What is the most reliable cargo or passenger van? The 2023 Ford Transit vs the 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter? These large vehicles are renowned for their spacious interiors that make great vans for passengers, camping or work. Both iconic in their own way, the Transit offers some more convenience than the Sprinter, and we’ll break it down as to why in this comparison review.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Transit is the bigger van and is going to offer more power against anything the Sprinter has.
- Within the cabin of the Transit, there’s more availability for tech and safety with Ford telematics and other tech integration.
- Transit lowers business costs with the all-electric option of the E-Transit.
- The Sprinter is Diesel only, while the Transit is gas-powered.
SIZE AND SPACE: TRANSIT V. SPRINTER
Between the two vehicles, the Transit is going to give you more room inside. This is primarily because the 2023 Transit is the bigger vehicle between the two. While both seat twelve, the front leg room of the Transit expands to 41 inches while the Sprinter goes to 38 inches. The Transit is 235 inches long with a maximum cargo capacity of 400 cubic feet and a maximum payload capacity of over 3,800 pounds. It also has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.
You’ll be able to tow more and fit more packages in the Transit, but you won’t be able to carry as heavy cargo inside the cabin when compared to the Sprinter. The Sprinter has a length of 233 inches, with a maximum cargo capacity of 310 cubic feet, towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 4,453 pounds.
WHICH IS MORE POWERFUL?
Due to its superior size and towing capacity, you can expect a better engine experience in the Transit. Both of its engine offerings outperform the Sprinter. The maximum horsepower you’ll be able to get on the Transit is 310 horsepower coming from its 3,5-liter Ecoboost V6, while the maximum on the Sprinter gets 211 horsepower from the 2.0-liter V4 Diesel engine.
You’re going to make less stops at the gas station in the Transit with its 31-gallon fuel capacity compared to the Sprinter’s 24.5 gallons. With the Sprinter having only a Diesel option means the need to add Diesel Exhaust Fluid, which can increase the downtime on your van and lower productivity.
If you're concerned with delivering cargo on time or adding more time in between transporting passengers, this can be a significant issue. The Transit also seeks to decrease not only the downtime of your van being off the road, but overall business costs too. The Sprinter does not offer an all-electric option for gas savings like the Ford does with the E-Transit.
BETTER FEATURES FOR A MORE CONNECTED DRIVE
Right off the bat, you’ll find yourself more connected to all that this year has to offer in terms of tech inside the cabin of the Transit. The infotainment of the Sprinter pales in comparison with the Transit’s massive SYNC touchscreen. The rear view 360 degree camera can be viewed so crisply on the wide screen. And while the Sprinter does come with a 360 camera, the most usage does come from a rear-view on most occasions, and for that we have to give it to the Transit’s superior setup.
The Transit is jam-packed with more convenient features such as a virtual rear-view mirror, power sliding doors, and auto-high beams and headlamps. The SYNC 4 system allows for an easy hands-free experience for drivers as well allowing it to connect to Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay. The Transit also comes with the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Technology like pre-collision assist, and Automatic emergency braking amongst a huge variety of other safety features that you may find you have to upgrade on the Sprinter to get.
IT'S BIGGER & BETTER: 2023 FORD TRANSIT
While either of these cargo/passenger vans are going to give you the space you need to operate daily, the Transit has the Sprinter beat in ways that are both subtle and major. If you need a great, reliable van for any task, the added features, power, and space of the Transit is going to be the better choice.