Compare the2022 Ram ProMaster City TradesmanVS 2022 Ford Transit Connect Van

The Ram ProMaster City Tradesman has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Transit Connect Van doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the ProMaster City Tradesman and the Transit Connect Van have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the ProMaster City Tradesman has a 160-amp alternator. The Transit Connect Van’s standard 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ram vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ram first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 14th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Ram vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ram 15 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The ProMaster City Tradesman’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (178 vs. 162) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (174 vs. 144) than the Transit Connect Van’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The ProMaster City Tradesman’s 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (178 vs. 169) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (174 vs. 171) than the Transit Connect Van’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the ProMaster City Tradesman gets better fuel mileage than the Transit Connect Van 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder (21 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ram ProMaster City Tradesman higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Transit Connect Van (5 to 6). This means the ProMaster City Tradesman produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Transit Connect Van every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Ram ProMaster City Tradesman, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Transit Connect Van.

For superior ride and handling, the Ram ProMaster City Tradesman has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Ford Transit Connect Van has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ProMaster City Tradesman’s wheelbase is 17.6 inches longer than on the SWB Transit Connect Van (122.4 inches vs. 104.8 inches). The ProMaster City Tradesman’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the LWB Transit Connect Van (122.4 inches vs. 120.6 inches).

The ProMaster City Tradesman has a much larger cargo volume than the LWB Transit Connect Van (131.7 vs. 127.4 cubic feet).

The ProMaster City Tradesman’s cargo area is larger than the Transit Connect Van’s in almost every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the ProMaster City Tradesman. The Transit Connect Van doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The ProMaster City Tradesman’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Transit Connect Van’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds).

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the ProMaster City Tradesman, using the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Transit Connect Van.

The ProMaster City Tradesman has a much higher standard payload capacity than the SWB Transit Connect Van (1890 vs. 1270 lbs.).

The ProMaster City Tradesman has a much higher optional payload capacity than the LWB Transit Connect Van (1890 vs. 1550 lbs.).

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the ProMaster City Tradesman to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Ford doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Transit Connect Van.

The ProMaster City Tradesman’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Transit Connect Van’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically. The Transit Connect Van’s optional windows’ rear windows don’t close automatically.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the ProMaster City Tradesman has standard extendable sun visors. The Transit Connect Van doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The ProMaster City Tradesman has standard remote mirrors. The Transit Connect Van only comes with remote mirrors at extra cost. Without them the driver will have to roll down the windows and reach across the car to adjust the mirrors.

The ProMaster City Tradesman offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Transit Connect Van.

To help keep the driver’s hands on the wheel, the ProMaster City Tradesman offers optional steering wheel controls for the radio. The Transit Connect Van doesn’t offer steering wheel audio controls.