The van that will eventually replace Ford’s work van stalwart E-Series, Transit made its debut with the 2015 model year and the company has sold 105,030 units to-date, outpacing E-Series sales by more than 2:1.
Model year 2016 saw only a handul for updates from the year prior, mostly a handful of technology upgrades, like the addition of a standard rearview camera and trailer hitch assist, which automatically engages when the vehicle is shifted into reverse and displays a graphical overlay on the screen that helps guide drivers to line up a hitch with a trailer. Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system is also made available to Transit this model year as an option.
Dual sliding cargo doors also will debut on 2016 Ford Transit medium- and high-roof vans, and Ford is rolling out four new paint colors: Shadow Black, Caribou (dark brown), Magnetic (dark grey) and Race Red.
Front dome lamps with map lights and theater dimming are now standard on all Transit variants, and the USB port has been moved above the cupholder in the center console for easier access in 2016 models.
My test unit, a 2016 Transit 350 HD cutaway, was equipped with the standard 3.7-liter V6 engine and upfit with a Knapheide KUV body. A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and a 3.2-liter I5 diesel are available engine options.
With 275 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, the dual rear wheels did a nice job pushing the more than 1-ton galvanneal steel work body around the Kansas City interstate and nearby surface roads. Transit’s fleet customers can add an available speed limiter that caps top speed at 70 mph. For the 2015 model years, speeds could be held to 65 mph and 75 mph.
