When sizing up any van purchase or sale, few questions get asked as often as: “Will it still be worth something in three or five years?” With both the Ford Transit and Tourneo sharing similar bones, their fate on the UK’s used market takes unique turns. The Transit is everywhere — the preferred workhorse for fleets, sole traders and anyone shifting gear or people. The Tourneo is the comfort-led sibling, essentially a people carrier with a focus on families as well as airport shuttle duties.
Both badge-mates are reassuringly familiar, with running gear and cabins that have been refined over decades. But does the more rugged, utilitarian Transit depreciate more harshly than the plush Tourneo, with its luxury-seating and slick infotainment? Knowing which is the better bet depends on what you value: holding on to your van’s resale price, faster private turnaround, or easier access to buyers.
Let’s get stuck in.
Depreciation: Value Over Time
It’s one thing to see a van’s on-the-road price, and quite another to guess what it’ll stand for the day you’re ready to move on. Depreciation is the silent cost. Here’s how the numbers tend to shake out for these Ford favourites from 2020 to 2025.
Ford Transit: A typical new price hovers around £32,000. At three years old, expect dealers to pitch £17,000–£20,000 depending on mileage and spec. By the five-year mark, book values usually fall to £12,000–£14,000.
Ford Tourneo: Launch prices come in higher at £35,000. After three years, you’ll see returns around £20,000–£23,000. Five years on, most examples fetch £14,000–£16,000 at retail.
Transit loses about 50–60% of its value over five years, compared to 45–55% for the Tourneo. While the Tourneo does a fractionally better job of retaining value, the overall cost gap isn’t drastic given the differences in their new prices.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
Model
3-Year Value
5-Year Value
% Depreciation (5yr)
Ford Transit
£17–20k
£12–14k
~50–60%
Ford Tourneo
£20–23k
£14–16k
~45–55%
Worth highlighting: Most mainstream Transits are snapped up by businesses and contractors straight away, which leads to brisk early depreciation, but it also means there’s always a hungry market even as values slide.
Buyer Demand and Typical Use Cases
A van’s value on paper is one thing. How quickly you can move it on is another. The Ford Transit, with its unmistakable silhouette on any UK motorway, answers to the call of businesses up and down the country. Contract fleets, delivery drivers, and small business owners keep the cycle of buying fresh and disposing of older examples quick.
High Private Demand: Tourneo’s market is smaller. Most are snapped up by families needing eight seats, community groups, or professional airport shuttle companies. This more focused buyer pool means values hold a tad steadier — fewer on the market keeps asking prices resilient, but you might wait a little longer for a private sale.
Wider Appeal: Standard Transits find new homes fast because everyone needs them, from a university’s maintenance team to a window cleaner.
The main difference is volume versus rarity. Transits are all about turnover, shifting hands quickly, sometimes in bulk. Tourneos, meanwhile, wait for the right buyer and tend to command a slight premium on good examples.
The Running Costs Perspective
Initial purchase price isn’t the only line on the invoice. Maintenance, parts, fuel, and insurance all add up.
Ford Transit: These are built for cost-effective motoring. Parts are everywhere, almost any mechanic can fix them, and their insurance group is typically lower than a plush Tourneo. Routine servicing is generally affordable and can even be handled in-house on larger fleets. Expect tyre prices and general wear to be on the wallet-friendly side.
Ford Tourneo: A family’s favourite minibus, but its higher trim, plush interior, and extras can push up running costs. Seats, heating systems, premium sound, and climate control are wonderful to own but can be pricey to replace or repair. Tyres are often larger or more performance-oriented, and insurance falls into a more expensive group.
Cost over time can look like this:
Fuel: Similar for standard engines, but Tourneo often includes auto boxes and more weight for comfort features.
Servicing: Transit wins for cheap, widely available maintenance.
Parts: Transit parts cost less and are easy to source.
What Buyers Hunt For
No van owner plans to be stuck with a lemon when it’s time for trade-in or sale. Both Transit and Tourneo buyers have clear, sometimes unforgiving, checklists.
What matters most tends to be:
Transit Essentials:
Low mileage (modern fleets value anything sub-60,000 miles).
Euro 6 engines: Absolutely essential for ULEZ and CAZ compliance, now covering most major UK cities.
Long Wheelbase (LWB) or high-roof: Adds to practical usability and value.
Honest but straight bodywork: Dents forgiven, but rot not.
Tourneo Priorities:
Full service history: Evidence of careful private use, not taxi abuse.
Intact, unstained seats: Eight-seat layouts must be present, clean, and free from rips.
All features working: A broken air-con or infotainment system drops value steeply.
Paintwork and glass: More visible in family use, so condition really counts.
A tidy LWB Transit with below-average miles almost always gets snapped up. In the family segment, Tourneos with minimal wear, honest histories, and all electrics functional retain an even greater premium.
What Else is on the Market?
If you’re in the research phase and still thinking about which practical Ford suits you best, it’s easy to see why both models continually pop up on used forecourts and search filters.
Looking beyond the badge, alternatives exist, but few offer as broad a mix of efficiency, residual values, and ready support as these two.
Taking the Next Step
Those considering a trade-in or private sale often ask how to get a ballpark figure before listing their van. Ford vans are among the simplest to assess, as market values are tracked closely by both dealers and major buying groups.
Curious to see what your Transit or Tourneo could fetch today? A quick, obligation-free online valuation can mean the difference between accepting a lowball offer and achieving a price that keeps you in the driver’s seat.
Which holds value better: Ford Transit or Tourneo?
While both models share similar mechanicals, the Tourneo historically loses value at a slightly slower rate than the Transit. This is partly due to its appeal as a private, family-friendly vehicle with a smaller pool of well-kept examples.
Is a Ford Tourneo good for resale in the UK?
Tourneos tend to have a loyal following, particularly among families, taxi firms and community transport buyers. Well-kept, low-mileage Tourneos with intact seating and a full-service history often hold their value well, especially those compliant with emissions standards.
Do Ford Transits sell faster than Tourneos?
Generally, yes. The Transit’s immense popularity with businesses means there is usually a ready market, ranging from sole traders to large fleets. As a result, they are easier and quicker to sell, even if depreciation rates are a touch higher.
If you’re weighing up these two models, think about your usage, budget, and how soon you’d want to resell — both have their strengths, whether longevity, day-to-day practicality, or the speed at which you can move your van on to its next owner.
J
About Jamie Harris
Jamie Harris is a commercial vehicle analyst and van specialist, known for his clear and practical advice to fleet buyers and small businesses across the UK. Over the past 12 years, Jamie has reviewed hundreds of vans—including every version of the Vauxhall Movano—focusing on real-world usability, dimensions, and payloads.
