The Ford Transit Custom Nugget: iconically compact. But at what cost?
At this point, Ford’s Transit Custom Nugget campervan needs no introduction, and being based on the UK’s most popular van model, it was pegged as a winning formula from the get-go. During our recent campervan pilgrimage to Stuttgart for the CMT Holiday Exhibition, the lofty Grand California may have caught our eye among a sea of medium-sized Cali’s, but the Nugget on show also more than held its own.
So, having topped up our energy reserves with a quick Currywurst pitstop, we set about navigating through the crowd to treat ourselves to a refresh of just what makes up the Nugget’s winning formula. Maybe the juxtaposition of large Grand California played into this — or the fact that the Nugget was placed in the caravan hall rather than with the #vanlife campers — but we were immediately struck by just how compact the Ford really is.
The benefits of a compact campervan could fill a small book: manoeuvrable, easy to park, easy to drive, easy to maintain… All while offering more space for you and your belongings than a true micro camper. ‘But at what cost?’ We ask, and do any potential pitfalls extend to Ford’s bite-sized nugget?
Image credit: Tyres4U
Premium headspace
Stepping inside and immediately finding the door frame with the top of one’s skull is a speedy reminder that some concessions do come with the Nugget’s tight-packed dimensions. Dictated by an external height of 2.04 m whether you opt for the short (5.05 m) or recently added long (5.45 m) wheelbase, it’s clear that internal space comes at a premium.
Image credit: Tyres4U
This is further emphasised when winding through the narrow corridor which leads from the living area towards the iconic rear kitchen, an act which requires a little bit of ducking and diving. However, once in the kitchen, and standing under the luxurious (and equally iconic) 2.6 m peak of the pop-top roof, there is suddenly ample space for any budding chefs.
That is, until you turn 180-degrees from the hob, and find yourself face-to-face with the inner boot-lid wall, or attempt to make a crouch-inducing exit through the rear opening — something we found to be a simultaneous test of back and knees.
Image credit: Tyres4U