2024 Ford Transit 250 Cargo Van

Covering virtually all the bases, the 2024 Ford Transit provides a variety of lengths, roof heights, and powertrains – even one that’s fully electric. Moreover, whichever one you pick has an abundance of customization opportunities. The only features some shoppers might find missing are a V8 or diesel powertrain. You can overcome the V8 concern with the General Motors cousins: the Chevy Express and the GMC Savana. For the diesel, check out the Transit’s arch-rival Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Otherwise, we are hard-pressed to come up with another full-size van that so thoroughly covers the bases.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of full-size vans, including the Ford Transit.

Basically carried over, Ford hasn’t made any substantial changes to the 2024 Transit. It has done some repackaging of features and options far too detailed to discuss here. Arguably the most significant enhancement is cruise control being standard across the lineup. Ford has deleted the Crew Van from the Cargo Van configurations.

The starting price we itemize above is more than most competitors like the Chevy Express and GMC Savana. The base Express Cargo Van rings the register at $40,700. Another rival often shopped against the Transit is the Ram ProMaster, which starts at $44,270. However, the base Transit is more affordable than the entry-level $49,900 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Atop the Transit Cargo Van hierarchy is the all-wheel-drive Transit 350 Extended with a 148-inch wheelbase, high roof and dual rear wheels, starting at $61,690. For the sake of comparison, the Ram ProMaster 3500 Cargo Van Super High Roof with the 159-inch wheelbase starts at $54,900.

The Transit E-Series Cutaway and Transit Chassis Cab models primarily target commercial truck buyers.

Before buying the Ford Transit, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. To date, the Ford Transit sits atop the value-retention ladder with the Ram ProMaster. Both have higher residual values after five years than the rest of the large-van pack.

A choice of two gas-fueled V6 engines are the core of the 2024 Ford Transit powertrain lineup. The base version develops 275 horsepower. For additional performance, Ford offers a 310-horsepower turbocharged V6. Picking it adds $2,495 to the bottom line. No matter the V6, Transit models are engineered as rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Delivering engine performance close to that of the Transit is the Ram ProMaster, available only with front-wheel drive. If you want more grunt, the V8-powered GM vans and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter make more than 290 horsepower with their base engines.

Using electricity as its fuel, the 2024 Ford E-Transit rotates its rear wheels with a fully electric powertrain. It makes 266 horsepower. Ford says the E-Transit has a “demonstrated range” of up to 126 miles.

The Ford Transit is an easy van to drive despite its substantial size. We find the steering precise, the brakes responsive, and the ride quality smooth and comfortable on long-distance drives. In fact, our readers often cite the Transit’s drivability as among their favorite features. One even suggested using the EcoBoost turbo V6, transmission, steering, and suspension underpinnings as the foundation for a Ford sports car. We think that might be taking things a bit far, but you get the idea. We also noticed that Ford made it surprisingly quiet inside, even on the highway.

The standard V6 engine does the job for most drivers who need a big van, but the available EcoBoost turbocharged V6 adds significant muscle. Plus, payload ratings aren’t significantly different between the two V6 engines. For example, the base Cargo Van can carry 3,668 pounds of payload with the standard V6 and 3,603 pounds with the optional turbo V6. If your Transit’s towing capabilities are a concern, we advise opting for the turbo V6. In the base Cargo Van, the towing limit is 6,900 pounds with the turbo V6. That is 1,600 pounds more than with the standard V6. If you require more towing ability than that, consider the V8-powered GM vans that can tug up to 10,000 pounds.

The available all-wheel-drive system inspires confidence if you’re driving this big van in slippery road conditions. All-wheel-drive-equipped models have a Mud/Ruts drive mode, adding a measure of off-road capability, especially in the Transit Trail with its extra ground clearance and all-terrain tires.

Fuel Economy

The government doesn’t post estimated mileage numbers for the Transit’s class of vans. However, you can expect it to deliver better fuel economy than the older GM vans.

The inside of the Ford Transit is massive and highly customizable. Whether you’re a plumber, a flower shop owner, or a “van lifer,” the Transit can be customized just right with a wide variety of upfits available.

What’s behind the front seats depends on the configuration. The cargo van is just a big, empty van; the passenger van has 12 or 15 seats, depending on the length; and the crew van has one row of back seats. When comparing like-configured competitors against the Transit’s cargo room, they are all about the same.

We’re impressed with how nice the front seat area is for a Ford work van. We found the seats to be supportive and comfortable for all-day driving. The cargo van and cutaway have available swivel front seats (standard on the Transit Trail), making it easy to access the cargo area. There’s plentiful storage space with roomy cubbies and cup holders in easy-to-reach places.

Whether for work or play, keeping your devices powered up is easy in the Transit. There’s a USB port and 12-volt outlet in the storage spaces, plus more outlets in the available medium or large center consoles. In the passenger van models, there’s a 5-amp USB port in every row.

With three roof heights and three body lengths available, the look of the Ford Transit can vary quite a bit. We argue that it looks especially good in the XLT trim of the passenger van with a painted front bumper and a chrome grille surround. The electric E-Transit has a distinct 3-bar grille design with blue bars, and the Transit Trail has its own rugged appearance package.

Among its many available exterior features are wide-opening (253 degrees) rear cargo doors, a power sliding passenger-side door, long-arm/power-adjustable mirrors, an integral step in the rear bumper, and much more.

The cargo and passenger vans have traditional van bodies, but the cutaway and chassis cab models are slightly different. Both have a ladder frame behind the cabin that’s ready to customize with a flatbed, refrigerated cargo box, or whatever. The cabin is fully enclosed on the chassis cab model and open in the back on the cutaway.

Transit Trail
The recently introduced Transit Trail is for outdoor enthusiasts and “van lifers.” Right from the factory, this van has all-wheel drive, a turbo V6, a 3.5-inch lift, all-terrain tires, a roof vent, and swivel seats. It’s an ideal blank slate for a camper or overlanding rig.

E-Transit
The electric E-Transit is a commercial van that burns no gas. It’s capable of up to 126 miles of range, and you can get one as a cargo van, cutaway, or chassis cab. Three body lengths and roof heights are available.

EcoBoost V6
The optional EcoBoost turbocharged V6 makes 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque in the Transit. Whether you want a work van with some extra muscle or more excitement while driving the family to church, the EcoBoost V6 is a nice performance upgrade.

All-wheel drive
Optional all-wheel drive makes the Transit a good van for snowy climates. It even adds some off-road chops with the Mud/Ruts drive mode, especially in the Transit Trail.

Co-Pilot360
The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety tech suite comes standard in the Transit. It bundles features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. Safety tech like this usually costs extra or isn’t available on full-size vans.

SYNC 4
This easy-to-use 12-inch touchscreen is loaded with features like wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM, Amazon Alexa, navigation, and more.

The 2024 Ford Transit offers the flexibility of three different powertrains: a V6, a turbocharged V6, or a fully electric system. The 10-speed automatic transmission on the gas-powered Transit models works seamlessly with the V6 engines. It has four selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco, Slippery, and Tow/Haul. It’s easy to switch modes on the fly to best suit your needs and the conditions.

The E-Transit has a single-speed transmission distributing the electric motor’s power to the rear wheels. Its maximum estimated range of 126 miles is for low-roof versions. Picking the medium roof instead trims that maximum range back to 116 miles, while the high roof has a maximum estimated range of 108 miles.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Ford Transit is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage matches most of its rivals. Additionally, the battery in the electric E-Transit comes with an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Safety Ratings

Neither the government nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested the Transit or its competition. Standard on every Ford Transit is The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety tech suite. It includes features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams.