Australia's Best Van Two Years Running — and WA Buyers Should Take Notice

The Ford Transit Custom has taken out best van honours for the second consecutive year, and if you're in the market for a mid-size van in Western Australia — whether you're running a trade business in the Perth suburbs or heading off-grid in the Pilbara — this is the one to beat.

It saw off two strong finalists — the Hyundai Staria Load and the Volkswagen Transporter — to claim the top spot. Neither are bad vans, but neither can match the Transit Custom's sheer breadth of options.

More Powertrain Choices Than Ever

Last year, the Transit Custom won on the strength of a single diesel powertrain. Ford has since expanded the range significantly, adding a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric variant, along with an all-wheel drive option. For WA buyers, that matters. If you're based in Perth and doing mostly metro runs, the PHEV makes a genuine case for itself — especially with WA fuel prices being what they are. If you're covering serious distance between regional centres or carting gear across unsealed roads, the diesel AWD is the more sensible pick.

That kind of flexibility across a single model range is rare, and it's a big part of why the Transit Custom sits at the top.

Built for Work, Not an Afterthought

Ford hasn't just bolted a modern dashboard onto a basic workhorse. The cabin is genuinely well thought out — practical layout, decent technology, and the kind of ergonomics that matter when you're spending eight hours a day behind the wheel on WA's long straight roads.

The load bay is spacious, as you'd expect, but what separates the Transit Custom is how well it drives. The steering is precise, the ride is comfortable even when unladen, and the powertrains are smooth and responsive. That last point shouldn't be taken for granted in a commercial van — plenty of rivals feel agricultural at highway speeds.

For tradies doing runs between Perth's outer suburbs, or owner-operators logging kilometres between Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, or Bunbury, a van that's easy to drive all day is a real advantage — it reduces fatigue and keeps you sharper on the road.

Who Should Be Looking at One?

The Transit Custom's range covers commercial operators who need a reliable, capable workhorse, but it also suits the growing number of WA buyers converting vans for remote travel and extended outback trips. The 'van life' market has exploded in this state for good reason — WA has some of the best accessible wilderness in the country, and a well-specced Transit Custom with AWD gives you a serious platform to build on.

Whether you need a workhorse or an adventure base, there's a Transit Custom variant that fits. That versatility — backed up by genuinely strong driving dynamics — is what makes it the standout choice in this segment right now. If you're shopping for a van in WA, start here.