New FOR 2015:
– All-new model.
After decades of faithful service, Ford has finally replaced the archaic E-Series commercial van with the Transit. While the nameplate is relatively new to North America, first arriving with the compact Transit Connect a few years back, the full-size Transit has a lineage that’s as storied as Ford’s own F-150.
Over the past forty-plus years, the Transit has been Europe’s go-to commercial vehicle, and like the Focus, Fiesta, and Fusion, the Transit is a global offering. That means Ford has had plenty of time to hone the Transit against its crate-hauling competition, the Ram ProMaster and Benz Sprinter.
Canadian buyers are offered up the Transit in Cargo Van and people-moving Wagon form, ranging from small (150) to jumbo (350HD with dual rear wheels). Body configurations include three different lengths, two different wheelbases, and three different roof heights. Both Cargo Van and Wagon can be had in base XL trim, but only the Wagon gets the plusher XLT trim level.
Transit buyers are offered three different engine choices. The base unit is Ford’s familiar 275-hp 3.7-litre Ti-VCT V6 engine. A burly 185-hp and 350 lb-ft of torque 3.2-litre inline-five diesel is also offered. Those with a need for speed will be pleased to know that the twin-turbo EcoBoost 3.5-litre V6 is also offered with a diesel-beating 400 lb-ft of torque. All route through a six-speed automatic to the rear wheels.
Standard equipment on the Transit Van includes 16-inch steel wheels, two-way adjustable front seats, vinyl upholstery, air conditioning, two-speaker AM/FM radio, aux-in jack, cargo tie down hooks, vinyl floor, cloth headliner, rear compartment lighting, rear-view mirror (when equipped with rear glass door), power side mirrors, black mirror caps, remote keyless entry, tilt and telescoping steering column, black body-side moulding, rear 180-degree swing-out doors (RWB) or 270-degree swing-out doors (LWB and LWB EL), black grille surround, and 60/40 swing-out passenger side (low roof) or sliding passenger door (mid roof and high roof).
Wagon XL includes 16-inch steel wheels, two-way manually adjustable front passenger seats, eight-passenger configuration (regular wheelbase), 12-passenger configuration (long wheelbase), 15-passenger configuration (long wheelbase EL), vinyl upholstery, six-speaker AM/FM radio, aux-in jack, 12-volt power outlet, air conditioning, front dome light with theatre dimming feature (plus map lights on low roof), cloth headliner, rear-view mirror, step well pads, flip-open fourth-row windows (LWB EL), black bodyside moulding, power side mirrors, black mirror caps, black body-side moulding, remote keyless entry, tilt and telescoping steering column, rear 180-degree swing-out doors (RWB) or 270-degree swing-out doors (LWB and LWB EL), black grille surround, 60/40 swing-out passenger side (low roof) or sliding passenger door (mid roof and high roof).
XLT adds wheel covers (single rear wheel only), cloth upholstery, eight-speaker AM/FM/CD player with 4.0-inch multifunction display, all-weather floor mats, cruise control, trip computer, vinyl sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors, chrome grille surround, automatic headlamps, and rain-sensing wipers.
