Compare the2023 Ford E-TransitVS 2023 Ram ProMaster Cargo Van

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The E-Transit offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The ProMaster Cargo Van doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The E-Transit’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the ProMaster Cargo Van.

Both the E-Transit and the ProMaster Cargo Van have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Ford E-Transit weighs 620 to 1634 pounds more than the Ram ProMaster Cargo Van. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the E-Transit 3 years and 40,000 miles longer than Ram covers the ProMaster Cargo Van. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ProMaster Cargo Van ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 24 percent more Ford dealers than there are Ram dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the E-Transit’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Ram vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ram is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Ram vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ram is rated below average.

The E-Transit’s electric motor produces 67 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 250) than the ProMaster Cargo Van’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

Regenerative brakes improve the E-Transit’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The ProMaster Cargo Van doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The E-Transit, as a pure battery electric vehicle, has no need to “idle” its motors in traffic: they only burn power when moving. The E-Transit’s climate control systems still work completely when the vehicle is stopped. The ProMaster Cargo Van still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

For better stopping power the E-Transit’s brake rotors are larger than those on the ProMaster Cargo Van:

For better traction, the E-Transit has larger tires than the ProMaster Cargo Van (235/65R16 vs. 225/75R16).

The E-Transit’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ProMaster Cargo Van’s standard 75 series tires.

The Ford E-Transit’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ram ProMaster Cargo Van only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The E-Transit has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your work or a trip. A full size spare costs extra on the ProMaster Cargo Van. Without the option you must depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For superior ride and handling, the Ford E-Transit 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 Ram ProMaster Cargo Van has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The E-Transit has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the E-Transit flat and controlled during cornering. The ProMaster Cargo Van’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front and rear suspension of the E-Transit uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the ProMaster Cargo Van, which uses leaf springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Transit’s wheelbase is longer than on the ProMaster Cargo Van:

The E-Transit is 9.5 inches shorter in height than the ProMaster Cargo Van, making the E-Transit much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The E-Transit T350 Extended has 13.6 inches more front headroom and 2.5 inches more front legroom than the ProMaster 2500 LWB High Roof.

The E-Transit T350 Extended has a much larger cargo volume than the ProMaster 2500 LWB High Roof (487.3 vs. 420 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the E-Transit. The ProMaster Cargo Van doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The E-Transit’s standard tilting steering column adjusts to different sized drivers and makes entering and exiting easier. Ram doesn’t offer tilt steering on the ProMaster Cargo Van.

The E-Transit’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The ProMaster Cargo Van’s power windows’ switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the E-Transit’s available exterior PIN entry system. The ProMaster Cargo Van doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its SOS and Assist System can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The E-Transit’s optional power passenger’s side sliding door makes it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the van. The ProMaster Cargo Van doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The E-Transit’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The ProMaster Cargo Van’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The E-Transit has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The ProMaster Cargo Van only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The E-Transit has standard power remote mirrors. The ProMaster Cargo 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 E-Transit’s optional rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The ProMaster Cargo Van doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford E-Transit will be $268 to $3480 less than for the Ram ProMaster Cargo Van.

The Ford Transit outsold the Ram ProMaster by 59% during the 2022 model year.