2022 Ford Transit Cargo Van

Despite its size, the Transit isn't a difficult vehicle to maneuver and place on the road. The electrically-assisted power steering is smooth, light, and direct, with sufficient resistance. On smooth roads and around town, the Transit is adequately composed and comfortable enough for long stints behind the wheel, although the lack of insulation inherent to cargo vans means that rougher road surfaces can be quite noisy. The suspension also does become agitated, but sticking to the speed limits won't be excessively annoying, even on pockmarked tarmac. Although not as good at mimicking a car's levels of comfort like the Sprinter does, the Transit does behave decently, with minimal noise from the engines. Braking is similarly decent and won't scare the driver away from higher freeway speeds, but, as with most vans, that is also dependent on the level of load the Transit is carrying. The presence of all-wheel-drive on the options list is also welcome and allows for an even greater breadth of ability. With this option ticked, you can tackle muddy roads and slippery surfaces with a lot more confidence and grace. The system is intelligent, too, and can send up to 100% of the power to the front axle if the conditions demand it. No more delaying of deliveries when it's snowing.

The full-size cargo van segment is a competitive one, with numerous options available from various automakers, and numerous different powertrains and body styles on offer. At one end of the spectrum, you get simple offerings like the Ram ProMaster and Nissan NV Cargo that offer a no-frills approach to getting the job done. On the other end, you have vans like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which is all but untouchable when it comes to comfort, convenience, style, and general appeal. The Transit fits in somewhere around the middle. It's not as car-like as the Merc, nor as simple as the Ram, and manages to remain both cost-effective and comfortable for everyday use. With a huge variety of configurations offering varying levels of ability and convenience, and the availability of all-wheel-drive, the Transit is a van that is capable of satisfying every need with ease, enabling it to remain competitive even after 40 years of dominance.

The Ram ProMaster is a slightly cheaper alternative to the Ford Transit, with its smallest configuration starting around $34,380 compared to the Ford's 36-odd grand. It too is powered by a V6 engine, albeit with 100 ccs more capacity, and develops similar power (280 hp/260 lb-ft compared to the Transit's 275 hp/260 lb-ft). It only has a nine-speed gearbox and a gas tank that is a gallon smaller, so fuel range is likely to be worse in the Ram. Available infotainment systems are similar and there is no big difference is in the vehicles' abilities as haulers either. The ProMaster can tow up to 6,910 lbs, while the Transit will do up to 6,900 lbs. The Ford is more comfortable and has more standard safety equipment, justifying its price premium.

The Sprinter starts at a slightly higher base price than the Transit of $36,355 - $430 more than the Ford. Unlike its American counterparts, the Sprinter is powered by a relatively tiny 2.0-liter turbo engine and only produces 188 hp as standard. Torque is close to that of the Transit though with only two lb-ft deficit, but you can pay more for a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with the same power but 325 lb-ft of torque, increasing its towing ability considerably to 7,500 lbs - better than that of the Transit. The Sprinter is an impressive machine with class-leading comfort and fantastic maneuverability. It also boasts Mercedes' outstanding new MBUX infotainment system that will feature on all new Mercs going forward. Where the Transit focuses more on outright ability, the Sprinter is more concerned with comfort. It's also a capable vehicle, but if aesthetics and ergonomics aren't as important as getting the job done as simply and as efficiently as possible, the Ford is a much better choice.