Ford Transit arrives in PH, to rival Toyota HiAce and Hyundai Starex

MANILA: Ford Philippines is expanding its current line-up. Apart from SUVs such as EcoSport, pickup trucks like the Ranger, and sports cars such as Mustang, Ford is welcoming a new member into its family. Meet the 2020 Ford Transit, an intelligent passenger van.

Earlier this month, Ford teased the Transit as something that would take mobility further. It’s not a new model – the nameplate had been around since 1965 and more than 8 million units have been sold since. However, this is the first time that Ford is offering it in the Philippines.

“Given its global success in boosting productivity for businesses, we at Ford are excited to bring the all-new Transit with the continued growth of the light commercial bus and van segment (LCBV) in the Philippines,” said PK Umashankar, Managing Director of Ford Philippines.

New Ford Transit measures 5981 mm in length, 2474 mm in width, and 2517 mm in height. It may be one of the largest vehicles in the country, but it doesn’t have an aggressive stance that most seem to have nowadays. Instead, it stays true to its class and gets curves all over.

It has a stubby front fascia with a gently-sloping hood, massive halogen headlights, and an underwhelming front bumper. Even the hexagonal front grill looks soft on the new Transit.

Towards the sides are curved wheel arches, concaving shoulder lines, power-folding side mirrors, sliding doors, and power side steps to help passengers easily get on the ride. At the back are double-wing doors with 180-degree opening and a stepboard that’s been integrated into the rear bumper.

Inside, the 2020 Ford Transit has enough room for 15 passengers. The tall roof and wide cabin mean there should be plenty of headspace and elbow room. Unfortunately, we couldn’t say the same about the legroom as it looks cramped from the seat layout.

For entertainment, the audio system has a built-in AM/FM radio with Bluetooth, AUX, and USB connectivity. Other interior features include 12 cup holders and 21 storage bins.

Safety-wise, Ford Transit specs sheet is equipped with anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, three-point seatbelts, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, a rear view camera, and an escape hatch so passengers can exit the vehicle in emergencies.

Powering the van is a 2.2L Duratorq four-cylinder turbo diesel mill mated to a six-speed manual transmission. It runs on rear-wheel drive and is capable of producing about 133 horsepower and 385 Nm of torque.

Ford Transit is now available in local dealerships across the country. Buyers can choose from three color options – Frozen White, Magnetic Metallic, and Moondust Silver. It has a new Transit price starts from Php 2,300,000 which includes 5 years of scheduled service maintenance.

Now that it’s out, Ford Transit will rival Toyota HiAce and Hyundai Grand Starex.

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