2020 Ford Transit Crew Van Review: The Swiss Army Van

For generations, the Ford Transit Van has been the go-to name in vans and keeps selling in record numbers, but mounting pressure from competitors such as the Ram ProMaster and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has forced Ford to refresh and reinvent the Transit lineup. The 2020 Ford Transit Crew Van is technically a new addition to the Transit family and gets the new 275-horsepower, 262-lb-ft 3.5-liter V6 engine, and 10-speed automatic transmission. The Crew Van fills a niche for companies looking for a van with enough space for a 'crew' and their tools, and the result is a vehicle with seating for five and lots of useful cargo space. A more opulent alternative in the form of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Crew Van is available but it is quite a bit pricier than the Ford.

Transit Crew Van Exterior

Dimensions

Transit Crew Van Performance

Engine and Transmission

The 2020 Crew Van shares its engine options with the rest of the Transit family, which should provide peace of mind for buyers prioritizing reliability. Ford has blessed the Crew Van with a new 3.5-liter V6 engine borrowed from the F-150 pickup truck. This gas motor produces 275 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque and is both smoother and more economical than the outgoing engine. The star of the show is the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine that offers potent performance and tons of low-down power. This engine makes 310 hp and 400 lb-ft which it sends to the rear or all four wheels via a new ten-speed automatic transmission. The Transit Cargo Van with the same engine can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under seven seconds, providing some indication of the Crew Van's performance. The most capable Transit Crew Van has a towing capacity of up to 6,500 pounds while payload reaches up to 4,230 lbs. Both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants are available. Like most vans, expect fuel economy to climb if the vehicle is often fully loaded.

Transit Crew Van Interior

Transit Crew Van Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

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

Our 2020 Ford Transit Crew Van review reveals no surprises, and that's a good thing. The Transit family of vans is well-loved in the US, so any new addition is going to have a lot to live up to. It's difficult for the Crew Van to go wrong, as it's based on a proven platform and combines the best of city-going passenger vans with the practicality of a traditional cargo van. Unlike rivals such as the Nissan NV, the Ford Transit Crew Van is not a complete disaster to drive, and its two engine options are seriously impressive too. We are still impressed by the powerful twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine, and the fact that you can have the Crew Van in AWD guise is another massive selling point. The Crew Van offers class-leading cargo space, seating for five, and a comfortable interior with an impressive amount of tech on offer, including advanced driver assistance technology. With tons of configurations to choose from, this is definitely a strong competitor in this class.

What 2020 Ford Transit Crew Van Model Should I Buy?

This will depend on your daily needs, but Ford makes it easy to choose the right Crew Van by offering a ton of different configurations. The long body and high roof will be the best for carrying more stuff but will impede on maneuverability in the city. Whatever body style you go for, we'd suggest going for the more powerful twin-turbo engine; it transforms this working van into a surprising sleeper car and is worth the higher price. Regarding options, go for the added driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The price of the 2020 Ford Transit Crew Van spans close to $20,000 so there's a model to suit every budget.