Compare the2025 Ford Transit Passenger VanVS 2025 Chevrolet Express

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Transit Passenger Van are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Express doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Transit Passenger Van has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Express offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Transit Passenger Van 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 Express 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 Transit Passenger 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 Express doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Transit Passenger Van offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Express doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Transit Passenger 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 Express.

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

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Transit Passenger Van’s optional Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Express doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Transit Passenger Van’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Express doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Transit Passenger Van uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Express uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

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

Warranty

The Transit Passenger Van’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Express’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Transit Passenger Van have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the engines in the Express.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Transit Passenger Van has a standard 250-amp alternator (500-amp - Transit Passenger Van 3.5 Ecoboost). The Express’ standard 150-amp alternator and largest (optional) 220-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

Engine

The Transit Passenger Van’s optional 3.5 turbo V6 produces 34 more horsepower (310 vs. 276) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 298) than the Express’ standard 4.3 V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Transit Passenger 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 Express doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Transit Passenger Van has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Express. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Transit Passenger Van, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Express.

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

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

For much better steering response and tighter handling the Transit Passenger Van has rack and pinion steering, like Formula racecars, instead of the recirculating-ball type steering of the Express.

The Transit Passenger Van’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Express doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Transit Passenger Van’s wheelbase is 12.8 inches longer than on the Express 2500 135” WB (148 inches vs. 135.2 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Transit 350 Long’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Express 2500 135” WB’s (47.8 feet vs. 49.2 feet).

Chassis

Unibody construction makes the Transit Passenger Van’s chassis much stiffer, which contributes to better handling, and enables softer springs to be used for a better ride. Unibody construction’s stiffness also contributes to better durability and less body squeaks and rattles. The Express doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Passenger Space

The Transit 350 Long has 2.7 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear hip room, 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row headroom, 4 inches more third row hip room and 1.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Express 2500 135” WB.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Transit Passenger Van XLT’s middle and third row seats recline. The Express’ middle and third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Transit 350 Long’s cargo area provides more volume than the Express 2500 135” WB.

	Transit Passenger Van	Express
Behind Third Seat	124.5 cubic feet	92.1 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	245.1 cubic feet	218.5 cubic feet

The Transit 350HD Long-EL’s cargo area provides more volume than the Express 3500 155” WB.

	Transit Passenger Van	Express
Behind Third Seat	230 cubic feet	127.2 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	414.1 cubic feet	255.5 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Transit Passenger Van easier. The Transit 350 Long’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.8 inches, while the Express 2500 135” WB’s liftover is 31.9 inches. The Transit 350HD Long-EL’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Express 3500 155” WB’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

The Transit Passenger Van’s cargo area is larger than the Express’ in every dimension:

	Transit 350 Long	Transit 350HD Long-EL	Express 2500 135” WB	Express 3500 155” WB
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	141.7”	170.2”	57.4”/89.4”/126.2”	77.5”/109.4”/146.1”
Min Width	53.7”	53.7”	50.4”	50.9”
Height	52.8”	77”	51.8”	51.8”

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Transit Passenger Van. The Express doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Payload and Towing

Standard Trailer Stability Control on the Transit Passenger Van uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Express doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Transit Passenger Van has a higher standard payload capacity than the Express (2722 vs. 2550 lbs.).

Ergonomics

To help each driver find a more comfortable driving position, the Transit Passenger Van 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 Express doesn’t offer a telescoping steering wheel.

The Transit Passenger Van’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Express’ parking brake has to be released manually.

The Transit Passenger Van’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 Express’ 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 Transit Passenger Van’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Express doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Intelligent Access optional on the Transit Passenger Van allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. The Chevrolet Express doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

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

The Transit Passenger 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 Express’ manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

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

The Transit Passenger 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 Express doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Both the Ford Transit Passenger Van and Chevrolet Express offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Transit Passenger Van offers optional power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Express’ foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

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

The Transit Passenger Van XLT has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Express doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The Transit Passenger Van XLT has a standard center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Express doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Transit Passenger Van offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Express doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To help keep the driver’s hands on the wheel, the Transit Passenger Van has standard steering wheel controls for the radio. The Express doesn’t offer steering wheel audio controls.

Optional SYNC AppLink for the Transit Passenger Van allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, searching the internet, following twitter accounts and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Express doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

With optional voice command, the Transit Passenger Van offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Express doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Transit Passenger Van, connecting the driver and passenger’s cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle’s stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Bluetooth costs extra on the Express.

The Transit Passenger 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 Express doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Ford Transit outsold the Chevrolet Express by almost four to one during 2024.

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