2026 Ford Transit Custom Trail LWB review

Ford has launched its first-ever all-wheel drive Transit Custom in Australia, with the new Trail variant of the popular van offering not just better traction for unsealed roads, but a bit of a different look that might appeal beyond the tradie set.

With loads of standard spec and some terrific driving dynamics, I can see plenty of potential campervan setups for this version of the Transit Custom. Its frugal but punchy diesel engine and smooth automatic transmission make for a top combo, too.

Does it miss the mark in any way? Read on and find out.

How much does the Ford Transit Custom cost?

There’s just one version of the Ford Transit Custom Trail on offer in Australia, and it’s based on the LWB low-roof version of the mid-size van.

The price is up by $300 since the vehicle was initially announced for our market last year but, even so, at just over $62k it makes a strong case as the most affordable diesel all-wheel drive van in its segment.

There’s only the related new-generation Volkswagen Transporter 4Motion, which is a reworked version of this van, but it costs $64,590 plus on-roads due to a different spec level, and it’s not a ‘Trail’ model like this, so there are no over-fenders and no sticker pack…!

The other vans in this segment are all exclusively front-wheel drive (Hyundai Staria Load, Renault Trafic, Peugeot Expert, LDV Deliver 7), or rear-wheel drive (Toyota HiAce, Mercedes Vito).

To see how the Ford Transit Custom lines up against the competition, check out ourcomparison tool

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What is the Ford Transit Custom like on the inside?

The Transit Custom Trail does have a slightly different interior to the other variants when it comes to the trimming.

The gold stitching and fake leather seat trim helps it stand out, and at the top of those seats there are ‘TRAIL’ logos embossed into the material.

Both seats are manually adjustable – with adjustable inner armrests – and both have heating as well.

It is worth noting that this particular version of the Transit Custom has the two-seat layout, which costs an extra $150. As standard you get a three-seat layout – with the driver’s seat sitting independent of a fixed two-seat bench.

It certainly feels a bit more high-end with the two-seat layout, and the comfort will be better for anyone riding along, too.

Otherwise there’s not much in terms of interior changes. But there’s nothing wrong with that – because the Transit Custom is one of the nicer van interiors in this class.

In front of the driver there is a digital instrument cluster with large fonts and a decent degree of configurability to it as well. You can see your trip computer, navigation, or vitals for the vehicle on screen, plus the usual things like your distance to empty, speedo, and so on.

The other screen is a big central touchscreen media system, which is the control hub for pretty much everything on board.

It houses the wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity (as well as Android Auto) and includes built-in sat-nav as well. Beyond that there’s a number of menus and controls on offer, and you get digital radio as well.

That screen does take a little bit of learning, but it’s pretty simple and very easy to get along with – once you’ve spent some time learning the way around the menus.

At the bottom of that display (but still on-screen) is a fixed row of most climate controls, which could be a downside for plenty of people… I just reckon that a set of dials for your temperature and fan controls would be more welcome.

That climate panel incorporates seat heating controls, single-zone climate management, air direction, fan speed, and your demisters.

Below it is a small panel of physical controls, including drive mode selection, safety systems, and auto parking tech, plus there’s a “max front demister” button for those cooler mornings.

Alongside that you do get a volume dial – hallelujah! – and on the steering wheel there are a number of other controls for your media and cruise systems as well.

Speaking of, there is a column-mounted gear selector – and it includes a manual shift twist system as well.

Just be mindful, if you’re used to having an indicator switch on the right side of the steering wheel, and you go to indicate to turn left, you might find the car will jump into neutral. Not great!

Further down, there’s a light control panel near the driver’s right knee, and thankfully you’ve got conventional door controls for your mirrors and windows.

There’s also an electric park brake trigger between the seats on the dash, and further below you’ll find a 12V port, USB-A and USB-C ports, and a wireless phone charging pad, and alongside that is a flip-out cupholder with a small storage tray behind.

At the top edges of the dashboard there are further additional cupholders, and on top of the dash there’s a folder holder which could be handy for storing loose items.

Between the seats in the two-seat model there is an open area – which would be great to accessorise with some kind of storage box, because as it stands it’s just a waste of space.

In the doors there are multiple tiers of storage including bottle holders down the bottom, and while it is all hard plastic, it looks decent because of the two-tone finish. In front of the passenger there is a lockable glovebox and an additional top storage box as well.

Overhead you do not get vanity mirrors, oddly, and the sun-visors aren’t extendable either. And while your view out the rear-vision mirror is not terrific, it’s also not auto-dimming – I reckon a digital camera mirror would be a nice upgrade.

The side mirrors feature a split design to allow you to see wide-angle, and also a closer view of what is around you, which is welcome.

