The short answer
The best van is the one built for your work. Ladders and long stock: at least 144 in of floor (a ProMaster 159, a long Express, an extended Transit). Delivery with many stops: a ProMaster, for its 21 in floor. Mobile workshop: a high-roof Transit or ProMaster. Tight city routes, light loads: a small van, or the short ProMaster.
The most reliable used van is the one with no open recalls, service records and a clean independent inspection, whatever the badge.
Picks by job
Start from the job, not the model: what you carry, how you load it and where you drive decide the van. Each pick below names the van and the published figure behind it. The full-size vans are compared in detail in RAM ProMaster vs Ford Transit and Ford Transit vs Chevy Express vs RAM ProMaster.
Trades with ladders, pipe and lumber
Pick: a ProMaster on the 159 in wheelbase, a long Express (155 in wheelbase) or an extended Transit or ProMaster. A 12 ft ladder needs 144 in of floor to ride inside with the doors shut: the ProMaster 159 has 147 in, the long Express 146.2 in, the extended ProMaster 161.3 in and the extended Transit 172.2 in. A Transit on the 148 in wheelbase (143.7 in) comes up 0.3 in short. The shorter full-size vans take a 10 ft ladder at most: the Transit 130 (126 in) and the regular Express (124.6 in). No small van takes an 8 ft ladder on its floor.
If the ladders ride on a roof rack instead, floor length stops mattering; measure the height with the rack before a low garage or parking deck.
Delivery and parcels
Pick: a ProMaster for volume routes; a small van for light parcels. On a route with many stops, you load and unload by hand all day, and the ProMaster’s floor is the lowest of the full-size vans: 21 in off the ground, against 28.0–28.9 in for the Transit and 27.8 in for a 2015–2019 Express (30.3 in for a 2022–2023 Express 135). Front-wheel drive is why: with no driveshaft to the rear axle, Ram built the floor without the hump. The high-roof ProMaster on the 159 in wheelbase holds 420 cu ft.
For light parcels, a small van does the job: 122.7–131.7 cu ft and published maximum payloads of 1,480–1,890 lb (2021–2022 model years). The NV200’s floor is 21.1 in off the ground, about as low as the ProMaster’s.
Mobile workshop
Pick: a high-roof Transit or ProMaster. If you work inside at shelving or a bench, you want to stand up. A 5 ft 10 in person can stand up in a high-roof ProMaster (77.1 in inside, 2014–2022) or a high-roof Transit (81.5 in, 2015–2019 extended and 2020 on), and just about in a medium-roof Transit (72 in). From 2023 the ProMaster 3500 extended offers a super high roof, 86.4 in. In any low roof, and in any Express (52.9 in), you stoop.
Shelving, bins and a partition count against payload, so check the van’s own limit on the tire and loading label on its driver’s door pillar before you load it with parts. If the workshop drives to job sites in winter, a 2020 or newer Transit offers all-wheel drive; the ProMaster is front-wheel drive only.
Tight city routes
Pick: an NV200 or, if you need full-size room, a ProMaster 1500 on the 118 in wheelbase. By the makers’ figures they turn in about the same circle: 36.7 ft for the NV200 and 36.3 ft for the short ProMaster, tighter than the Transit Connect (40 ft), the ProMaster City (42 ft), the short Transit (42.9 ft) or the regular Express (49.2 ft).
Small cargo vans compared
The Ford Transit Connect, RAM ProMaster City and Nissan NV200 hold about half what the shortest full-size vans do: about 7 ft of floor, about 4 ft between the wheel wells, and too low to stand up in. All three are front-wheel drive. The Transit Connect figures are for the long-wheelbase cargo van of 2019–2022.
| Specification | Transit Connect Cargo, long wheelbase (2019–2022) | ProMaster City Cargo (2015–2022) | NV200 Cargo (2014–2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume (cu ft) | 127.41 | 131.7 (better)2 | 122.73 |
| Cargo length at floor (in) | 87.6 (7'3") (better)1 | 87.2 (7'3")2 | 82.8 (6'10")4 |
| Width between wheel wells (in) | 48.7 (4'0") (better)1 | 48.4 (4'0")2 | 48 (4'0")3 |
| Max interior height (in) | 49.8 (4'2")1 | 51.8 (4'4")2 | 53 (4'5") (better)3 |
| Load floor height (in) | 22.91 | No figure | 21.1 (better)3 |
| Max payload (lb) | 1,5855 | 1,890 (better)6 | 1,4807 |
| Turning circle (ft) | 401 | 422 | 36.7 (better)3 |
Bold marks the better figure in each row (lower is better for load floor height and turning circle). A dash means there is no single manufacturer figure for that van.
