The Ford E-Transit Courier has been confirmed as the third model in the brand’s range to offer a fully electric van, following the full-sized E-Transit and the big-selling E-Transit Custom. It made its official debut at the 2023 Commercial Vehicle Show.
The Courier is the smallest model in the Transit family but the new version has grown in almost every direction. It offers a loading bay that is wider, longer and taller inside than the previous generation, while it can also take a heavier payload and tow more than the outgoing model. In fact, even the electric E-Transit Courier offers a greater payload than the outgoing diesel equivalent.
Precise details of the electric motor and battery are yet to be confirmed, but Ford has said that it will come with a 100kW (136hp) electric motor and 290Nm of torque.
Ford also says that it will be capable of some swift charging, getting from 10-100% in 5.7 hours on an 11kw charger while if you hook it up to a 100kw DC socket you should get 87km (54 miles) in just 10 minutes. Leave it connected to that DC charger and you should get from 10-80% in less than 35 mins.
Ford has also confirmed that the Transit Courier will come with a petrol and a diesel model, which will be available before the electric. These versions will arrive in autumn 2023, while the electric model will follow later in 2024.
Increased space for the 2023 Ford Transit Courier
The Transit Courier’s loading bay is notably larger than its predecessor, in pretty much every sense. At 1,803mm it is 182mm longer, while it is 9mm higher to measure 1,253mm tall. It now offers 2.9m3 of space, which is 0.6 cubic metres larger overall. It also has a new load-through bulkhead that will increase the total loading length to 2,661mm at floor level for longer items.
The most important growth, though, is between the wheel arches. Thanks to its new platform and a new rear suspension design that increases the width by 208mm to 1,220mm, it is now capable of taking two Euro pallets in the rear.
There is more space in the electric version elsewhere, as that comes with a 44-litre frunk under the bonnet. This means that all the charging cables can be tucked away safely separate from the items in the loading area, reducing the likelihood of damage. There is also a small first aid kit held in there.
Because the Transit Courier sits on a new platform that was designed with electric power and combustions engine right from the start, all versions offer the same loading capacity and space regardless of what is powering it.
Interestingly, this platform is a Ford one, and not one shared with Volkswagen, as is the case with the larger Transit Connect and forthcoming Transit Custom thanks to the two brands’ commercial vehicle alliance. This is a stretched Ford Puma platform, which bodes well for the Courier’s driveability – something that has been a welcome characteristic of Ford vans for generations.
Something else that bodes well is a huge increase in payload – the electric version can take up to 700kg, which is more than the diesel version of the outgoing model. The petrol and diesel versions take up to 678kg as standard, but a high-payload option boosts this to 845kg.
Towing capacity is boosted too – it’s 1,000kg for the petrol and 1,100kg for the diesel version. The electric variants can also tow up to 750kg.
What engines are in the E-Transit Courier and Transit Courier?
Ford hasn’t told us a great deal about the E-Transit’s powertrain just yet, other than to confirm it will be powered by a 136hp motor that will offer fast charging and a 90mph top speed. More information is set to follow closer to launch, and once the vehicle has been officially tested.
What we do know is that it will come with one-pedal driving as standard, along with scheduled pre-conditioning to get the cabin and battery to the optimum temperature before you set off.
Ford isn’t taking the E-Transit Courier fully electric just yet, though, and it will come with a choice of a petrol or diesel engine when it first goes on sale. Both are fairly familiar, being a 1.0-litre 125hp Ecoboost petrol and a 1.5-litre 100hp Ecoblue diesel. They come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard while the petrol can also come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
There will be three driving modes – Normal, Eco and Slippery. Eco will boost your range by reducing the accelerator response and lowering the climate control’s demand on the battery. Slippery will also dial down the throttle response but also adapt the steering to give you more control in low-grip scenarios.
Ford hasn’t confirmed fuel economy figures for either engine, but has said that they will come with a two-year, 18,000-mile service interval, which should help keep costs down a bit. It has also said that the electric version should prove 35% more affordable to run than the diesel model.
Does the electric Ford E-Transit Courier look different to the other versions?
The Transit Courier has taken a big stride visually compared to the outgoing model, with its styling firmly in line with the forthcoming Transit Custom. The upright grille with diamond styling, LED lights and bright colours should all help it stand out.
There is a little difference between the electric and non-electric versions, as the latter get a more staid and sensible front grille.
What is the 2023 Ford Transit Courier like inside?
There are more drastic changes inside, where there is the possibility to create a very upmarket and technology-driven cabin. Every Transit Courier comes with a decent-sized 8-inch touchscreen, but the higher-end electric versions get a 12-inch central screen and another 12-inch digital instrument panel.
These offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, while the satellite navigation can offer live updates on traffic, parking and local hazards, for a subscription fee though.
Storage played a big part in the design of the cabin, with a flexible compartment between the two front seats the most notable element. There are also slots for a phone on the central console and a steering-column-mounted gear shifter and electronic parking brake to free up further space.
There is also an optional Office Pack, which boosts the practicality of the cabin – this gives you a storable flat surface that will take, say, a laptop or act as a writing surface. There is no sign of the clever foldable steering wheel that features in the new Transit Custom, though.
What equipment does the 2023 Ford Transit Courier come with?
Ford hasn’t confirmed exactly what each trim will come with, but it has said that the models will follow the usual structure of its recent vans – think versions such as Active and Limited. What it has said is that there will be a high level of driver assistance tech as standard, including auto headlights, cruise control, driver alert, front and rear parking aids, hill start assist, intelligent speed assist, lane-keep alert, pre-collision assist, rear-view camera, traffic sign recognition and wrong way alert.
In a welcome move, Ford has upped the focus on security, as it is introducing four new lock packs for the Courier. It has partnered with TVL Security to offer an anti-pick lock for the driver’s door, auto locking side sliding and rear doors, extra hook locks on the side and rear doors to help prevent ‘peel and steal’ theft and hardened exterior locks on the loading bay doors.
When can I buy the Ford Transit Courier and how much will it cost?
The petrol and diesel models of the new Transit Courier will be the first ones to arrive, and you should be able to order them as soon as autumn 2023.
The E-Transit Courier will follow some while after, with Ford saying only that it will come ‘later in 2024.’ We don’t expect to hear more on pricing and specification until closer to its launch.
