Ford boasts that it has topped the van-sales charts in the U.S. for more than 40 years. That’s pretty remarkable, considering that the E-Series van responsible for most of those sales has only seen four redesigns in its 58 years of production (yes, it’s still in production, but only in stripped chassis-cab guise). In 2014 the Euro-designed Transit van—then a 49-year-old nameplate that was just starting its fourth generation—became Ford’s mainstream van offering in the U.S., as well. Now, rather than letting the Transit languish for 16 or 27 years like the last two E-Series generations (or 31 years like the first-gen British Transit!), Ford is keeping this Transit fresh. A major mid-cycle upgrade for 2020 modifies 53 percent of the vehicle and includes two new engines, a new transmission, the option of all-wheel drive, a slew of new driver assistance and safety systems, and a freshening of the interior and exterior that includes 28 new buildable configurations (for a total of 92!). Will these nips, tucks, and alterations keep Transit at the pointy end of the sales chart?
Powertrain Upgrades
New 3.5-liter PFDi V-6
Replacing the base 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V-6 is this new port- and direct-injected gasoline V-6 engine, essentially a version of the F-150’s 3.3-liter with its bore increased from 90.4 to 92.5 mm. The engine features most of the second-generation architectural upgrades recently applied to the F-150 engines and adds roller-followers to reduce friction in the valvetrain. The engine can be equipped with two 250-amp alternators to power upfit options (as can the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, which gets auto stop/start but otherwise carries over unchanged). For now the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter is exclusive to the Transit. Final power and torque figures were not released as of press time, but given that the 3.3-liter version produces 290 hp and 265 lb-ft, it’s safe to assume customers will see a comfortable bump up from the old 3.7-liter’s 275 hp and 260 lb-ft.
New 2.0-liter EcoBlue Bi-turbodiesel I-4
Replacing the 3.2-liter Power Stroke I-5 turbodiesel is a smoother, quieter, more fuel-efficient four-cylinder that global Transits (and the recent Ranger Raptor) have used for three years. It features a small turbo that builds boost quickly to eliminate the sense of turbo lag, and a larger one that does the heavy lifting at higher engine speeds. This engine also features auto stop/start. Cool fact: Its pistons are cast, cooled, and then re-melted in their forms to remove impurities. Output has not been announced, but in the Euro Transit it makes 210 hp and 369 lb-ft—again, a noticeable bump up from the 3.2-liter’s 185 hp and 350 lb-ft.
10-Speed Automatic
Here again we have a variation on the 10-speed fitted to the F-150 pickups, with modifications primarily to suit the packaging requirements of the van. The Transit’s steering rack location drove a relocation of the controller unit, and the case had to be modified to permit a direct all-wheel-drive power takeoff on the passenger side (the F-150 routes torque forward on the driver side, via a bolt-on transfer case). The gear ratios themselves are very close to those in the F-150.
All-Wheel Drive
This single-speed system is available with either the new 3.5-liter base engine or the carryover twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. Torque is generally split 50/50, but it can send nearly all available torque to the front axle if conditions demand, and the system includes mud/ruts and slippery drive modes. All-wheel drive does not alter either the floor height/shape or the ride height.
Safety and Driver Assistance Upgrades
Every new 2020 Transit cargo and passenger van will get the following as standard equipment:
- Pre-Collision Assist with automatic emergency braking and Pedestrian Detection
- Forward collision warning
- Post-collision braking
- Lane keep assist
- Auto high-beam headlights
Passenger XLT models also get Ford Co-Pilot 360, which includes:
- Blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage
- Cross-traffic alert
- A new side sensing system joins the existing reverse sensing system
Options:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Active park assist for automated steering assistance in pulling in and out of parallel and perpendicular parking spaces
- Front and rear split-view camera
- Adjustable speed-limiting device
Interior and Exterior Upgrades
Interior
A completely new dash provides myriad cupholders, bins, and cubbies, USB jacks, and a choice of full color central screens: 4.0-inch or freestanding 8.0-inch color touchscreen like the one in the new Explorer. Grab handles ease front ingress without compromising visibility, new vents better direct heated and cooled air, and ergonomics are generally improved. New colors include Ebony Black and Palazzo Gray. Swiveling front seats are available at the request of recreational-vehicle customers (with an 11,000-pound gross-vehicle-weight rating for the chassis-cab, it’s a popular RV upfit candidate). There’s also a new five-passenger Crew Van configuration that mounts a three-seat second-row bench in front of a cargo bulkhead, with curtain airbag protection for all outboard passengers (a segment first). Strangely enough, the three-across front bench is not available with the rear bench, because the center console design (one of three) chosen for the Crew Van is incompatible. New grab handles at the rear cargo door provide assistance without reducing the width of the opening.
Connectivity
Both of the aforementioned screens support the latest SYNC 3 operating system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Standard on all Transits is a FordPass Connect modem offering 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity for 10 devices, and fleet customers can opt for new Ford Telematics and Ford Data Services—a suite of tools to help optimize fleet efficiency with order-to-delivery status reporting, geofencing with alerts, and key performance indicators. It can even report potential fuel waste and provide coaching to reduce it. Managers can get maintenance reminders and vehicle-health alerts, simplifying the process of scheduling service to maximize uptime.
Exterior
Three new grille designs are tailored to the different variants, with twin-turbo models getting the largest one for improved cooling. These are flanked by revised lights that include high-intensity discharge illumination and LED surround lighting on wagons. A power-sliding door is now available, and as mentioned, the total number of buildable configurations (wheelbases, roof heights, 150/350 capacity, door types, seating arrangements, cargo/passenger/chassis-cab/cutaway, drivetrains, etc.) expands from 64 to 92.
Look for the upgraded Transit to start shipping to Ford’s 3,000 dealers (including 675 fleet dealers) this fall, and with Ford and VW poised to collaborate on commercial vans going forward, we’ve probably seen the last of multi-decade product cycles.
| 2020 Ford Transit | |
| BASE PRICE | $34,500-$46,000 (est) |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front-engine, RWD/AWD, 2-14-pass, 3-door van |
| ENGINES | 3.5L/295-hp (est)/280-lb-ft (est) DOHC 24-valve V-6; 2.0L/210-hp (est)/369-lb-ft (est) twin-turbodiesel DOHC 16-valve I-4; 3.5L/310-hp (est)/400-lb-ft (est) twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6 |
| TRANSMISSION | 10-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT | 3,900-6,900 lb (est) |
| WHEELBASE | 129.9-147.6 in |
| LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT | 217.8-263.9 x 81.3 x 83.2-110.1 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 7.0-12.0 sec (MT est) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | Not yet rated |
| ON SALE IN U.S. | Fall 2019 |
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