this engine with 103bhp or there is a higher-powered 167bhp model, producing torque figures of 360Nm and 405Nm, respectively.
Ford claims this engine setup in 128bhp guise can achieve up to 36.2mpg on the combined cycle, while it emits 186g/km of CO2.
If you do a lot of driving around town, then how about the electric E-Transit? This model comes fitted with a 68kWh battery with an electric motor which can travel a claimed 158 miles between trips to the plug.
The Custom also is available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel with 103bhp, 128bhp, 167bhp and even a 182bhp unit found in the sportier ‘MS-RT’ model.
However, you can get this smaller Transit with the option of a cleaner plug-in hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine mated to an electric motor and 13.6kWh battery pack. Ford claims that the van can travel up to 35 miles on electric power and that the emissions are just 60g/km of CO2.
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Second-hand prices
When it comes to second-hand prices, depending on condition, mileage and body type, they will vary in price.
A standard Transit panel van from 2018 with less than 50,000 miles on the clock will set you back £8,990 (inc.VAT), while an electric E-Transit with very low mileage will cost £18,995 (inc.VAT).
As the Transit Custom is smaller, it comes as no surprise that prices are usually lower. If you want a 2022 example with around average mileage, then prices sit at around £12,400 (inc.VAT). If you want a plug-in hybrid version, prices are steeper with the cheapest coming in at around £16,000 (inc.VAT).
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Verdict
Judging by the evidence we’ve found with these two Transit variants, they both represent excellent ways of transporting goods for business buyers.
If you carry lots of heavy items, need a vehicle that is extremely commodious and good at towing trailers, then the standard Transit is a great choice.
However, the Custom is just as capable of carrying heavy goods; it comes with the option of an efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain and second-hand prices are just as affordable. Plus, with its car-like interior design, more appealing exterior styling, the Transit Custom is for the buyer who needs a practical workhorse that still offers the comfort and convenience of a conventional vehicle.
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