2023 Ford Transit Cargo Van Performance

The Transit is truly versatile, with numerous sizes and shapes designed to make it the ideal business partner regardless of profession. The two engine options are both 3.5-liter V6s but are very different. One is a 275-hp naturally-aspirated gas motor with 260 lb-ft of torque, while the more powerful option is a 310-hp twin-turbo engine with 400 lb-ft of twist. Both variants are equipped with a ten-speed automatic gearbox and you can have a choice between rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive - the latter was added in 2020 and puts the Transit on an even keel with the Mercedes Sprinter in offering AWD.

While both engines are impressive power plants, they only allow the Transit to tow between 5,000 and 6,900 lbs, which trails considerably behind the capabilities of some rivals, with vans like the Mercedes Sprinter managing 7,500 lbs and the NV Cargo van hauling up to 9,400 lbs. Payload is similarly average, even though it's been improved slightly for 2022, with a minimum rating of 3,148 lbs and a maximum of 5,174. The competitive Sprinter predictably bests it here too, with 6,823 lbs of maximum cargo-carrying capacity. However, the Transit sells well for a reason: it's reliable and gets the job done for almost every type of workman. With the addition of all-wheel-drive, the Transit is now more competitive and even more versatile, meaning that it'll probably appeal to even more buyers now.

The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that is a repurposed version of the F-150 truck's 3.3-liter motor that has been bored out for more capacity and, therefore, more power. It produces 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which will be more than enough for most applications. For those who need to package or pull more lardy payloads, a 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 is available that develops an impressive 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. It has a stop/start function for greater fuel economy, which business owners will certainly find valuable. Either variant is fitted with the same ten-speed SelectShift automatic gearbox, proving to be a smooth-shifting and capable transmission adept at choosing the correct gear for the moment.

Real-world reports for 2019 models with the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine showed between 14 and 17 mpg in with mixed driving styles, which would have improved for city driving in the meantime, since the start-stop function has become available. The naturally aspirated V6 does a touch better, with an expected 15/19/17 mpg in the city/highway/combined cycles - unladen. For comparison's sake, official EPA figures are available for the naturally aspirated V6 Passenger Wagon and these are about 16 mpg for both the 2WD and 4WD models on the combined cycle - also unladen. A 25-gallon gas tank is standard, with a 31-gallon tank available for extended range.