Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford Transit crowned van king of the Arctic in sub-zero test

The Ford Transit and Transit Connect vans earned a double win after battling severe winter conditions in Finland van endurance test

The tough Ford Transit van has proven why it’s amongst the best in its class after enduring one of the coldest and most grueling van performance tests on the planet.

Both the new Ford Transit and Ford Transit Connect were placed under heavy pressure in the punishing five-day Arctic Van Test that took place in icy Finland – where temperatures can plummet to -50 degrees Celsius.

Advertisement - Article continues below

• Best small van 2014

Their fuel efficiency, load carrying and handling abilities were rigorously tested with slaloms across a frozen airfield and unnerving drives through 700 kilometres of frozen road. They were also left outside in sub-freezing temperatures overnight to see whether their engines and heating could function properly the day after.

In the end, the Ford vans prevailed and the expert drivers who tested them named them overall winners: Ford’s first double victory in the event’s 23-year history.

The Ford Transit was rated top or joint-top in nine out of 13 categories against rival models from Mercedes, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. The Ford Transit Connect’s handling and stability particularly impressed the judges and it ranked top or joint-top in seven categories against Citroen, Renault and Volkswagen.

“Every one of our new Ford Transits is tested in the world’s toughest climates and driving conditions long before launch, so they are prepared for just this kind of challenge,” said Paul Randle, Ford Europe’s vehicle line director. “Our customers depend on their Transits to get the job done, and we have made sure they are ready for work, whatever the weather.”

The video below shows a recap of the tough challenges both vans had to go through.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best large panel vans 2024
Best large panel vans - March 24 update
Best cars & vans

Best large panel vans 2024

Pick the right large panel van, and you'll have a machine that can do all sorts of jobs. We name our favourites
6 Mar 2024
Fancy new Ford Transit Connect gets plug-in hybrid power with a 68-mile EV range
Ford Transit Connect - front
News

Fancy new Ford Transit Connect gets plug-in hybrid power with a 68-mile EV range

The latest new member of the Transit family also features a dual-screen cabin and clever rear seats for the five-seater Kombi
31 Jan 2024
Best electric vans 2024
Best electric vans - header image
Best cars & vans

Best electric vans 2024

We reveal the best electric vans to buy or lease in the UK right now
24 Jan 2024
The most important cars of the last 35 years
Most important cars – header image
Best cars & vans

The most important cars of the last 35 years

We’ve reviewed hundreds of models over the past 35 years, but these are the ones that our team believes really made a difference
13 Oct 2023

Most Popular

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars will now pay £10 more per year, although the biggest gas guzzlers fare even worse
28 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024