Ford Transit Cargo Van 2021 Review

Pickup trucks have long dominated the vehicle landscape in America. Work vehicle, adventure rig, family hauler — you name it and the truck can do it. Full-size vans, however, are starting to have their moment in the sun. The 2021 Ford Transit Cargo Van is a full-size van that offers multiple powertrains, rear- or all-wheel-drive, a number of roof-height configurations and two wheelbase lengths. Pair these versatile setups with a long list of available options and upfitting possibilities, and you've got a commercial van that can rival almost any pickup for usability.

For 2021, Ford has eliminated the Transit's optional 2.0-liter diesel powertrain. This might be a disappointment to some buyers, but we still think the standard 3.5-liter V6 and Ford's optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine are worthy choices. Ford has also added a number of option packages to help preload the Transit Cargo for specific purposes such as parcel delivery, RV conversion and all-terrain adventures.

Inside, the Transit offers a likable interior, with a comfortable ride and an optional 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. For on-road safety, there are a number of driver assist aids such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, with optional parking sensors and adaptive cruise control.

Some of the Transit's rivals offer more upscale interiors or slightly higher tow ratings, but that's not enough to steer us away. Overall, the Transit Cargo is an ultra-versatile van that should easily impress most commercial and recreational van shoppers.

Which Transit Cargo Van does MatoCar recommend?

The 2021 Ford Transit is a full-size cargo van. It's available in standard- and long-wheelbase models as well as low-, medium- and high-roof body styles. There's also an extended-length body available on the long-wheelbase model.

Depending on the configuration, the Transit Cargo Van comes in a single trim level in Transit 150, Transit 250 and Transit 350 versions with increasing gross vehicle weight ratings. Engines include a 3.5-liter V6 (275 horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque) and an optional turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (310 hp, 400 lb-ft). A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard as is rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as an option.

Standard features for the cargo van include:

• Sliding passenger-side door
• Cargo area tie-downs
• Power windows, locks and mirrors
• Keyless entry
• Manual tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• 4-inch audio display with a four-speaker stereo
• AM/FM radio and two USB ports

Standard driver safety aids are bundled into the Ford Co-Pilot360 package and include:

• Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front)
• Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Automatic high-beam headlights

Options can be ordered alone or come as part of packages. Highlights include:

• Upgraded axle ratios
• 60/40-split hinged passenger-side door (low roof)
• 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Paint-matched bumpers
• Foglights
• An extended-range 31-gallon fuel tank
• Running boards
• Cruise control
• Remote start
• Spray-in bedliner for the cargo area
• Integrated trailer brake controller (allows adjustment of a trailer's brakes from the cabin)

You can also get the Transit with additional driver aids, such as:

• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and trailer coverage (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Transit and the car in front)

A few bundled option packages were added for 2021 that help combine features for certain van uses. They include:

• Adventure Prep package
• Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow package
• RV Prep package
• Parcel Delivery package