2026 Ford Transit Passenger Van

Name: 2026 Ford Transit Passenger Van
Brand: Ford

Release Date: Late 2025

Estimated Price: Starting around $59,000

When your passenger count is leaning toward "bus" but you don't have or want a commercial driver's license, the 2026 Ford Transit Passenger Van is a strong pick from the few available options. Its ride and handling are more refined than you might expect from something so close to a commercial vehicle, and the Transit can be had in a variety of configurations that can hold up to 15 passengers in five rows of seats.Read full review

Contact your local dealers about upcoming availability and pricing details.

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2026 Ford Transit Passenger Van Review

Pros

Available in multiple configurations
Strong acceleration from optional turbocharged V6
Pleasant ride quality for a van
Infotainment system is easy to use

Cons

Less towing capability than some rival vans
Turbocharged V6 is thirsty

What's new

More standard driver assist features
Modern 12-inch touchscreen standard
Shorter high-roof body no longer available
Part of the first Transit generation introduced for 2015

Overview

Written by automotive expert Jared Gall

8/19/2025

Large SUVs have decimated the full-size van market, but for those with a whole host of people and a lot of gear to move, there's still nothing better than a big old van. And with three roof heights to choose from and two available lengths with seating for up to 15, the 2026 Ford Transit Passenger Van makes an excellent airport shuttle or small bus for any application.

Edmunds spotlight: Updated safety and infotainment tech

Aside from new taillights and redesigned badging, the 2026 Transit Passenger Van looks the same as last year's model from the outside. But Ford replaced the old 4-inch radio display with a 12-inch touchscreen running its latest infotainment software and featuring over-the-air update capability to keep the system current. The 2026 Transit also gains more standard driver assist tech, including lane keeping assistance, emergency steering assistance, and front and rear parking sensors — a necessity for maneuvering such a large van into anything but the most generous parking spots.

Competitors to consider

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is the van the Transit targets. It's more expensive than the Ford, but only barely, and it uses classier interior finishes in line with its branding. The Ram ProMaster is the Transit's only other direct competitor, but it is short on refinement even by the low standards of the class. The Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana adhere to the old truck-based American van template. They are significantly cheaper than the Transit and can tow over a ton more, but they haven't been redesigned in nearly three decades and their big V8 engines guzzle gas.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Jonathan Elfalan

Good

7.9

out of 10

We drove the 2026 Ford Transit Passenger Van on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

8.5/10

How does the Transit Passenger Van drive? The turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 gives the Transit plenty of character. Acceleration is easy and smooth around town thanks to the 10-speed automatic transmission, and when you need to climb a mountain or speed away from the light, the EcoBoost engine has you covered. At our test track, the Transit sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds. That's really moving for a vehicle this large and heavy.

Typical braking feels easy and responsive, but the Transit took a bit longer to make panic stops than other vans we've tested in this class. The Transit's steering gives you a decent feel for the road and easily returns to center after turning. Handling is a bit of a shocker since this giant van is actually pretty fun to drive, even if you haven't converted it into a party bus.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Transit Passenger Van? The Transit offers a surprisingly good ride, even in the heavy-duty 14-passenger configuration. Most big bumps are soaked up, and only the sharpest of impacts make their way into the cabin. Road and wind noise is pretty noticeable due to the big profile, but that's to be expected. Even so, it's not as loud as some competitors.

The driver's seat, while a bit awkwardly positioned, is supportive and comfortable on long trips. The rear seats are a bit flatter and less comfortable, but they're acceptable for a heavy-duty van. The climate control system keeps the cavernous cabin cool on hot days, and optional heated front seats warm up nicely on colder days.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? Climbing into and out of a large van like the Transit will always be a bit difficult, but the wide-opening front and side doors make it easier. Once you're inside, the driver controls are well laid out, with large knobs for the climate control and intuitive buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel. And unless you're loading in 14 NFL linebackers, the cabin should be roomy enough for almost any group.

The driving position is a low point for the Transit, offering a sort of top-down view of the dash, with a long reach to the steering wheel for taller drivers. Forward visibility is excellent, but a big pillar behind the driver obscures the immediate view to the side. The blind-spot warning system helps a great deal here. A high-mounted wide-angle rearview camera and big side mirrors also help in getting this big van into relatively tight spaces.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? A 12-inch touchscreen with Sync 4 — Ford's latest infotainment tech — is standard, and the system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The eight-speaker stereo isn't as impressive, but it gets the job done. Six USB ports and two 12-volt outlets should keep most of your devices charged too.

A number of driver aids are available on the Transit. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning systems are available, as are adaptive cruise control and a split-view front camera. The latter two both performed adequately during our test.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? The massive dimensions of the high-roof, long-wheelbase Transit allow for a great deal of interior storage. Under the seats, there's plenty of room for luggage, and small items can be stored in a number of front cubbies. The cupholders are large, deep and numerous, lining the cabin for all those late-night 14-person fast-food runs. As many as 11 car seats can be loaded in, though attaching them to the lower tethers might be a bit time-consuming.

The Transit can handle payloads of upward of 3,000 pounds or tow up to 4,500 pounds.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

Fuel Economy

6/10

How’s the fuel economy? What the Transit gains in performance with the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 it loses in fuel economy. Based on its heavy-duty status, the Transit isn't rated for fuel economy by the EPA, but during our test we weren't able to crest 13 mpg, even on long highway stretches.

Value

7/10

Is the Transit Passenger Van a good value? The Transit is priced competitively, offering similar equipment as rivals, and many of the Transit's options are stand-alone, so you can pick and choose what you need. Our dual-rear-wheel heavy-duty test van came with options including adaptive cruise control and heated front seats. The final price was close to $60,000. A similarly equipped Mercedes Sprinter will run you about the same price but doesn't offer some of Ford's safety aids.

A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and roadside assistance coverage for five years/60,000 miles are standard. It's worth noting that paint repair damage from "airborne metals" is also covered for the first year, up to 12,000 miles.

Wildcard

7.5/10

When you consider the Transit's utility capabilities, it's impressive how well it behaves on curvy roads. The power is fun, and the handling is good enough to stop you from being the guy who's holding up the line when you're going up a mountain road. The Transit is a workhorse, but its styling isn't overly boring or boxy.

Which Transit Passenger Van does Edmunds recommend?

The price difference between the base XL and step-up XLT is so slight that the XLT is the obvious choice. Standard carpet and heated front seats make for a far more civilized van, and a load of additional driver aids make it safer too.