Both front window-seat occupants get overhead grab handles, but sadly there aren’t height-adjustable seatbelts in this van.

When it comes to the cargo zone, you’re getting the long-wheelbase body for the Trail model, so it does have an extensive amount of space on offer. See the dimensions table below for all the measurements.

As well as offering a terrific and pallet-friendly amount of space, the usability of that area is very good as well, with multiple lashing points at floor height and on the walls for securing items in the back. You will need to, too, because the standard plastic floor is extremely slippery – so beware when your soles are wet!

There’s also excellent LED overhead lighting for if you’re loading in the wee hours, and at the back doors there is a button for additional lighting – similar to what the Ranger has with its Zone Lighting – which will allow you to see better when you are accessing the rear of the vehicle. Could be very handy if you’re planning to convert this to a camper.

You can get the Transit Custom Trail with a tailgate if you prefer it to the barn doors, but the forklift-friendly standard setup is a good one – with 180-opening for both sides.

I also love the fact you get standard dual side sliding doors on this vehicle. It makes it just that bit more practical.

To see how the Ford Transit Custom lines up against the competition, check out ourcomparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The Ford Transit Custom Trail uses the same turbo-diesel engine and eight-speed auto offered in other variants in the Transit Custom range, but includes electronically controlled all-wheel drive to apportion torque to the front and rear axles as required.

How about that real-world fuel use? Admittedly, this test was primarily unladen, but over a week of mixed driving I was pleased to see the return displayed on the trip computer undercut the official number, if only by a smidge.

To see how the Ford Transit Custom lines up against the competition, check out ourcomparison tool

How does the Ford Transit Custom drive?

Ford’s mid-size van was already one of the best in its class to drive, and the Trail gives you that extra peace of mind that you might be looking for.

If you think you may need extra traction on unsealed surfaces or even just during downpours, the Trail makes a strong argument.

Having all-wheel drive does mean that you’ve got more sure-footedness that other front-drive examples of this van don’t have, and in my experience driving on wet days that traction is certainly welcome.

It could be even more advantageous if you are the sort of person who regularly transports expensive or breakable items, because you just have a better purchase on the surface – again especially when it’s damp.

While it might be marketed as a semi off-road style vehicle, it is not going to traverse the trails as well as a Ranger – so if you’re thinking of it that way, maybe reset your expectations.

That said, it does have decent ground clearance (160mm) and has a pretty sophisticated suspension setup with coil springs at the rear, but it just isn’t that kind of four-wheel-drive vehicle.

On the road, the general driving dynamic is extremely easy-going, with a convincingly comfortable ride even unladen, and a level of joy in the drive experience that you might not be expecting.

That comes down to the direct and fun-feeling steering, which is extremely agreeable in all situations.

That includes open-road touring where the weighting is a little heftier and the response more direct, or low-speed driving including parking, when the steering weight is lighter and easier to manage.

It certainly doesn’t feel as big as it is to drive, and the turning circle (12.1 metres) is also not bad considering the length of the wheelbase of this vehicle, and the length overall.

Furthermore, this turbo-diesel engine is up for it, with a good amount of urge when required.

It isn’t the fastest feeling van, but it does zip along nicely at urban speed, and holds its pace well when you’re on the freeway. The all-wheel drive system makes it feel like the van is being pushed and pulled toward the horizon, not just pulled as in all other front-drive variants.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is largely very agreeable, shifting gears with smoothness and cleverness to maintain progress and keep the engine in the sweet spot for the torque band, and it doesn’t feel too busy like some other eight-speed autos can.

There’s a bit of noise to contend with in terms of both diesel engine clatter and wind noise around the mirrors and windscreen, but what’s most noticeable is actually the tyre noise – especially on coarse-chip road surfaces.

Visibility-wise, you’ve got those impressive split mirrors at the sides, and while you do have the glazed bulkhead with a small port window to see out the back, the view is quite limited.

And what may be more disappointing is the lack of a surround-view camera system in a van like this, because it would be hugely advantageous.

Instead, you get a reversing camera, parking sensors all around, and an auto parking system – and the car will brake for you if it thinks you’re going to hit something or someone at low speeds while reversing, which is great – but I think a 360-degree camera would make it even better in the daily grind.

As for the safety technology beyond that, there is a lane-keeping system which does a relatively good job without being too intrusive, and if you don’t like it you just quickly press the lane-keep button on the steering wheel twice and it will disable – you have to do that every time you drive the car, though.

There is no chiming for the speed system which is great, especially considering that it gets it wrong quite regularly on the smart motorways in Sydney with digital signage – regularly reading 70 instead of the 110km/h on those overhead gantries.

