Ford Transit ECOnetic : CLEAN GETAWAY

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The Transit van has gone green. Steve Walker checks out the ECOnetic version.

The basic premise behind Ford's ECOnetic economy brand would appear to be a perfect fit in the cost-conscious commercial vehicle marketplace. Make some small, affordable modifications to an existing product to enhance its fuel economy and emissions performance. The Transit ECOnetic should be a success on that basis.

For businesses racking up thousands of miles per year in their commercial vehicles, a few extra miles in the gallon of fuel can make a massive difference. In the past, van drivers have tried every trick in the book to eek extra economy from their vehicles, from reducing the load to its bare minimum and prising off the air-conditioning control switch, to shoving a brick under the accelerator pedal and making the apprentice take the bus. Now the nice people at Ford have made the whole process of saving fuel a lot more straightforward with the Transit ECOnetic. The passenger car market has been choc-a-bloc with special edition models designed to maximise fuel efficiency and minimise costs for a while. Dubbed `eco' this or `green' that, they consist of a series of simple modifications made to an existing model. That's about the size of the Ford Transit ECOnetic too, the only surprise being that it took Ford as long as it did to bring the idea to the commercial vehicle arena. Nobody enjoys cutting costs like fleet managers and small business people do, so you'd imagine that this extra green Transit would have a bright future. The model Ford chose for conversion into ECOnetic trim is the Transit 280S with the 113bhp 2.2-litre TDCi diesel engine. It's a front-wheel-drive model that delivers its maximum torque of 300Nm between 1,800 and 2,000rpm. The engine has been recalibrated in this economy-focused model to reduce revs in the name of improving efficiency and there's a 70mph speed limiter which will also assist in keeping drivers' licences intact. Refinement isn't particularly outstanding but a full steel bulkhead helps keep noise levels low and the engine feels strong in everyday driving conditions. It certainly isn't fased by a weighty payload. The use of Ford's Durashift six-speed transmission in place of the standard five-speed `box is important to the ECOnetic's fuel saving remit. It gives a wider spread of gear ratios with short gearing at the bottom for pulling briskly from standstill and longer gears have been installed at the top for relaxed cruising.

"Ford claims that 39.2mpg is possible along with a tax-friendly CO2 emissions count of 189g/kmâ€¦"

The Transit generally handles very adeptly with a nice balance between comfort and manoeuvrability, particularly in the short-wheelbase models like the ECOnetic. The dash-mounted gear lever is pleasant to use and the van responds swiftly to steering inputs. It isn't a class leader in terms of ride comfort but few large panel vans are more rewarding to drive. Aside from badge on the back with its little leaf motif over the i, it isn't easy to tell an ECOnetic Transit from a standard short-wheelbase model. It features special low drag wheel trims and low rolling resistance tyres but otherwise, the look is standard. The maximum payload is measured at 1,097kg which is actually a fraction up on the standard 280S Transit and the load volume is a healthy 6.5 cubic meters. The interior of this generation Transit definitely made a step in a car-like direction, compared to its predecessor. Mock-aluminium detailing is not something I'd previously encountered in a panel van but there it is, glinting back at you from the Transit's gear lever, steering wheel spokes and stereo controls. More important than the cosmetics of it all is the sturdiness that's common to the switches, dials and other controls. There's a slightly modular feel to the dash with the dark grey plastic of the stereo console not quite tallying with the lower grade black material that constitutes the rest of the facia. Anyone who's driven Ford passenger cars will quickly form the suspicion that the Transit interior has been made more car-like by the liberal inclusion of bits of cars within it. That stereo, the stubby gear shifter and the steering wheel all look like they've seen service elsewhere in the Ford range. Of course, this is no bad thing. The burning question with the ECOnetic is always going to be; "just how efficient is it?". Well, Ford claims that 39.2mpg is possible along with a tax-friendly CO2 emissions count of 189g/km. That CO2 output is a 24g/km improvement over the standard Transit 280S model and the ECOnetic is also compliant with the EuroV emissions regulations thanks to the fitment of a diesel particulate filter. The designers have included some tidy storage solutions around the cabin with specific slots for 2-litre drinks containers and one for your mobile phone. There are cup holders in abundance and even a flip-up table on top of the facia to help drivers scale that mountain of paperwork. Ford's panel van has always been very strong on security and measures like a Thatcham alarm, hood lock and the PATS Passive Anti-Theft System mean nothing has changed. The Transit remains a real turn-off for the criminal element. Ford has included ESP stability control as standard on the Transit ECOnetic, an extremely worthwhile feature. The Ford system also includes a Hill Launch Assist (HLA) function which stops the van from rolling backwards when pulling away up steep inclines. The full steel bulkhead is also standard, as are load tie-down hooks and a natty CD stereo. With just one model on offer, Ford's massive range of Transit bodystyles doesn't apply to the ECOnetic but there is a detailed options list for any buyers wishing to push the boat out. Rear parking sensors or a rear-view camera with a cab-mounted colour display screen are just two of the extras on offer and should work wonders in preventing parking mishaps. It's amazing what a little bit of spanner time can achieve and Ford's engineers have done a thorough job of tweaking the Transit panel van into economical ECOnetic form. Low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic wheel trims, a slight engine re-calibration, longer gearing, a 70mph speed limiter, a diesel particulate filter and bob's your uncle - 39.2mpg and 189g/km. The Transit remains a top class panel van, simple but effective and lots of operators should be willing to take Ford up on its ECOnetic offer. The lack of choice in the ECOnetic range might be a drawback for operators used to Ford's vast Transit model range but if your business can use a short-wheelbase, front-wheel-drive model, the ECOnetic has got to be worthy of consideration. The more you drive it, the more you save.

Facts At A Glance MANUFACTURER: Ford MODEL: Transit ECOnetic BHP: 113bhp PAY
LOAD CAPACITY: 1,097kg LOAD VOLUME: 6.5m3 GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 2.8t LENGTH: 4,863mm WIDTH: 2,374mm HEIGHT: 2,089mm May 29th 2009