- Ford 2022 Transit Connect specifications (Ford Body Builders Advisory Service)
- Ram 2022 ProMaster City specifications (Stellantis media)
- Nissan 2021 NV200 Compact Cargo specifications (Nissan News)
- Nissan 2021 NV200 Compact Cargo specifications (Nissan News). Nissan's maximum cargo length.
- Ford 2022 Transit Connect specifications (Ford Body Builders Advisory Service). 2022 model year, 2.0L gas, 5,302 lb GVWR.
- Ram 2022 ProMaster City specifications (Stellantis media). 2022 model year, cargo van, 5,395 lb GVWR.
- Nissan 2021 NV200 Compact Cargo specifications (Nissan News). 2021 model year, S trim, 4,773 lb GVWR.
- ProMaster City: the most room (131.7 cu ft) and the most payload, up to 1,890 lb (2022 model year). It turns the widest of the three.
- Transit Connect: the longest floor (87.6 in) and the most width between the wheel wells (48.7 in), but the least height inside (49.8 in). Payload up to 1,585 lb (2022).
- NV200: the tightest turns (36.7 ft), the most height inside (53 in) and a 21.1 in floor, lower than the Transit Connect’s. Ram’s published floor height for the ProMaster City changed between the 2016 and 2017 model years, so the table shows no single figure for it. The NV200 has the least volume and payload, up to 1,480 lb (2021).
What none of them does: take a 4 x 8 ft sheet flat, or an 8 ft ladder on the floor, since the longest floor is 87.6 in. One thing they have that the full-size cargo vans here don’t: an EPA fuel economy rating. All three are rated under 8,500 lb gross vehicle weight, so you can look up each year’s rating at fueleconomy.gov; cargo vans over 8,500 lb aren’t tested.
Stepping up to full-size
If a small van is close but not quite enough, the shortest full-size vans are the next step. The ProMaster 1500 on the 118 in wheelbase and the Transit 150 on the 130 in wheelbase, both with low roofs, hold about twice what a small van does and are rated to carry about twice as much or more.
| Specification | ProMaster 1500 Low Roof, 118" WB (2014–2022) | Transit 150 Low Roof, 130" WB (2015–2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo volume (cu ft) | 259 (better)1 | 246.72 |
| Cargo length at floor (in) | 103.1 (8'7")3 | 126 (10'6") (better)2 |
| Width between wheel wells (in) | 56 (4'8") (better)1 | 54.8 (4'6")2 |
| Max interior height (in) | 66.9 (5'7") (better)4 | 56.9 (4'9")2 |
| Load floor height (in) | 21 (better)5 | 28.92 |
| Max payload (lb) | 4,010 (better)6 | 3,6707 |
| Turning circle (ft) | 36.3 (better)1 | 42.92 |
Bold marks the better figure in each row (lower is better for load floor height and turning circle).
- Ram 2022 ProMaster specifications (Stellantis media)
- Ford 2018 Transit specifications (Ford Body Builders Advisory Service)
- Ram ProMaster Views & Charts, FCA US body builder instruction dated 06/12/2020 (ramtrucks.com). SAE L202-1, cargo length at floor behind the front row.
- Ram ProMaster Views & Charts, FCA US body builder instruction dated 06/12/2020 (ramtrucks.com). SAE H505, maximum cargo height.
- Ram 2015 ProMaster brochure (ramtrucks.com)
- Ram 2022 ProMaster weight and tow chart, Stellantis body builder instruction dated 21/10/2021 (ramtrucks.com). 2022 model year, 3.6L V6 gas, 8,550 lb GVWR.
- Ford 2019 Transit specifications (Ford Body Builders Advisory Service). 2019 model year, 3.7L gas, 8,600 lb GVWR.
- Room: 259 cu ft (ProMaster) and 246.7 cu ft (Transit), against 122.7–131.7 cu ft in the small vans.
- Payload: up to 4,010 lb (2022 ProMaster) and 3,670 lb (2019 Transit), against at most 1,890 lb for a small van.
- Length: the Transit 130’s 126 in floor takes a 10 ft ladder; the ProMaster 118’s 103.1 in takes an 8 ft one. Both take a 4 x 8 ft sheet flat.
- Height: neither low roof lets you stand. The ProMaster’s is 66.9 in inside; the Transit’s 56.9 in is only 3.9 in more than an NV200’s.
- Turning: the short ProMaster turns as tight as an NV200 (36.3 ft); the short Transit needs 42.9 ft.
For standing room, pallets and 12 ft ladders, look at the longer, taller versions compared in the two comparison posts linked above.
