Used 2021 Ford Transit 150 Cargo Van

The 2021 Ford Transit is one of the best choices among full-size vans. It comes as a straight-ahead cargo van, a Crew van with a second seating row (making it a 5-seater), or a Passenger van capable of transporting up to 15 people.

Like its main rivals, the Ram ProMaster and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, the Transit offers a range of wheelbases and roof heights — combinations not available with the Nissan NV or Chevrolet Express. Transit Cargo models have tow ratings as high as 6,900 pounds and payloads up to 6,400 pounds. That’s a remarkable jump of 1,870 pounds thanks to the 2021 Transit’s new GVWR.

The Transit also has several driver assistance features as standard, and more are available with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 array. These are worth the investment. As well as protecting life and limb, avoiding accidents also makes financial sense. A van is supposed to be out all day earning its keep instead of being in the shop having panels replaced.

Because the Transit is derived from Ford’s European van line, one might assume it’s an import. But the entire North American Transit fleet is built at Ford’s factory in Kansas City, Missouri. There are many upfitter shops within 30 miles of the plant, and Ford can deliver a new Transit directly to whichever upfitter is chosen, making the whole process much easier.

The bad old days of van driving, with vague steering and rough rides, are long gone. The 2021 Transit is a pleasure to drive. The steering is accurate and easy to work, the suspension is taut without being harsh, and rattles and squeaks are conspicuous only by their absence.

The large windshield and high seating position bring a commanding view. The steering wheel adjusts for both height and reach, making it easy for drivers of all sizes to find their ideal position. The main thing for drivers of versions with the tall roof is to be careful of things like tree-lined routes and height-restricted parking structures.

All-wheel drive (AWD) is available. The system can send all of the engine’s power to the front axle or vary it between axles as needed. One nice feature of the AWD models is that they have the same ground clearance and step-in height as their rear-drive (RWD) counterparts. The only other full-size commercial van to offer AWD is the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

The basic 2021 Transit’s standard setup includes a small 4-inch infotainment display. But work vehicles do tend to be sparse. The optional 8-inch touchscreen replaces a bunch of buttons. And the instrument cluster is large and legible.

The seats are wide and supportive, and have the option to swivel 180 degrees — which recreational van owners will appreciate. There are also plenty of stowage spaces, whether someone is looking to store a cellphone, laptop, or just a super-sized soda.

Ford offers center console sizes of regular or large (the small unit has been deleted this year). And following customer feedback, the company has improved interior grab handles, while making the vents larger and better at directing air.

Three roof heights range from 83.6 inches to 110.1 inches; six body lengths run from 217.8 inches to 263.9 inches. Most buyers’ preferred configuration for a full-size van should be in there somewhere.

The basic Transit comes with 16-inch steel wheels with black hubcaps, and a mesh grille with a black surround, flanked by high-intensity halogen headlights.

Naturally, you can get the Transit as a panel van adorned with a company logo or a multi-passenger airport shuttle with standard tinted side windows. There are also plenty of details to help the working day run more smoothly. For example, the rear doors of the long-wheelbase variants can come with hinges that enable an opening angle of 253 degrees.

Optional retracting running boards enable easy entries and exits. And the Transit also offers a powered sliding side door for both cargo and passenger versions.

FORD TELEMATICS
To help maintain a busy fleet, Ford’s optional telematics system can remind fleet managers when a particular van is due for service and keep an eye on fuel consumption. It can even monitor the driving habits of employees, which can help cut down on tickets and expensive insurance claims.

FORD CO-PILOT360
The 2021 Ford Transit has automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams as standard. These features make up the Co-Pilot360 package. Optional upgrades include adaptive cruise control, active parking assistance, front/rear split-view camera, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The most basic Transit work truck features the 3.5-liter V6, 16-inch steel wheels, black bumpers, roof-marker lamps, rear tow hook, short-arm/power-adjustable side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, power windows/locks, air conditioning, Bluetooth, two USB ports, Wi-fi, AM/FM radio and a 4-speaker sound system.

Standard safety equipment includes pre-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, side-wind stabilization, and automatic high beams.

The XL Passenger van has full-length side-curtain airbags, and the range-topping XLT version has automatic on/off headlights, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, and an Exterior Upgrade Package that includes preparations for motorhomes and shuttle buses.

We’ll sidestep the many and varied ways the 2021 Transit can be upfitted for specialized work. On a more relatable note, the Transit can be ordered with a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, engine-block heater, and rear parking sensors (get these).

Other options include heated/extendable side mirrors, Ford Telematics, leather seating surfaces, sliding side door (including a powered version), cruise control, keyless entry, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation (especially useful when making deliveries in unfamiliar areas), Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

Co-Pilot360 brings adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, front/rear split-view cameras, and active parking assistance with a side-sensing system.

This year sees some changes to what’s available. There’s a new RV prep package for the Cargo van as well as new Parcel Delivery and Adventure prep packages, plus heavy-duty cargo flooring for the Crew van. The motorhome prep package now includes adaptive cruise control, and a rear bumper delete option means that blind-spot monitoring, the side-sensing system, and rear parking sensors become unavailable. These are just a few details.

The standard engine in the 2021 Transit is a 3.5-liter gasoline V6 making 275 horsepower. The higher-output alternative is a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (referred to as EcoBoost) generating 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, which is the more important figure since torque produces thrust and is especially useful in a fully loaded full-size van.

Both engines connect to a 10-speed automatic transmission that directs energy to the rear wheels, and both can come with all-wheel drive (AWD).

The fuel economy estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are from 2020, but we expect 2021’s to be the same. An all-electric E-Transit is due for 2022.

3.5-liter V6
275 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
262 lb-ft of torque @ 3,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/19 mpg (RWD), 14/19 mpg (AWD)

3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6
310 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
400 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy (estimated): 15/19 mpg