Ford Transit Customretains top accolade

The Transit Custom’s combination of innovation, interior quality, equipment, driving experience and sales success see it become the first vehicle to retain the Van of the Year award from the industry’s premier light commercial vehicle publication.

Ford’s director of fleet operations Phil Hollins collected the award from What Van? Editor Paul Barker and awards sponsor Leaseplan’s Mark Lovett at the awards event, held at the high-quality Indian restaurant Zaiki in London’s Kensington.

“It was a difficult decision to break with tradition and give our biggest award to a van that was victorious the previous year, but the Transit Custom’s impact on the light commercial vehicle market means the success is warranted,” said Paul.

“It’s been a deservedly successful first year for the Custom, a vehicle that has moved the sector on in a whole series of ways.”

Ford also picked up awards for the Fiesta Van in the light van category, the Transit Custom in the medium van sector, and the Ranger won best pick-up.

What Van? also used the 2014 awards to establish its Hall of Fame, with the first inductee being the Vauxhall Vivaro.

The van, which comes out of the UK’s only major remaining LCV manufacturing base in Luton, has been on sale since 2001 and will be replaced in 2014 by an all-new model, but its impact during its lifetime makes it a worthy opening entrant.

Other winners included a pair of prizes for both Mercedes-Benz – the Sprinter took the large van category and the firm also picked up the Safety Award – and VW which won the Best Website and Used Van of the Year titles, the latter for the Transporter.

Nissan, Fiat, BCA, Ashwoods and Mitsubishi were among the other companies collecting prizes.

To test drive any of the Ford commercial vans contact Birchwood Ford Commercial, Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, BN23 – 6PX. Tel: 01323 408686