Driving the hot hatch of vans: 2024 Ford E-Transit Custom MS-RT review

06/25/2024 12:00 AM

2024 Ford E-Transit Custom MS-RT

It is no secret Australians love performance cars.

We are a small market of 1.2 million new-vehicle sales annually – compared to 15 million in the US – yet any car brand with a high-performance vehicle division will report Australia ranks among the top markets for sales of sporty cars, whether per capita or outright.

You can buy a fast hatchback, fast sedan, fast wagon, fast coupe or convertible, fast SUV and, as an estimated 10,000 Ford Ranger Raptor customers proved last year, a fast ute.

But what about a high-performance… van?

It is an alien concept in Australia, where most vans are base-model diesels on steel wheels, and the top-selling van – the Toyota HiAce – doesn't even offer a choice of colour beyond white, let alone multiple engines (not anymore, at least).

In Europe, there is a market for vans with a – visually, at least – sporty vibe. Among them is a sports-themed version of the Ford Transit Custom developed with MS-RT, an off-shoot of M-Sport, the sole Ford team in the World Rally Championship (not to be confused with BMW’s M Sport range of products).

For the first time, the Transit Custom MS-RT is available in electric form – and it has more power than the rest of the range at 210kW, more than the final Ford Focus ST petrol hot hatch.

The catch? Ford says it has no plans to offer the MS-RT variant in Australia.

Previous Transit Custom MS-RT vans have been offered locally through independent firms – and it could continue for the new model – but Ford Australia head office won't sell this sporty van through its dealerships.

Drive doesn't normally test vehicles not sold in Australia, but Ford had a trio of E-Transit Custom MS-RTs available to test at a European preview drive of the regular Australia-bound Transit Custom range, which is coming Down Under – and we couldn't resist taking it for a spin to see what we're missing out on.

For a more in-depth look at the diesel Transit Custom coming to Australia, click here – and to read about the standard E-Transit Custom, click here.

Previous generations of the Transit Custom MS-RT have had the base vehicle produced by Ford at its factory in Turkey, before vans are shipped to MS-RT where the visual and handling upgrades are applied.

Now it is an in-house operation, with vans rolling off the Ford production line in finished MS-RT form and shipped directly dealers in Europe.

The MS-RT treatment starts on the outside. A new front bumper with larger air intakes features, plus a sportier rear bumper with diffuser elements that – if you squint – could be confused for exhaust outlets.

You can't miss the rear spoiler – which protrudes from the side and top of the body – and new side skirts.

Wheel-arch flares house 19-inch grey wheels that are half an inch wider – and 1kg lighter each – than the regular Transit Custom's alloys, plus a 50mm-plus wider footprint on the road, and sportier "commercial-rated" 235/45 Goodyear Eagle Sport tyres.

Other exterior changes: blue brake calipers, MS-RT badges, and gloss black mirror caps and door handles.

There is a wild range of colours, from purple, orange, and three shades of blue, to the 'Yellow Green' pictured – though we implore you to find lighting conditions that will actually make this green van look yellow.

The idea of a bright green van with an obnoxiously large spoiler sounds silly – and it will be an acquired taste for many – but we love the look, and it's a refreshing change from the refrigerator white paint and black bumpers usually seen on vans.

The changes continue inside, with a sports seat for the driver in three-seat versions – or for both front occupants in vans with two front seats – that has tighter bolsters than regular Transit Customs, and suede/synthetic leather-look upholstery.

The extra support is immediately noticeable upon getting in, and the MS-RT is not far off the sports seats in the defunct Fiesta ST and Focus ST hot hatchbacks as far as seat comfort and support is concerned.

The steering wheel has a markedly thicker rim than the regular Transit Custom – with a blue 12 o'clock stripe – and goes a long way to making the MS-RT feel sportier behind the wheel.

The list of convenience features and technology matches the rest of the new Transit Custom range, with a 13-inch touchscreen, 7.0-inch instrument display, wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and a full suite of safety technology.

It's here where the differences between the MS-RT and a full performance model such as a Focus ST show.

There are no unique graphics for the infotainment screen, no extra drive modes, and no other MS-RT-specific trim – though you could argue we're asking too much of a niche type of vehicle, a sporty van, that is a rarity in the market anyway.

European buyers can choose from a broad range of body lengths for the MS-RT – matching the rest of the line-up – with the same 6.8 cubic metres of load space in long-wheelbase versions.