If you wish, you can have the car adapt to the speed signs using the intelligent cruise assist but, as I just mentioned, that might be a mistake because you may find yourself slowing down to 70 in a 110 zone! It’s not good enough.

It’s a shame those little gremlins leave a sour taste, because this is otherwise an excellent van that’s very easy to drive and live with.

To see how the Ford Transit Custom lines up against the competition, check out ourcomparison tool

What do you get?

Here’s a rundown of the standard equipment fitted to all versions of the Transit Custom, including the Trail.

2026 Ford Transit Custom Trend equipment highlights:

• 16-inch steel wheels
• 215/65 R16C tyres
• Steel spare wheel
• Normal, Eco, Slippery and Tow/Haul drive modes
• Automatic halogen headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Quickclear heated windscreen
• Single sliding left-hand door
• Metal bulkhead with window, load-through hatch
• Rear barn doors
• Roof racks
• Three seats
• Cloth upholstery
• 8-way power driver’s seat
• Single driver’s armrest
• Heated outboard front seats
• Under-seat stowage compartment
• 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation with one year of Connected Navigation Services
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ digital radio
• FM radio
• 4-speaker sound system
• 12-inch digital instrument cluster
• Wireless phone charger
• 1 x USB-A outlet
• 1 x USB-C outlet
• 1 x 12V outlet
• Single-zone climate control
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
• Push-button start
• 3 x cupholders

The Sport adds:

• 17-inch matte black alloy wheels
• 215/60 R17C tyres
• Sport drive mode
• LED headlights
• LED daytime running lights
• LED tail-lights
• Heated exterior mirrors with auto-fold
• Sport body kit
• Rear spoiler
• Exterior striping
• ‘Sports’ interior trim with blue accent stripes
• 10-way power driver’s seat
• Dual driver’s arm rest
• 4 x USB-C outlets
• Dual-one climate control
• Locking lower glovebox
• Upper glovebox with removable rubber insert and USB-C outlet
• Proximity entry

The Trail adds:

• Yellow Trail decals
• Faux leather interior with yellow baseball stitching
• ‘Trail’ embossing on seats
• Unique grille
• Underbody skid plates
• Wheel-arches
• Side trims
• 16-inch matte black alloy wheels
• All-terrain tyres

Other options include:

• Metallic paint $700
• SVO paint $1400
• A two-seat configuration: $150; deletes the load-through hatch
• Rear liftgate: $700; replaces the barn doors
• Secure Visibility Pack: $1500; includes steel rear doors with no windows, a metal bulkhead with no window; and a digital rear-view mirror with an integrated dash cam

What’s missing? Keyless entry or proximity unlocking; you still need to use the key fob to unlock the doors. Weird.

To see how the Ford Transit Custom lines up against the competition, check out ourcomparison tool

Is the Ford Transit Custom safe?

The Ford Transit Custom recorded the highest possible rating for safety assistance technology under ANCAP’s 2024 Commercial Van Testing, scoring 96 per cent to be labelled a Platinum example of the breed.

The safety testing for commercial vehicles like this is different to the assessment of traditional cars, because there’s no physical crash test done – just a series of tech tests to see how its active safety systems work in different situations.

According to ANCAP: “The second-generation Ford Transit Custom sets the benchmark for fitment and performance, achieving a near-perfect score in safety assessments. With a comprehensive suite of advanced active safety features, the Transit Custom excels in delivering top-tier collision avoidance capability.”

Standard safety equipment includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking
  • Car
  • Pedestrian
  • Cyclist
  • Rear
  • Intersection assist
• Adaptive cruise control
  • With speed adaptive cruise control possible
• Blind-spot assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Evasive steering assist
• Lane keep assist
• Safe exit warning
• Traffic sign recognition
• Reversing camera with 180-degree view
• Front, rear parking sensors
• Autonomous parking assist

The Transit Custom has six airbags, including dual front, front-side and curtain airbags, including ceiling-mounted airbag coverage for the passenger.

To see how the Ford Transit Custom lines up against the competition, check out ourcomparison tool

How much does the Ford Transit Custom cost to run?

Ford Australia offers a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty across its model range, including the Transit Custom van range.

This van has long service intervals, which could make it appealing for long-distance drivers – couriers, tradies, commuters – in particular. Not so good if you’re just doing minimal kays.

To see how the Ford Transit Custom lines up against the competition, check out ourcomparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Ford Transit Custom Trail LWB

The Ford Transit Custom was already one of the best models in the mid-size light commercial van space, and the addition of the Trail LWB variant is a welcome one.

It splits the difference nicely in terms of spec and pricing, and the added capability and assuredness of the all-wheel drive system means this might appeal to a broad audience, both in cities and regional and rural areas.

The appeal is also real for campervan converters, which will get a superb base to work from.

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