It can be hard to choose the ideal van, but by understanding the pros and cons of each van you can easily identify the perfect van to take you out on adventures. For example if fuel economy is your top priority, then the Mercedes Sprinter is the van for you. Likewise, if AWD is on your must have list, then either the Ford Transit or the Mercedes Sprinter would be a good option for you.
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Mercedes Sprinter vs Ford Transit vs Ram Promaster
The Mercedes Sprinter is probably the van most of us will picture when someone says van life, whether or not this picture also includes the seemingly obligatory bikini clad lady I will leave to your imagination. Despite this image the Sprinter is most certainly not the only van available to those who wish to jump on the van life bandwagon.
The term vanlife is a particularly broad, and inclusive term with everything from former ambulances to former school buses being included under the van life umbrella. However, in the spirit of brevity, we will focus on what is probably the most popular vehicle category for people who want to start a life on the road, whether full time or for a few months at a time. That vehicle is of course the humble cargo van, which depending on your budget, does not have to be very humble at all.
There are a lot of benefits to buying a van for van life, most notable amongst them is that they are more compact than traditional RV’s, and secondly you get to design, and create your own space instead of being stuck with RV beige.
There are essentially three options in North America if you want to buy a van that comes with a factory high roof. Those options are the Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit and Ram Promaster. Each van is unique with its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and although some people may have a preference, there really is no wrong choice.
Is the Mercedes Sprinter the Ultimate Van?
The Sprinter is the oldest van of the bunch, at least in North America, and they have an extremely loyal following amongst van builders, and van dwellers. There are definitely a lot of things to like about the Sprinter, notably the fuel efficient diesel engines, and good build quality. But if we are being honest, the huge Mercedes badge on the front which subtly says; we may be van lifers that live in a space the size of a McMansion broom closet, but at least we drive a Mercedes, is probably the biggest benefit of buying a Sprinter.
Unless you want to drain your bank account, and opt for the very pricey AWD system, your Mercedes Sprinter will send all of its power to the rear wheels. The Sprinter is available in three lengths, and two wheel bases. The smallest option in North America is the 144” wheelbase, with an exterior length of 234” (5932 mm), and an interior length of 133” (3272 mm). Next up is the 170” wheel base with an exterior length of 274” (6967 mm), and an interior length of 173” (4307 mm). The longest Sprinter maintains the 170” wheel base, but extends the body to achieve an exterior length of 290” (7367 mm), and an interior length of (4707 mm).
Engine choices will vary depending on how new a Sprinter you end up buying, but until 2018 the only engine choice was the faithful diesel V6 producing 190 hp. After 2018 there are more engine choices, a standard output 4 cylinder turbo diesel that gives you 170 hp, and a high output 4 cylinder turbo diesel engine that produces 211 hp.
| Pros | Cons |
| Good Resale Value | Parts are Expensive |
| Good Fuel Economy | Maintenance is Expensive |
| A lot of Resources for Van build Accessories | Limited Dealer/ Mechanic Network |
| Plenty of Resources for Tips, and Ideas | Only Reliable if Extremely Well Maintained |
| High Quality Interior | Standard Equipment is Basic |
| RWD is Standard | Complicated Diesel Emissions System |
Is the Ford Transit the Ultimate Van?
Although the Ford Transit is relatively new to North America, on the other side of the pond in a country where the beer is served warm, and the weather is served with a side of rain, the Ford Transit is the quintessential van. In fact the Ford Transit is so classic that it is the unofficial mascot of the White Van Man, a cultural phenomenon that represents either the best of Britain, or the worst of Britain, depending on which tabloid you read.
The Ford Transit did not migrate to North America until 2014, but as with the original settlers, the Transit has done well for itself, and according to Ford’s marketing team it is now the best selling van in North America.
Since 2018 the Ford Transit has been available with an AWD option, for which they charge you less than half of what Mercedes does, but at $4,195 it is definitely not free. If you want to pay your rent instead of Jim Farley’s Christmas bonus, the standard Ford Transit is equipped with RWD.
There are three lengths of van to choose from, split between two wheelbases. The smallest van available has a wheelbase of 130” and an exterior length of 217.8” (553 cm), unfortunately it is not available with a high roof from the factory. The longest wheelbase is 148”, and plays host to two lengths. The shortest 148” wheelbase van has an exterior length of 235” (598 cm), and the longest Ford Transit available has a total exterior length of 264” (670 cm), whilst still utilising the 148” wheelbase.
