Minivans and crossover are good at transporting people, but nothing short of a bus is as good as a full-size van like the Ford Transit. The North American version of the blue oval brand's latest commercial van is four years old with the introduction of this 2018 model, which receives a few minor updates to keep passenger van buyers coming back for more.
On medium- and high-roof variants, the backup camera is now located higher up for a better vantage point. New options this year include an alloy wheel option for vans with dual rear wheels; a leather seat option in a charcoal gray colour; power-folding heated side mirrors; an AM/FM stereo with Bluetooth; a manual push-down parking brake; and D-pillar assist handles in medium- and high-roof models and extended-length running boards.
Carried over from last year are the Transit's engine options. Standard is a 3.7L V6 that makes 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Drivers looking for more truck-like torque can choose from a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 with 310 hp and 400 lb-ft, or a 3.2L turbodiesel good for a modest 185 hp and 350 lb-ft. All three engines use a six-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive; there is no AWD option.
Transit passenger models come in XL or XLT trims, both of which start out with 16-inch wheels.
Seating starts at eight passengers in vans with the standard wheelbase and body length. A long-wheelbase model can accommodate 12 people, and an extended-length model boasts seating for 15. There's a significant array of seating options that extends to leather upholstery and 10-way power-adjustable front seats.
Front and rear air conditioning is standard in both trims. XL models get a four-speaker AM/FM stereo, while XLT adds a CD player, and options include a multi-function display, lane keeping alert and Sync 3 infotainment. Six- and eight-speaker sound systems are available, too. Other XLT adds include cruise control, full-length carpeted floor, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights.
A few options include upfitted switches that can be customized to control any number of aftermarket accessories, a trailer brake controller, sound system with hard drive storage, satellite radio and navigation.
The Transit's commercial vehicle status means Natural Resources Canada doesn't require fuel consumption estimates; expect the diesel to be the economy leader, while the EcoBoost motor might be a touch thriftier when hauling heavy cargo and trailers.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
