2020 Ford Transit Cargo Van Review: Ol' Faithful

The 2020 Ford Transit Cargo Van continues a tradition of this being one of the best-selling full-size cargo vans through the years and it shows no signs of slowing down. Traditional competitors such as the Chevrolet Express have been joined by the more upmarket Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which has led Ford to update the 2020 model with a host of new features, including a new 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 gas engine with 275 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear or all four wheels via a new 10-speed automatic transmission. There are three roof heights and three body lengths on offer, and the largest model probably has almost enough cargo space inside to fit another small car. Has Ford done enough to keep its challenger at the top in the USA? Let's find out in our 2020 Ford Transit Cargo Van review.

2020 Transit Cargo Van Exterior

Dimensions

LengthWheelbaseHeightMax Width
219.9 in130.0 in83.9 in81.3 in


2020 Transit Cargo Van Performance

2020 Transit Cargo Van Interior

2020 Transit Cargo Van Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

BasicDrivetrainCorrosionRoadside Assistance
3 Years / 36,000 Miles5 Years / 60,000 Miles5 Years / Unlimited Miles5 Years / 60,000 Miles


Verdict: Is the 2020 Ford Transit Cargo Van A Good van?

Cargo vans of this size will always be in demand and there are many players offering excellent packages. At the bottom of the pack, simple and cheap options such as the Ram ProMaster and Nissan NV Cargo offer a no-frills solution for those looking to get the job done without fuss. At the other end, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter provides a more premium experience but at a generally higher price. The Ford falls neatly in the middle of the pack. It's still affordable for most but offers more "luxury" features than the Nissan and Ram, making it more pleasant for the driver and passenger although without approaching minivan levels of comfort. The Transit Cargo Van comes with two powerful engine options, a ton of configurations, both RWD and AWD, and impressive safety specs. It might not be the class leader in terms of payload and towing capability, but it is a trusted and well-respected product for a reason and is well worth a test drive.

What 2020 Ford Transit Cargo Van Model Should I Buy?

The price of the 2020 Transit Cargo Van in the US varies significantly across the trim levels but that's no surprise since cargo vans are offered in many shapes and sizes to cater to individual business needs, and there is rarely ever a one-size-fits-all solution, so the dimensions of the variant you end up buying will depend on your own specific requirements. In terms of engine options, the new naturally-aspirated motor is up to task and will gladly handle all the weight the Transit can take, but if you want to get the job done with more power and swifter acceleration, the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 is the way to go - at an added cost, of course. In terms of optional extras and accessories, we'd spend some money upgrading the infotainment system to the larger eight-inch display, and we'd add driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert to make city driving that much easier. However, we wouldn't add too many extras to keep the MSRP reasonable.