2021 Ford Transit Passenger Van Review

　　

2021 Ford Transit Passenger Van Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　Whether you're transporting an entire baseball team, hauling around three string quartets, or moving around a dozen bakers, there's nothing more appropriate for the job than a full-size passenger van such as 2021 Ford Transit. It comes in a variety of configurations, can seat as many as 15 passengers, and offers a high-roof option to make it possible for passengers to stand up on the inside.

　　For 2021, Ford has eliminated the Transit's optional diesel engine. This might be a disappointment to some buyers, but we still think the standard 3.5-liter V6 and Ford's optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine are worthy choices. Ford has also added a number of option packages to help preconfigure the Transit for specific purposes.

　　Overall, the Transit passenger van should easily impress most people shopping commercial and recreational vans. Read our Expert Rating below for all the details on what the Transit offers and it performs as a people mover.

　　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 Ford Transit drive? The turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 gives the Transit plenty 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 sprinted 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 Ford Transit? The Transit offers a surprisingly good ride, even in the 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 due 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 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 might 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 economical is the Ford Transit? What the 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.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Ford Transit 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. The final price was close to $60,000. 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 power is 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, but its styling isn't overly boring or boxy.

　　

Which Transit Passenger Van does zzdcar recommend?

Picking a Transit largely comes down to getting one that matches your needs. But in general we recommend getting the XLT trim for its additional driver aids and in-cabin tech. We also recommend upgrading to the optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 for a better overall driving experience. You'll thank yourself for going with the extra power, especially once the van is fully loaded with passengers.

　　

2021 Ford Transit Passenger Van models

The 2021 Ford Transit Passenger Van is a full-size passenger van offered in two trims: XL and XLT. 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 3.5-liter V6 (275 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) and an optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (310 hp, 400 lb-ft). A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard as is rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as an option.

　　XL

　　Standard features for the XL passenger van include:

　　Sliding passenger-side door Vinyl flooring Cargo area tie-downs Power windows, locks and mirrors Keyless entry Manual tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity 4-inch audio display Four-speaker stereo Two USB portsStandard driver safety aids are bundled into the Ford Co-Pilot360 package and include:

　　Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front) Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Automatic high-beam headlightsXLT

　　The XLT adds to the standard equipment with:

　　Foglights Full-length carpeting Upgraded infotainment system with Ford's Sync 3 software Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)Other options can be ordered alone or come as part of packages. Highlights include:

　　Upgraded axle ratios 60/40-split hinged passenger-side door (low roof) 8-inch infotainment touchscreen Extended-range 31-gallon fuel tank Running boards Cruise control Remote start Integrated trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cabin) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Transit and the car in front)A few option packages that bundle features for certain van uses were added for 2021. They include:

　　Livery package Builders Prep package Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow package

　　

2021 Transit Passenger Van Highlights

Trim: 350 XL Low Roof150 XL Low Roof350 XL Medium Roof150 XL Medium Roof350 XLT Low Roof150 XLT Low Roof350 XL High Roof350 XLT Medium Roof150 XLT Medium Roof350 HD XL High Roof350 XLT High Roof350 HD XLT High Roof350 XL Low Roof

　　

Base MSRP	$41,695
Engine Type	Flex-fuel (ffv)
Seating	12 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	70.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles