Ford PH to unveil the 2020 Transit, price starts at Php 2.5 million

MANILA: Ford Group Philippines released a teaser photo last month of a front grille with a "Taking Mobility Further" caption. And now the automotive company finally announced the 2020 Transit launch date; it’s going to arrive on November 27.

Like we reported last month, Ford Philippines is indeed launching the Ford Transit MPV our shores and would go head to head with popular contenders like the Toyota HiAce and Hyundai Grand Starex.

Besides the fact that they will indeed launch the new Ford Transit, there are no other details in terms of which model—will it be the XLT passenger van, the plush Transit Custom, or the larger Transit. While the three Ford vans may look very similar, the size, exterior trims, and cabin are slightly different.

If it's the XLT, it will be able to seat up to 15 people. If it is the Custom, it can fit up to 8 people. If it is the larger Transit, then most likely, that would be marketed more as a cargo vehicle rather than a passenger van. But then again, it could be nice to have it customized like an RV for those cross-country trips or when braving the endless traffic in EDSA.

In terms of trims, the XLT is more of a commercial-used van, thus the seating capacity. The plushier Transit Custom has more exterior upgrades like alloy wheels, color-keyed trimmings, and more comfy seats. Expected features will be an infotainment system that’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible, digital instrumentation cluster, and dashcam with a reverse camera as part of standard specs in all models.

In terms of power train option, we’re guessing a 2.0-liter EcoBlue turbo-diesel engine (like those from the Ranger and Everest) partnered to a 6-speed or 10-speed manual transmission with an automatic as an option. Or, we could get the American model which comes in several variants: a 3.2-liter inline-five, a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, or a 3.7-liter V6 engine.

This is not the first time that Ford will offer a van option. It had offered the E-150 before but was not received well because of its fuel-downing engine and subpar AC system that could not keep up with our tropical climate. The impending Ford Transit launch did not come much as a surprise since there is a growing demand for high-roof van segment in the country with Hyundai and Toyota currently leading the pack.

But if Ford wants to be successful in penetrating this market segment, it has to price its Transit competitively. According to sources, the Ford Transit price tag will likely start from Php 2.5 and can go as high as Php 2.8 million.

Also Read: Ford Ranger XLS sells for under Php 1-million, XLT gets huge discounts