2013 Cargo Van Comparison
A side-by-side comparison of the venerable models and newcomers shows that there’s a van for every type of cargo.
The full-size and compact cargo van segment continues to be key for fleets. Venerable models, such as the Ford E-Series, continue to be offered alongside new offerings such as the Ford Transit (which is set to replace the iconic E-Series) and MINI Clubvan, the smallest cargo van in the segment, giving fleet managers options in terms of engines, cargo, and payload capacities.
The 2014 model-year will see a number of new and refreshed models from Ford, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan.
Form Follows Function
As a side-by-side comparison attests, every cargo van in today’s market has unique benefits that can fit almost any fleet’s spec sheet. The comparison chart, which includes select 2014 models, also gives an indication of the direction the segment is going with both varied capacities and an emphasis on European styling.
Click here for a full PDF, which includes the comparison chart.
Make/Model | 2014 Ford Transit Connect | 2013 Nissan NV200 | 2013 Ram C/V | 2013 MINI Cooper Clubvan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Available Engines (HP, Torque) | 2.5L I-4, (N/A, N/A), 1.6 EcoBoost I-4, (N/A, N/A) | 2.0L I-4 (131, 139) | 3.6L V-6 (283, 260) | 1.6L I-4 (121, 114) |
Transmission | 6-speed automatic | CVT automatic | 6-speed automatic | 6-speed manual or automatic |
Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Brakes | Front disc and rear drum brakes with ABS | Front disc and rear drum brakes with ABS | Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS | Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS |
Cargo Volume (cubic feet) | 105.0-130.0 | 122.7 | 144.4 | 30.3 |
Fuel Tank (gallons) | 15.8 | 14.5 | 20 | 13.2 |
Wheelbase (inches) | 104.8-120.6 | 115.2 | 121.2 | 100.3 |
Overall Length (inches) | 173.9-189.7 | 186.3 | 202.8 | 155.9 |
Overall Width (inches) | 84.1 | 68.1 | 78.7 | 66.3 |
Overall Height (inches) | 72.5-72.8 | 73.7 | 69 | 56.1 |
Leg Room (inches) | 40.3 | 42.6 | 40.7 | 41.7 |
Head Room (inches) | 46.9 | 41.7 | 39.8 | 39 |
Hip Room (inches) | 54.6 | 51.3 | 58.4 | N/A |
Shoulder Room (inches) | 57.7 | 54.1 | 63.7 | 50.3 |
Wheel Size | 16 inch | 15 inch | 16 inch | 15 inch |
Maximum GVWR (lbs.) | N/A | 4,718 | 6,050 | N/A |
Maximum Towing (lbs.) | 2,000 | N/A | 3,600 | N/A |
Payload (lbs.) | 1,700 | 1,477-1,500 | 1,800 | 816 |
Make and Model | 2013 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana | 2013 Ford E-Series | 2014 Ford Transit | 2013 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 2013 Nissan NV | 2014 Ram ProMaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Available Engines (HP, Torque) | 4.3L V-6 (195, 260); 4.8L (280, 295); 5.3L V-8 (310, 334); 6.0L V-8 (324, 373) 6.6L V-8 (260, 525) | 4.6L V-8 (225, 286), 5.4L V-8 (255, 350), 6.8L V-10 (305, 420 | 3.7L V-6 (N/A, N/A), 3.5L V-6 (N/A, N/A), 3.L I-5 (N/A, N/A) | BlueTEC V-6 (188, 325) | 4.0L V-6 (261, 281), 5.6L V-8 (317, 385) | 3.6L V-6 280, 258), 3.0L I-4 (174, 295) |
Transmission | 4- or 6-speed automatic | 4- or 5-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic | 5-speed automatic | 5-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic |
Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Brakes | Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS | Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS | Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS | Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS | Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS | N/A |
Cargo Volume (cubic feet) | N/A | N/A | 246.0-487.0 | 318.0-547.0 | 234.1-323.1 | N/A |
