2020 Ford Transit Refresh: Rekindling the Van Craze
2020 Ford Transit; Manufacturer images
- Competes with: Ram ProMaster, Chevrolet Express, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Nissan NV
- Looks like: A utility van with some new grilles
- Powertrains: 3.5-liter gasoline V-6, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter gas V-6 or turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel inline-four-cylinder engines; 10-speed automatic transmission; rear- or all-wheel drive
- Hits dealerships: Fall
Ford has been quietly enjoying success in the full-size van market with its Transit van, which replaced the E-Series vans five years ago in the U.S. — it's the bigger sibling to the Ford Transit Connect. Big vans are popular not only with business and commercial buyers, but they are increasingly finding a market with private buyers too, who enjoy the massive cargo space and ability to carry more than a dozen people. Ford just unveiled its first refresh of the van, the 2020 Ford Transit, at The Work Truck Show 2019 in Indianapolis with new gas and diesel engines, newly available all-wheel drive, and fresh cabin and safety technology. The trade show runs through Friday.
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Exterior
The Transit is one of three European-style vans on the market — the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Fiat Ducato-based Ram ProMaster are the other two. Ford says that the 2020 Transit offers more configurations than its competitors, including a cargo van, passenger van, chassis cab and cutaway. New for 2020 is a crew van setup, which combines a five-passenger cabin in two rows of seats with an open cargo area in the back, designed for getting work crews to job sites.
A new power sliding door is optional on the cargo and passenger vans, and three new grilles adorn the front — one for chassis cab, van and cutaway configurations. They provide new styling and improved cooling for the new engines. High-intensity discharge headlights are optional with LED running lamps.
Under the Hood
There are two new powertrains for the van. The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V-6 featuring port fuel and direct injection, replacing the old 3.7-liter engine. A new diesel engine is available, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder model that replaces the old 3.2-liter inline-five-cylinder diesel. Ford says the smaller diesel produces more power and torque than the old one, is quieter and more efficient, and it's equipped with an automatic stop-start system. The returning 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 also gets auto stop-start. Ford hasn't provided any power, torque or fuel economy numbers to back up these claims, however. All engines are mated to a new standard 10-speed automatic transmission.
The new turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder is optional.
The new 10-speed transmission is standard across the lineup.
The other powertrain news is the availability of a new all-wheel-drive system only with gasoline engines. Previously, you had to go to aftermarket companies if you wanted an all-wheel-drive Transit. Now, you can get one fully integrated right from Ford, which should prove popular for job sites, off-road recreational vehicles and places where all-weather abilities are important. The all-wheel-drive system does not result in a higher ride height or floor height, and is always on with selectable drive modes for different terrains.
Interior
The Transit gets an all-new dashboard for 2020 with improved usability and several user-friendly features like easy-to-reach cupholders and multiple storage bins. New seating surfaces are said to be more durable, new vents have been designed for better cabin airflow, and everything has been updated and modernized to Ford's latest looks. Front swiveling seats are optional, a big seller for the RV market.
Connectivity technology gets a boost with FordPass Connect now standard in the Transit. It uses a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot for connection of up to 10 mobile devices, useful for fleet or family use. USB ports have been installed in every row of the passenger van versions. Fleet managers can use the new Ford Telematics and Ford Data Services features that bring monitoring functions to the Transit including GPS tracking, geofencing with alerts, fuel waste reporting and a host of other features businesses use for their fleet vehicles.
The multimedia system is updated with two potential displays: a 4-inch full-color multifunction display or an 8-inch slim-line touchscreen panel. Both feature the latest Sync 3 multimedia system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. The Ford AppLink system allows users to control the vehicle's multimedia systems using a smartphone app, while a 4.2-inch display in the gauge cluster reports on vehicle information and phone call status.
Safety
Now standard across the Transit line are precollision assist with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane keep assist and automatic high beams. The Transit passenger van in XLT trim is equipped with the Ford Co-Pilot360 system, which adds blind spot warning with trailer coverage and cross-traffic alert to the list. An available automatic park assist feature steers and prompts a driver when pulling into or out of a parallel parking spot. Additional features include available adaptive cruise control, a front and rear split-view camera, and an adjustable speed limiter device.
The new 2020 Ford Transit goes on sale in the fall.
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