Compare the2023 Ford E-TransitVS 2023 Mercedes Sprinter 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 uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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 Sprinter Cargo Van.

Both the E-Transit and the Sprinter 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, available daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The E-Transit comes with free roadside assistance for 5 years 60,000 miles. Ford will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Mercedes doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Sprinter Cargo Van.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the E-Transit 3 years longer than Mercedes covers the Sprinter 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 Sprinter Cargo Van ends after only 5 years or 100,000 miles.

The E-Transit’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sprinter Cargo Van runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much 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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes 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 Mercedes 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, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The E-Transit’s electric motor produces 78 more horsepower (266 vs. 188) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 258) than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Regenerative brakes improve the E-Transit’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Sprinter 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 Sprinter Cargo Van still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

For better traction, the E-Transit has larger tires than the Sprinter Cargo Van (235/65R16 vs. 215/85R16).

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 Sprinter Cargo Van 3500/4500’s standard 85 series tires.

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 Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The E-Transit has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Sprinter Cargo Van’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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

For better maneuverability, the E-Transit’s turning circle is tighter than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s:

The E-Transit is shorter than the Sprinter Cargo Van, making the E-Transit easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces:

The E-Transit is 14.1 inches shorter in height than the Sprinter Cargo Van, making the E-Transit much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

The E-Transit T350 Regular has 2.4 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more front shoulder room than the Sprinter Cargo Van 1500 144” WB.

The E-Transit T350 Long has 2.4 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more front shoulder room than the Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” WB High Roof.

The E-Transit T350 Extended has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more front shoulder room than the Sprinter Cargo Van 2500 170” EXT WB High Roof.

The E-Transit T350 Extended has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Sprinter Cargo Van 3500XD 170” EXT WB 4MATIC (3330 vs. 489 lbs.).

The E-Transit’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sprinter Cargo Van has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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 Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Intelligent Access optional on the E-Transit allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van’s Keyless-Start doesn’t unlock the doors or the cargo 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 Sprinter Cargo Van’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The E-Transit’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Ford Transit outsold the Mercedes Sprinter by almost two to one during 2022.