Ford Transit
Tested model: 2.0 diesel, AT, Medium Wheelbase, Medium Roof
Applies to: 4th generation, 2024 onwards
The latest (2024 onwards) version of the Transit excels in all areas, and becomes the latest commercial van from Ford to gain a five-star rating. With safety technology which is on a par with modern passenger cars, the Transit sits comfortably amongst the vans offering the highest levels of safety. The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system can detect cars and vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. In tests of its reaction to stationary cars, performance was good, although the reaction of the forward-collision warning system, which sits alongside AEB, tailed off at the highest test speeds. With a slower moving car in front, or where that car was decelerating, the system's reaction was good, with only some slight diminishment at the highest speeds. Performance was consistent, regardless of the degree of overlap between the test vehicle and the target. The system's reaction against pedestrians and cyclists was also very good, with collisions avoided in most test scenarios, and almost full points being scored.
The Transit's lane support system gently corrects the vehicle's path if it is drifting out of lane, and also intervenes more aggressively in cases where the vehicle might leave the road. Lane departure warning is standard but blind-spot monitoring is an option that was included in the assessment of the van.
The speed assistance system uses a camera and digital mapping to determine the local speed limit and presents this to the driver, who can then set the speed limiter appropriately. The limiter was found to maintain an accurate speed relative to the one required.
There is a standard-fit seatbelt reminder system for both the driver and passenger seat. A system issues an alert if it recognises a driving pattern that is characteristic of a fatigued driver.
Level 2 Assisted Driving for highways is available as an option, as is intelligent adaptive cruise control (iACC).