Compare the2024 Ford E-TransitVS 2023 Mercedes Metris Cargo

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The E-Transit has standard Post-Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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 Metris Cargo 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 Metris Cargo.

The E-Transit offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Metris Cargo only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the E-Transit and the Metris Cargo 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, collision warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Ford E-Transit weighs 1462 to 2065 pounds more than the Mercedes Metris Cargo. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

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 Metris Cargo.

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

The E-Transit’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Metris Cargo 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.

Reliability

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Engine

The E-Transit’s electric motor produces 58 more horsepower (266 vs. 208) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 258) than the Metris Cargo’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The E-Transit can travel with zero emissions for 143 to 159 miles (dependent on model). The Metris Cargo can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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 Metris Cargo still runs its internal combustion engine whenever it’s stopped, burning excess fuel.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford E-Transit higher (10 out of 10) than the Mercedes Metris Cargo (6). This means the E-Transit produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Metris Cargo every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	E-Transit	Metris Cargo
Front Rotors	12.1 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	11 inches

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

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

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

	E-Transit	Metris Cargo
SWB Van	130 inches	126 inches
LWB Van	148 inches	135 inches

Passenger Space

The E-Transit T350 Regular has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 5.5 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room and 5.7 inches more front shoulder room than the Metris Cargo Standard WB.

The E-Transit T350 Long has 12.4 inches more front headroom, 5.5 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room and 5.7 inches more front shoulder room than the Metris Cargo Long WB.

Cargo Capacity

The E-Transit T350 Regular has a much larger cargo volume than the Metris Cargo Standard WB (246.7 vs. 182.9 cubic feet).

The E-Transit’s cargo area is larger than the Metris Cargo’s in every dimension:

	E-Transit T350 Regular	E-Transit T350 Extended	Metris Cargo Standard WB	Metris Cargo Long WB
Length	126”	172.2”	111.5”	120.5”
Max Width	70.2”	70.2”	66.3”	66.3”
Min Width	54.8”	54.8”	50”	50”
Height	56.9”	81.5”	55”	55”

Payload

The E-Transit has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Metris Cargo (3330 vs. 2150 lbs.).

The E-Transit has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Metris Cargo (3880 vs. 2668 lbs.).

Ergonomics

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the E-Transit has a telescoping steering wheel. Much better than just a tilt steering wheel or adjustable seat, this allows a short driver to sit further from the steering wheel while maintaining contact with the pedals. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The E-Transit’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Metris Cargo’s parking brake has to be released manually.

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 Metris Cargo doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Intelligent Access standard 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 Metris Cargo doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

In addition to the standard right side sliding door, the Ford E-Transit offers an optional driver’s side rear sliding door. This door simplifies loading and unloading passengers and it allows parents to easily secure two children into child seats. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a driver’s side rear door.

The E-Transit’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Metris Cargo’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Metris Cargo’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The E-Transit’s optional high intensity discharge (HID) headlights provide a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using less power than the Metris Cargo’s halogen headlights. HID units last two to six times longer than halogen.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the E-Transit detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The E-Transit has standard power remote mirrors. The Metris Cargo 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 Metris Cargo doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

The E-Transit offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Metris Cargo doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

The Ford Transit outsold the Mercedes Metris by almost 8 to one during 2022.