The new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo Van vs. the Ford Transit Van

Are you looking for a dependable, capable commercial cargo van? For many business customers, the choice can often come down to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van and the Ford Transit cargo van. When you're making an investment in a van that's a vital part of your business, it's important to consider the reliability and the long-term costs of each option. We believe you'll find that the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van is a significantly better value than the Ford Transit. Here's a side-by-side comparison and why we believe you'll want to end up with a new Sprinter at Mercedes-Benz of Winston-Salem in Winston-Salem, NC.

A comparison of power and performance

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van gives you some powerful engine options and tow a lot more weight than the Ford Transit van. For the latest model year, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans give you a choice of turbo diesels with 168 or 208 horsepower. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter makes a bigger impact on your business with a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds compared with the Transit van with a maximum towing capacity of just 6,000 pounds. That's 1,500 pounds less than the Mercedes Sprinter. 

The Ford Transit gives you a choice of two V6 engines. One is a naturally aspirated 275-horsepower version and the other is a 310-horsepower turbo EcoBoost. While Ford gives you more horsepower, that doesn't matter much when you consider the Sprinter's greater towing capacity and long-term endurance. That's where the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter diesel engines give you a major advantage.

A comparison of lifespans

Each of these popular cargo vans can start off strong but Mercedes-Benz gives you a much longer life expectancy and that can be a big deciding factor in determining which van is the best investment. The Ford Transit van has a typical life expectancy of about 150,000 miles while the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has a life expectancy of about 280,000 miles if you do the proper maintenance and service.

So about the time your Sprinter van might be needing its first major repairs at 150,000 miles, a Ford Transit may have reached the end of its useful life and will need to be completely replaced. At that point, it becomes obvious that the Mercedes-Benz diesel engine is a far better use of your money.

A comparison of maintenance and repair costs

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van will require a greater investment in maintenance and repair than the Ford Transit. In addition, the Sprinter van is built with proven German engineering and does require the high quality of Mercedes-Benz OEM replacement parts. The good news is that the quality of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will mean it should require fewer major repairs. In addition, regular maintenance on these Mercedes-Benz vehicles are performed at longer intervals. So while the cost might be higher each time, the service will be performed less often.

The Ford Transit van will be cheaper to maintain and repair than the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. But unfortunately for Ford buyers, the cheaper repair costs and parts can lead to long-term issues like more frequent breakdowns. In addition, more frequent repairs can contribute to a higher cost of operation because it leads to more downtime. In other words, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter helps keep your business operating profitably while the Ford Transit can keep your vans on the sidelines, costing you money instead of generating it.

A comparison of purchase prices

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter begins with a starting price of less than $50,000 while the Ford Transit base comes in at about $45,000. However, that $5,000 price difference dissolves away when you look at the overall value proposition. Because the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a diesel engine can last so much longer, you'll ultimately get a better return on your investment. We invite you to take a look at our new Sprinter inventory and explore your options at Mercedes-Benz of Winston-Salem in Winston-Salem, NC.