The first all-wheel-drive version of the Transit Custom offered in Australia has been announced, with a focus on lifestyle rather than ABN-holders.
Order books are now open for the 2025 Ford Transit Custom Trail, the first all-wheel-drive Transit Custom offered in Australia, priced from $61,990 before on-road costs.
Due in local showrooms by the end of 2025, the Transit Custom Trail is based on the most popular Trend variant and comes exclusively in long-wheelbase (LWB) guise, but adds all-wheel drive and rugged styling.
The Transit Custom was the third-best selling nameplate in Ford’s local line-up in 2024 – with sales dominated by the Ford Ranger and its SUV spin-off, the Ford Everest.
The Trail’s announcement comes as Australian arrivals of the new Volkswagen Transporter – which shares its underpinnings and features with the Transit, and is also set to offer all-wheel drive – are due later this year.
Ford Australia is expanding its van line-up to more lifestyle-oriented customers, with the introduction of the Kia Carnival-rivalling Tourneo eight-seat people mover – the passenger version of the Transit Custom – at the end of last year.
The Ford Transit Custom Trail uses the 125kW/390Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine and eight-speed automatic already offered across the range, but adds electronically-controlled all-wheel drive.
While all-wheel-drive models have previously been offered overseas, the Trail is the first all-wheel-drive Transit Custom in Ford Australia showrooms, and the company's first four-wheel-drive van locally since 1989.
Details such as fuel consumption are yet to be confirmed, with figures from overseas listing the Trail as using marginally more fuel, at 8.8L/100km compared to 8.2L/100km for the equivalent front-drive model.
Its $61,990 (before on-road costs) list price is a $4000 step up from the front-wheel-drive Transit Custom Trend LWB – the mid-point of the line-up at $57,990 plus on-roads – it’s based upon.
On the outside, the Trail brings a unique front grille design, black wheel-arch surrounds, 16-inch matte-black alloy wheels, and a ‘Trail’ graphics pack including a silver side sticker.
The Trail’s cabin adds leather-look seat trim with ‘Trail’ embossed backrest logos on all three front seats – with a two-seat layout (a single passenger seat, rather than two) available as a $150 option.
It also brings the same standard equipment as the Trend, including heated front outboard seats and eight-way manual driver’s seat adjustment.
Keyless entry and start, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13-inch infotainment display, and front and rear parking sensors are standard.
There’s also a full-width metal bulkhead behind the front seats, LED lighting in the loading area, a kerbside sliding door and wide-opening rear barn doors.
Dual side load doors are a $1000 option, a rear liftgate is $700, and prestige paint – any colour other than Frozen White – also $700 more.
Ford also offers ‘SVO’ (Special Vehicle Options) factory paint on the Transit Custom line-up – including the Trail – for $1400, offering more than 100 colour choices.