Payload is down slightly compared to other models, but it's still up to 1124kg – or 968kg in the short-wheelbase model we tested in Germany – which is hardly low for a van of this size.

What you may be wondering is if the MS-RT treatment is limited to an appearance pack. We're glad to report it isn't.

Customers in Europe can order the MS-RT with diesel and petrol-electric plug-in hybrid, but only the electric version gets more power to back up its more aggressive looks.

It has the same single rear-mounted electric motor as other E-Transit Customs, but different software calibration unlocks a 210kW output in Sport mode – up from 160kW and 100kW ratings in cheaper models, which are still available in the MS-RT by selecting Normal and Eco modes respectively, designed to maximise driving range.

From a standing start, there's not much of a difference between the 160kW and 210kW tunes – but from about 20km/h the latter provides a stronger punch, and it makes for genuinely brisk acceleration, van standards or otherwise.

Ford doesn't quote a 0–100km/h acceleration time – let's be frank, it's still a van – but from our initial feeling behind the wheel, we wouldn't be surprised if it can achieve a time below eight seconds.

Drive has clocked a 9.3-second 0–100km/h acceleration time in a full-size Ford E-Transit electric van, which has 12kW less and 400kg more than this E-Transit Custom MS-RT – and has a bigger body to push through the air – so our guess feels achievable.

The battery is the same 64kWh (useable) lithium-ion pack is the same as other E-Transit Custom models, though the body kit and Goodyear Eagle tyres cut the claimed WLTP driving range from up to 337km to 275km.

We weren't driving the MS-RT to maximise driving range, so we can't comment on how achievable Ford's claim is, though when driven with enthusiasm the trip computer was showing close to 30kWh per 100 kilometres – equating to about 215km of range.

The standard Transit Custom is already a great van to drive – with comfortable suspension, good roadholding, and accurate steering – but the MS-RT takes it a step further.

With larger 19-inch wheels than other models, the MS-RT rides firmer than regular E-Transit Custom vans, though it's not harsh or jittery – rather just has a sharper reaction to potholes and speed bumps, possibly helped by the 500kg Ford loaded into all Transit Customs we drove in Germany.

The steering is heavier – particularly in Sport mode – for a more reassuring feel, though the MS-RT doesn't introduce any more accuracy or directness than the regular van, which already has steering that's not worlds away from a large SUV or passenger car.

There's plenty of grip from the Goodyear Eagle Sport tyres, and it corners relatively flat – at least for a van. The brakes are unchanged from the regular E-Transit Custom, meaning a pedal on the softer side of the scale, and the option of a 'one-pedal' drive mode.

We wouldn't go so far as to say the MS-RT is worthy of the ST badge, but it is more enjoyable to drive than the standard E-Transit Custom.

If we're being honest, it's the sports driver's seat and steering wheel that make the MS-RT feel more special on the road 99 per cent of the time – given it's not significantly faster in a straight line, and still feels like a van in corners.             

However, there is one other big catch: the price.

In the UK, the most expensive short-wheelbase, standard-roof Ford E-Transit Custom that's not an MS-RT costs £60,276.80 drive-away with VAT (sales tax) included – but the flagship variant starts from an eye-watering £74,400.80.

A direct currency conversion equates to a staggering $140,000 for the MS-RT – compared to $115,000 for the standard model – but the more relevant comparison is the price of a Ford Ranger Raptor V6 performance ute in the UK: £62,479.

In Australia, the Ranger Raptor starts from $90,400 plus on-road costs – so pricing the van 20 per cent higher, as seen in the UK, translates to about $108,000 plus on-road costs, or approximately $115,000 drive-away.

That's before ticking any option boxes, of which there are plenty for the MS-RT in the UK – but few for the Raptor.

While we love how the E-Transit Custom MS-RT looks, feels and drives, it would be a difficult sell at $115,000 drive-away – or more than twice the price of the cheapest diesel Transit Custom – in Australia.

If Ford Australia can negotiate hard with head office for a sharper price, we think there could be a market for a limited run of 50 to 100 examples.

Alternatively, it could offer the MS-RT exterior styling as a built-to-order option pack through dealers – without the power upgrade – for buyers who are sold on the looks, again assuming Ford can make the sums work.

The appeal of the Ford E-Transit Custom MS-RT is undoubtedly niche, but it's an interesting vehicle nonetheless that, at the right price, could find a group of keen buyers in Australia.

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