Fuel Tank (gallons) | 31 | 33.0-55.0 | 26 | 26.4 | 28 | N/A |
Wheelbase (inches) | 135.0-155.0 | 138.0-176.0 | 129.9-147.6 | 144.0-170.0 | 146.1 | 118.0-159.0 |
Overall Length (inches) | 224.0-244.0 | 216.7-261.1 | 219.9-266.1 | 232.5-289.2 | 240.6 | 195.0-248.0 |
Overall Width (inches) | 79.2 | 79.4-94.9 | 98.1 | 79.7 | 79.9 | 82.7 |
Overall Height (inches) | 81.5-83.7 | 80.0-85.0 | 83.5-109.2 | 96.3-110.8 | 83.9-106.0 | 90-101 |
Leg Room (inches) | 41.3 | 40 | N/A | N/A | 42 | N/A |
Head Room (inches) | 39.8 | 42 | N/A | N/A | 42.8-63.6 | N/A |
Hip Room (inches) | 65.5 | 65.6 | N/A | N/A | 60.6 | N/A |
Shoulder Room (inches) | 68.8 | 68.1 | N/A | N/A | 65.7 | N/A |
Wheel Size | 16-17 inches | 16 inch | 16 inch | 16 inch | 17 inch | N/A |
Maximum GVWR (lbs.) | 7,300-9,600 | N/A | N/A | 8,550-11,030 | 8,550-9,900 | 8,550-9,350 |
Maximum Towing (lbs.) | 6,500-10,000 | 5,600-10,000 | N/A | 5,000-7,500 | 7,000-9,500 | N/A |
Payload (lbs.) | 1,995-4,187 | N/A | N/A | 2,873-5,415 | 2,590-3,925 | 3,794-5,189 |
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Operations
Family Ties Inside the Fleet Families Building Careers Across Generations
Three fleet families share what it really takes to work together, learn across generations, and keep business from following them home.
Read More →
Shades of Fleet Call for Voices: Fleet's Hidden Heroes
Fleet’s hidden heroes are often the ones keeping everything moving behind the scenes. September’s Shades of Fleet is looking for dispatchers, coordinators, parts specialists, and other support pros to share their stories.
Read More →
Truck Centers, Inc. Celebrates National Truck Driver Appreciation Week with $1,000 Fuel Card Giveaways
During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Truck Centers, Inc. is offering customers a chance to fuel up for free. Customers at all Truck Centers locations can enter to win one of four $1,000 fuel cards from Sept. 14 - 18.
Read More →
Fleet Guides, AI Time-Savers, Truck Tariffs & Fuel Strategy Lead the News
This week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet covers new fleet vehicle guides, practical AI use cases, U.S.-Canada truck production, mixed-energy strategy, and more.
Read More →
What Fleet Employers Are Missing When Hiring Veterans
What if some of the strongest candidates for fleet are already out there, but their experience is written in a language our industry does not always recognize?
Read More →
Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Less than two weeks left! Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →
What Resilient Fleets Do Differently When Conditions Change
Fleet resilience is about more than reacting to disruption. Lauren Fletcher talks with AP Fleet’s Alex Coveney about flexibility, planning, scaling, and what helps fleets adapt when business conditions shift.
Read More →
If We Want the Next Generation in Automotive, We Have to Give Them a Reason to Care
The automotive industry talks constantly about its workforce shortage. But before we can recruit the next generation, we may need to do a better job giving kids a reason to care about automotive in the first place.
Read More →
Ram ProMaster City Under $40K, Truck Tariffs, and AI Maintenance Lead the News
A sub-$40K commercial van, tariff questions, AI-powered maintenance, and a new EV production strategy headline this week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet.
Read More →
Bob Adamsky Shares the Fleet Lessons You Usually Learn the Hard Way
After more than 30 years in fleet, Arrow International’s Bob Adamsky has learned that the job is about far more than vehicles. He shares the lessons he wishes every fleet manager could learn a little earlier.
Read More →