It’s been a while since Ford has released any meaningful information on its upcoming Transit van, but we finally have output figures for the rig’s three engines, as well as some fuel-economy estimates. Ford first revealed the U.S.-market Transit—the full-size sibling to the Transit Connect—in September of 2012, and outlined the powertrain lineup shortly thereafter. The brand’s nearly two-year radio silence since then has broken because the Transit finally goes on sale this summer.
To recap, the Transit will come standard with a 3.7-liter V-6, with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 being optional. A 3.2-liter Power Stroke diesel inline-five will arrive later, and also will be optional. The base six makes 275 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, lining it up nicely with the Pentastar six that’s standard fitment in the Ram ProMaster. Transits so equipped are EPA-rated for 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. Ram doesn’t rate the ProMaster, but we achieved 14 mpg in a recent test.
The EcoBoost V-6 is the spicy choice, with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque on tap. Ford claims it is just as efficient as the non-boosted six, and indeed it receives the same 14/19 mpg EPA estimates as that engine. Curiously, Ford says the diesel isn’t EPA-rated, but has revealed that the Power Stroke five-cylinder produces 185 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. We suspect the diesel will sip fuel at a more restrained rate than the two gas engines, but we’ll need to wait for a proper test to determine that.
- Ford Transit Research: Pricing, Reviews, Photos, and Specs
- Photos and Info: 2014 Ford Transit Revealed in Europe
- Instrumented Test: 2014 Ram ProMaster 1500 Cargo Van
Ford says the Transit blows the long-running E-series it replaces out of the water in terms of fuel economy, but the difference isn’t really as impressive. The E-series’ 6.8-liter V-10, for example, was saddled with a 10/13-mpg rating; the V-8 wasn’t much better, at 13/16. Sure, when the Transit’s fuel economy is presented as a percentage improvement, it looks good. And indeed, a 3-mpg improvement will save businesses money, but at the end of the day, we’re betting the Transit’s enhanced packaging and sure-to-be-improved driving manners will dominate comparisons between it and the ancient E-series that it replaces.