What is the Ford version of the Transporter?
The ford transit custom is front-wheel drive (fwd) only – all factory models drive the front wheels. This layout is common in medium vans for weight and space efficiency. The vw transporter is also primarily fwd, but critically it offers optional all-wheel drive (awd) on many variants (volkswagen calls it 4motion). The new volkswagen transporter isn’t just a ford | editor’s choice july 2025. The iconic volkswagen transporter now shares the same platform as the ford transit custom.The all-new seventh-generation VW Transporter really is ‘all-new’. That’s new platform, new powertrains and new electronics. That’s largely because this new Volkswagen is actually a Ford Transit Custom.It was developed as part of Ford and VW’s ‘strategic partnership’ – the one that also gave us the Ranger/Amarok and Caddy/Connect – and is build at Ford’s factory. In the UK, the Transporter is VW’s best-selling model, but it sits in the Transit Custom’s shadow when it comes to sales.However, the VW Transporter van isn’t quite as brand new and original as that might suggest. This is the latest vehicle to emerge from the partnership between VW and Ford, so this Transporter is fundamentally the same vehicle as the UK’s favourite van, the Ford Transit Custom.While they share some components, each brand has incorporated their distinct designs, and the new Transporter is expected to follow suit. Expect key design elements, especially the front end, to reflect Volkswagen’s signature style, while remaining distinct from Ford’s.
Is the new VW Transporter the same as the Ford Transit?
That’s right, the Volkswagen Transporter is now a rebadged and (slightly) redesigned version of Ford’s best-selling light commercial vehicle. The major differences are aesthetic and spec-based, with the most prominent changes visible at the front end and on the dashboard in the cabin. No, the new Cali isn’t related to the Transit Custom as my buddy soon realised. So why is the T7 not part of the Ford light commercials alliance? Well, that’s to do with timings. This big camper is based on the long version of Volkswagen’s own Multivan, that model having been launched back in 2021.Although they are not entirely the same vehicle, the Ford Transit Custom, the Ford Tourneo Custom, and the VW T7 are all built on the same platform. This means they share the same chassis, powertrain, infotainment software, and some interior components.
Are all transit vans Ford?
The Ford Transit is a family of light commercial vehicles manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since 1965, primarily as a cargo van, but also available in other configurations including a large passenger van (marketed as the Ford Tourneo in some markets since 1995), cutaway van chassis, and a pickup truck. Typical Lifespan of a Ford Transit Most Ford Transit vans are built to withstand high mileage demands. With proper care, it’s not uncommon to see these vans last between 200,000 and 300,000 miles or more.However, most any Ford Transit van has proved durability in the van market. CoPilot Search suggests that the Ford Transit models 2018-2021 have been rated the most reliable vehicles compared to other models. Overall, Ford has maintained a commitment to quality and reliability throughout the years.