There are two engine choices available on the Ford Transit, both of them gas. The standard engine is a 3.5l naturally aspirated V6 that produces 275 hp, but if you need more speeding tickets in your life, you can upgrade to the 3.5l Ecoboost engine that produces 310 hp.
| Pros | Cons |
| Reliable Gas Engines | Early Generation EcoBoost Engines Unreliable |
| Affordable to Service/ Maintain | Refinement Lacking on Early Interiors |
| Huge Dealer/ Repair Network | Fewer Van Building Resources |
| Cheapest AWD Van | Very Long Rear Overhang on Longest Model |
| Tallest Interior Height | Fuel Economy |
| RWD is Standard |
Is the Ram Promaster the Ultimate Van?
Last but not least we have the Ram Promaster, a van with a face like a retired heavyweight boxer who has taken one too many punches to the face. Of course if Pugs, and French Bulldogs turn your normal speech into a series of cooing noises, then you can stop reading right now, and go buy the Promaster. The Ram Promaster is another European import, although at least this time they went to the effort of changing the name. Outside of North America the Ram Promaster is known as the Fiat Ducato, although both the Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Jumper, and as of 2021 the Opel Movano are essentially just rebadged versions of the same van.
The Ram Promaster does not have an AWD option, and unlike the Sprinter, and Transit it is only available with FWD. Although there are some benefits to FWD in a normal vehicle, they tend to not apply in a built out van, as the heavy load of your build in the back means that the front tires have less weight on them, and therefore less traction. This can actually be dangerous at times, as you may find yourself without any grip when trying to ascend a steep slippery road.
As with its European cousins the Ram Promaster is available in two different wheelbases, and three lengths. The shortest model sports a 136” wheelbase, with an exterior length of 213.2” (541.5 cm), and an interior length of 122.8” (312 cm). The regular 159” wheelbase has an exterior length of 236.2” (600 cm), and an interior length of 145.9” (370.6 cm). The longest Promaster retains the 159” wheelbase, but extends the body to an exterior length of 250.6” (636.5 cm), and an interior length of 160.2” (407 cm).
Choosing an engine for the Promaster is easy, as there is only one to choose from; a 3.6l V6 gas engine that produces 270 hp.
| Pros | Cons |
| Gas Engine | Lowest Interior Height of Full Size Vans (until 2023 model) |
| Cheapest Used Full Size Van | Low Ground Clearance |
| Good Standard Equipment | Uninspiring Appearance (personal opinion) |
| Good Service Coverage | Poor Build Quality |
| Affordable Servicing | Poor Reliability |
| Boxy Build | Front Wheel Drive Only |
| Largest Interior Width | |
| Best Exterior to Interior Length Ratio |
Which Van Wins the Ultimate Van for Van Life Title? Ram Promaster vs Sprinter vs Transit
The ultimate van is the one that allows you to hit the road, take you to the places you want to visit, and makes you happy. All the vans above have the potential to do that, and a quick YouTube search will show you people travelling around the world to remote places in every single one of these vans. With that being said, there are some considerations to take into account, and depending on your personal circumstances I would probably recommend one van over the other.
For example if you want to take your van on rough backroads, then I would avoid the Promaster as the low hanging rear axle significantly hampers your ground clearance, and opt for a Ford Transit with AWD instead. On the other hand, if you want to keep your van as short as possible, and sleep side to side in order to maximize your interior space, then the Promaster is the only van that allows you to do so from the factory. If you want to travel the Pan American highway you will want to give the newer Mercedes Sprinter models a miss, as their diesel engines cannot handle the high sulphur fuel that you might encounter on your travels. However, you will not have any issues with either the Ram Promaster or Ford Transit as their engine options are all gas powered.
If you are looking for more information to determine whether the Sprinter, the Transit or the ProMaster is the right van for you, then take a look at our deep dive into the Ford Transit, our in-depth guide on the Mercedes Sprinter, and our overview of the Ram ProMaster with top pros and cons.
For a more detailed comparison, and ranking, of the Mercedes Sprinter, Ford Transit, and Ram Promaster across 14 categories, including reliability, take a look at our comprehensive ranking guide to discover which van is the best van for van life.
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