Compare the2023 Ford Transit VanVS 2023 Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Transit Van 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 Transit Van’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 Transit Van 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 all wheel drive, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Transit Van 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.

The Transit Van’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 Transit Van’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Transit Van’s reliability 20 points higher than the Sprinter Cargo Van.

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 Transit Van’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 87 more horsepower (275 vs. 188) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Transit Van’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 122 more horsepower (310 vs. 188) and 142 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 258) than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Transit Van 3.5 EcoBoost’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Transit Van’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sprinter Cargo Van Gas’ standard fuel tank (25 vs. 22 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Transit Van’s optional fuel tank has 6.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sprinter Cargo Van Diesel’s standard fuel tank (31 vs. 24.5 gallons).

The Transit Van has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Transit Van, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Sprinter Cargo Van.

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

The Transit Van Trail’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 75 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sprinter Cargo Van 3500/4500’s standard 85 series tires.

The Transit Van 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 suspension of the Transit Van 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 handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Transit Van is 1.7 inches wider in the front and .4 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Sprinter Cargo Van.

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

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

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

The Transit T-150 Regular has 2.4 inches more front legroom and .5 inches more front shoulder room than the Sprinter Cargo Van 1500 144” WB.

The Transit T-150 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 Transit T-250 Long-EL 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 Transit Van’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sprinter Cargo Van’s (5100 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes Sprinter Cargo Van 3500 is only 7500 pounds. The Transit Van offers up to a 6900 lbs. towing capacity.

The Transit Van has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Sprinter Cargo Van:

The Transit Van offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Transit Van’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 Transit Van’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Sprinter Cargo Van doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Intelligent Access optional on the Transit Van 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 Transit Van’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 Transit Van’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 Transit Van’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.