2020 Ford Transit Passenger Van Review

　　

2020 Ford Transit Passenger Van Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2020 Ford Transit's versatile and customizable nature makes it a boon for van shoppers needing maximum people-carrying capabilities. Today's minivans might offer features the Transit can only dream of, but they can't match the Transit's size or seating for up to 15 people.

　　Ford has added a number of new features for 2020, including a new base V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission that should help improve fuel economy. All-wheel drive is available for the first time as well. As for features, Ford has added a collection of driver assist features, including forward collision mitigation, plus new interior technology features such as a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

　　The Transit itself remains unchanged. It's still basically a box on wheels fitted with several rows of seating or space for cargo. That's par for the course with this class of vans. Maximum seating, minimum frills. Competitors might offer a few more modern amenities or a bit more maximum towing power, but the Transit is a strong player and a worthwhile consideration for those looking for lots of utility at a reasonable price.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Transit Passenger Van drive? The turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 gives the Transit tons of character. Acceleration is easy and smooth around town thanks to the 10-speed automatic transmission, and when you need to climb a mountain or speed away from the light, the EcoBoost engine has you covered. At our test track, the Transit did the run from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds. That's really moving for a vehicle this large and heavy.

　　Typical braking feels easy and responsive, but the Transit took a bit longer to make panic stops than other vans we've tested in this class. The Transit's steering gives you a decent feel for the road and easily returns to center after turning. Handling is a bit of a shocker since this giant van is actually pretty fun to drive, even if you haven't converted it into a party bus.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Transit Passenger Van? The Transit offers a surprisingly good ride, even in this heavy-duty 14-passenger configuration. Most big bumps are soaked up, and only the sharpest of impacts make their way into the cabin. Road and wind noise is pretty noticeable thanks to the big profile, but that's to be expected. Even so, it's not as loud as some competitors.

　　The driver's seat, while a bit awkwardly positioned, is supportive and comfortable on long trips. The rear seats are a bit flatter and less comfortable, but they're totally acceptable for a heavy-duty van. The climate control system keeps the cavernous cabin cool on hot days, and optional heated front seats warm up nicely on colder days.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Climbing into and out of a large van like the Transit will always be a bit difficult, but the wide-opening front and side doors make it easier. Once you're inside, the driver controls are well laid out, with large knobs for the climate control and intuitive buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel. And unless you're loading in 14 NFL linebackers, the cabin should be roomy enough for almost any group.

　　The driving position is a low point for the Transit, offering a sort of top-down view of the dash, with a long reach to the steering wheel for taller drivers. Forward visibility is excellent, but a big pillar behind the driver obscures the immediate view to the side. Blind-spot monitoring helps a great deal here. A high-mounted wide-angle rearview camera and big side mirrors also help in getting this big van into relatively tight spaces.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? Ford's optional Sync infotainment system is a must-have in the Transit. It has a clear 8-inch display for the navigation screen, easy-to-use voice controls, and smartphone integration for both Apple and Android devices. The eight-speaker stereo that comes with the Sync system isn't as impressive, but it gets the job done. Six USB ports and two 12-volt outlets should keep most of your devices charged too.

　　A number of driver aids are available on the Transit. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert come standard. Adaptive cruise control is optional, as is a split-view front camera — both of which performed adequately during our test.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? The massive dimensions of the high-roof, long-wheelbase Transit allow for a great deal of interior storage. Under the seats, there's plenty of room for luggage, and small items can be stored in a number of front cubbies. The cupholders are large, deep and numerous, lining the cabin for all those late-night 14-person fast-food runs. As many as 11 car seats can be loaded in, though attaching them to the lower tethers may be a bit time-consuming.

　　Hauling capabilities with the Transit are right near the top of the class, and depending on equipment, the Transit has a maximum payload capacity of 4,230 pounds. Max towing is behind class leaders by a few hundred pounds, but its max rating of 4,300 pounds is respectable.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? What the EcoBoost Transit gains in performance with the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, it loses in fuel economy. Based on its heavy-duty status, the Transit isn't rated for fuel economy by the EPA, but during our test we weren't able to crest 13 mpg, even on long highway stretches. The standard 3.5-liter V6 and the 2.0-liter diesel engine will likely perform better.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Transit Passenger Van a good value? The Transit is priced competitively, offering similar amounts of equipment as rivals, and many of the Transit's options are stand-alone, so you can pick and choose what you need. Our dual-rear-wheel heavy-duty test van came with options including adaptive cruise control and Ford's excellent Sync infotainment system, and the price came to $58,900. A similarly equipped Sprinter will run you about the same price but doesn't offer some of Ford's safety aids.

　　A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and roadside assistance coverage for five years/60,000 miles are standard. It's worth noting paint repair damage from "airborne metals" is also covered for the first year, up to 12,000 miles.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　When you consider the Transit's utility capabilities, it's impressive how well it behaves on curvy roads. The EcoBoost power is always fun, and the handling is good enough to stop you from being the guy who's holding up the line when you're going up a mountain road. The Transit is a workhorse, with bulky dimensions and a h.u.g.e front grille. It's not sleek or swept-back in the front, but it isn't boring or boxy either.

　　

Which Transit Passenger Van does zzdcar recommend?

The base Transit XL is fairly spartan, so we recommend stepping up to the Transit XLT. For slightly more money, you get more standard features and a longer list of optional equipment. And there's no sacrifice to the Transit's utility.

　　

2020 Ford Transit Passenger Van models

The 2020 Ford Transit Passenger Van is a full-size passenger van offered in XL and XLT trims that are broadly differentiated by standard convenience features. There are standard- and long-wheelbase models as well as low-, medium- and high-roof body styles. An extended-length body can be had on the long-wheelbase chassis.

　　The base Transit Passenger Van is the 150, but there's also the heavy-duty Transit 350 with increased payload capacities. The passenger capacity ranges from five all the way up to 15 depending on the body style and optional seating configurations.

　　Engines include a new 3.5-liter V6 (275 horsepower, 262 pound-feet of torque) and an optional turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 (310 hp, 400 lb-ft). Last year's diesel has been replaced with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder (210 hp, 369 lb-ft). A new 10-speed automatic transmission is standard with both engines, and all-wheel drive is available for the first time.

　　Standard equipment on the XL trim includes a sliding passenger door, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, power windows and locks, and air conditioning. For 2020, all Transits now come standard with automatic emergency braking, a lane-keeping assist system and auto high-beam headlights. The XLT trim adds more features including automatic wipers, cruise control, full-length carpeting, reclining rear seatbacks and blind-spot monitoring.

　　The option and configuration list is extensive. Highlights include various window configurations, power-folding heated mirrors, different axle ratios, a heavy-duty towing package, leather upholstery, a power-sliding door, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system with navigation. Ford also offers prep packages for aftermarket outfitters that set up the Transit for use as an ambulance, school bus, RV and more. 

　　

2020 Transit Passenger Van Highlights

Type: Transit Passenger VanDieselTransit Passenger Van

　　Trim: 150 XL Low Roof350 XL Low Roof150 XL Medium Roof150 XLT Low Roof350 XL Medium Roof350 XLT Low Roof150 XLT Medium Roof350 XL High Roof350 XLT Medium Roof350 HD XL High Roof350 XLT High Roof350 HD XLT High Roof150 XL Low Roof

　　

Base MSRP	$40,180
Engine Type	Flex-fuel (ffv)
Seating	10 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	39.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles