2023 Ford Transit Passenger Van

2023 Ford Transit Passenger Van Review

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Spacious, customizable and designed for maximum passenger capacity, the 2023 Ford Transit is quite simply a really big van. The Transit Passenger Van has several roof heights and lengths to choose from, so there will likely be one that fits your needs. It's also available with two different V6 powertrains should you need a large payload capacity or want to tow a trailer behind your van. Unlike some of its rivals, the Transit is also available with all-wheel drive to meet all-weather needs too.

　　For such a large van, the Transit Passenger Van is relatively easy to drive. The optional turbocharged V6 is our favorite of the two engines, even though it does have middling real-world fuel economy. The 10-speed automatic it's paired with has smooth upshifts and doesn't hunt much for gears on a grade. Handling is impressive for a vehicle of this size too, so if you're transporting clients, say, to and from a party in the mountains, it doesn't feel like a penalty box.

　　For 2023, the Transit carries over mostly unchanged. That isn't necessarily a bad thing since the Transit offers a strong set of standard safety features including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, driver attention alerts, and a new camera-based rearview mirror that helps improve visibility. Options like smartphone integration, navigation, parking sensors and cruise control are all worth a look too.

　　One of the most well-rounded and easy-to-drive vans on the market, the Ford Transit Passenger Van is a favorite of ours.

　　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

　　How does the Transit Passenger Van 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

　　How comfortable is the Transit Passenger Van? 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.

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