Table of Contents

Cargo van comparo

Cargo vans come in various sizes, shapes, and capacities. Narrowing it down to one or two models can help you avoid analysis paralysis. These page attempts to collect specifications which you can consider (or not) based on your own needs.

Footnotes are in place so you can check sources for yourself. [frater says: don't trust anyone else's judgement on what van you need. It's your life, and it's your house!]

There are basic sections on American cargo vans, eurovans, and minicargo vans on other wiki pages.

Useful diagram for factory interior dimensions.

Living area comparison

Model Cargo height1) Cargo length Cargo width at belt line Width between wheelwells Cargo volume Overall length
NV2) 75“ High
—-
55.8” Low
120“ 70.2” 54“ 323.1'3) High
—-
234' Low
Promaster 86” Super High
—-
76“ High
—-
65.4” Low4)
123“5), 144”6), 160“7) 74” 56“ 406'8), 459'9), 529.7'10) High
—-
304'11), 353 159WB Low
Sprinter 77.8”12), 66.5“13)14). 87.3”15) 128.5“16), 169.317), 185.3”18) 70.1“19) 53.1” 371'20), 494'21), 547'22)
Transit 81.5“/79”“23) High
—-
72”/70.5“24) Mid
—-
56.9” Low25)
118“26) 129”27), 158“28)
(Measured from the driver's seat when fully back, to the rear cargo doors when closed)
70.229) 54.8” SRW, 44.5“ DRW 30) 411.4'31), 496.0'32) High
—-
317.3'33), 363.9'34) Medium
—-
247' 35), 278”36) Low
Express 52.9“37), 53.4”38) 124.6“39), 146.2”40) 72“41) 52.7”42) 239.7'43), 284.4'44)
Ford E-Series 52.5” 122“45), 142”46) 72.4“47) 52.5”48) 237.8' 49), 278.3“50)
NV20051) 53”52) 82.8“53) 54.8”54) 48“55) 127.7 cu ft56)
Transit Connect 53.7” (first gen)57), 49.7“58) (2nd gen) 71.5”59), 87.3“60) 48”61) 103.9 cu ft62), 128.6 cu ft63)
Nissan Quest 40“64) 86.5”65) 63.2“66) 108.4 cu ft67) 200.8”68)
Promaster City 50“69) 60.4”70) 48.4“71) 131.7 cu ft72)
Mercedes-Benz Metris 55”73) 105“74) 66.3”75) 50“76) 183 cu ft77)
Astro/Safari 47.2“78) 97.2”79) 53.9“80) 50”81) 170.4 cu ft82)

During some model years fleet Sprinters have been available with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic 84“ Mega / Super High roof.83)84) There is some concern that the Mega roof may be unsuitable for camping due to an inability to support roof vents, A/C, solar mounts, etc.85) A composite roof would also be susceptible to overhead limb damage in forested areas.

off pavement comparison

The approach and departure angles tells you how steep a grade you can drive onto or off without dragging the front or rear end, usually the bumper. Receiver hitches will usually reduce departure angle.

Model Ground clearance approach angle departure angle turning circle
NV 8.1”86) 17.8°87) 16.7°88) 45.2'89)
Express 2500 7.1“90), 7.7”91) ° ° 49.2'92), 54.5'93)
E250 7.0“ 30°94) 16°95) 48.6'96)
Promaster 6.9” at rear axle 18.6° 20° 36'97), 46.8'98)
Sprinter 6.9“99) 19°100) 13°101) 42'102), 47'103)
Transit 6.0”104), 6.1“105)106) at rear shock mounts. ? ~18° or 9° (Ext)107) 39.2'108), 56.4'109)
NV200 6.5”110)
Transit Connect 6“111), 6.3”112)
Promaster CIty 5.1“113)
MB Metris 4.4”114)

capacity comparison

Model fuel tank
E-Series 33 gal115). Optional aux tap.
Express 31 gal 116)
NV 28 gal117)
Promaster 24.0 gal.118). Tapped for aux fuel use.
Sprinter 26.4 gal.119)
Transit 25.0 gal standard,120), 31 gal optional for 148“ WB. Optional Aux Tap.
NV200 14.5 gal121)

total Cost of Ownership comparison

Some calculations of gas Eurovans based on NADA information, originally from this blog post. Sprinter left out but Express included; it was not a Eurovan-specific post.

annual repair costs

Compiled from repairpal data, Jan 2020.

3/4 ton vans:

  1. Nissan NV1500, $825/yr
  2. Ford Transit 150 , $963/yr
  3. Chevy Express 1500, $972/yr
  4. Ford E-250, $1070/yr
  5. RAM Promaster 1500, $1072/yr
  6. (no figures available for Sprinter)

minicargos:

  1. Nissan NV200, $645/yr
  2. RAM Promaster City, $795/yr
  3. Ford Transit Connect, $926

minivans:

  1. Honda Odyssey, $547/yr
  2. Toyota Sienna, $554/yr
  3. Dodge Grand Caravan / Chrysler T&C, $646/yr
  4. Nissan Quest, $659/yr

warranty comparison

ModelBasicPowertrainMiscTransferableRoadside AssistanceTowing to nearest service
NV5yr/100,000mi122)5yr/100,000mi123) on gas powertrain5yr/unlimited body rust124)yes125)3yr/36,000mi126)yes127)
Promaster3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.n/aYes128)5yr/100,000miyes129)
Sprinter3yr/36,000mi5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.130)5yr/100,000mi on body rustyes131)3yr/36,000miyes132)
Transit3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.133)n/aYes134)5yr/100,000miup to 35mi135)
Express3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain.3yr/36,000mi corrosion
5yr/100,000mi rust-through
Yes136)5yr/60,000miyes
Ford E-series137)3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain138)5yr/unlimited rust-through

further reading

We're the Russos has an excellent article on eurovan pro/con.

1)
at ribs
2)
full size
5)
136WB
6)
159WB
7)
159WB Extended
8)
136WB high roof
9)
159WB high roof
10)
159WB Extended high roof
11)
136WB low
12)
high roof
13)
low roof
15)
super high roof, if available
16)
144WB
17)
170WB, longest non-extended body
18)
170WB Extended
20)
144WB high roof
21)
171WB high roof, largest volume non-extended body
22)
171WB Extended high roof
23) , 24)
To sheet metal/To the spar
26)
130WB
27)
148WB
28)
148WB Extended
31)
148WB high roof
32)
148WB Extended high roof
33)
130WB medium roof
34)
148WB medium roof
35)
130WB Low
36)
148WB low roof
51)
also sold as Chevrolet City Express
104)
RWB
105)
LWB
137)
up to 2014
138)
. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.