How to judge reliability
We don’t rank vans by reliability, because a used van’s record is its own: how it was maintained, how it was used, and whether its recall repairs were done. Every model on this page has had safety recalls, including recent ones on vans several years old. Four checks tell you more than a model’s reputation:
- Run the VIN for open recalls. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows safety recalls not yet repaired on that exact van. It doesn’t show recalls already repaired, some just-announced recalls whose VINs aren’t loaded yet, or recalls more than 15 years old. Recall repairs are free at the brand’s dealer.
- Ask for the service records. Compare them with the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual for that year and mileage, and ask for a dealer repair order for each recall that applies.
- Ask about its working life. If a company fleet ran the van, ask for the fleet’s maintenance printout. Look for what was bolted in and taken out: shelving, racks and partitions leave holes in the floor and walls. The used cargo van buyer’s guide covers what to inspect.
- Get a history report, then an inspection. The FTC’s advice: a vehicle history report “may list accidents and flood damage, but typically it will not list mechanical problems”, so have an independent mechanic inspect the van before you buy.
Recalls to check on the small vans
Ford Transit Connect
2013–2021 with the 2.5-liter engine · NHTSA 21V-376 and 22V-413
The bushing that holds the shift cable to the transmission can wear out or come off, so the van may not go into the gear selected, may move unexpectedly, or may roll after it’s put in Park.
Fix: A new under-hood shift cable bushing with a protective cap. Two campaigns cover it; check the VIN against both.
2019–2020 with the 2.5-liter engine · NHTSA 20V-636 and 25V-196
The engine computer waits too long to protect an engine that’s losing coolant, so it can overheat: engine damage and a fire risk.
Fix: A software update. The 2025 campaign redoes vans whose first update was done incorrectly.
RAM ProMaster City
2018 · NHTSA 18V-149
The steering rack’s gears can crack and leak hydraulic fluid, so steering suddenly takes more effort.
Fix: An inspection, and a new rack-and-pinion assembly where affected.
2020–2021 · NHTSA 21V-147
The anti-lock brake module can be damaged inside, which can mean a loss of braking performance or of its autonomous braking functions, without warning.
Fix: A new ABS module.
Nissan NV200
2013–2021 · NHTSA 25V-676
A sensor harness at the fuel tank may have been routed wrongly; the damaged wires can blow the fuel pump fuse and stall the engine.
Fix: The harness rerouted, or the fuel pump assembly replaced. Owner letters went out in January 2026, so on a used van it may still be open.
The recalls to check on the full-size vans are listed in the ProMaster vs Transit comparison and, for the Express, the three-way comparison.
Find the van for your work
Three questions narrow it down, with the matching vans on our lot:
Answer all three to see which van fits, and the ones on our lot.
Browse every cargo van we have, or by model: the ProMaster, Transit, Express, Transit Connect, ProMaster City and NV200. For work trucks too, see commercial vehicles. If you’re financing, start with our financing page or financing a work van with fair or bad credit; if you have a vehicle to replace, get a trade-in value.
Cargo vans on our lot now
Live from our lot at 4606 Harrison Rd, Fredericksburg. Updated every few hours.
2021 Ford Transit
Connect Cargo Van Xl
Est. $363/mo*
Details→
2022 Ford Transit
150 Cargo Van Low Roof W/rwb
Est. $409/mo*
Details→
2015 Ford Transit
Connect Cargo Xl
Est. $261/mo*
Details→
2018 Ford Transit
250 Van Low Roof W/60/40 Side Door W/lwb
Est. $375/mo*
Details→*Estimate only: 12.9% APR, 60 months, $1,000 down, with approved credit. Excludes the $799 dealer processing fee, taxes, tags and title.
Have a question about a cargo van for your business?
Questions people ask
What is the most reliable cargo van?
The one with a clean record of its own. Every van here, full-size and small, has had safety recalls, some announced in 2025 for vans several years old, so a model’s name tells you less than the van’s history. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask for service records and a dealer repair order for each recall that applies, and have an independent mechanic inspect it before you buy.
Which cargo van is the best?
The one that fits the work. For ladders and long stock, a van with at least 144 in of floor, such as a ProMaster on the 159 in wheelbase (147 in). For delivery with many stops, a ProMaster, for its 21 in load floor. For a mobile workshop, a high-roof Transit or ProMaster you can stand up in. For tight city routes and light loads, a small van such as the NV200.
What is the best small cargo van?
It depends on what you need most. The ProMaster City holds the most (131.7 cu ft) and carries the most (up to 1,890 lb, 2022). The Transit Connect long wheelbase has the longest floor (87.6 in). The NV200 turns tightest (36.7 ft) and has the most height inside (53 in) and a low 21.1 in floor.
What mileage is too high for a used cargo van?
There’s no single number that settles it. A higher-mileage van whose records show the maintenance its owner’s manual calls for, with no open recalls, can be a better buy than a lower-mileage one with no history. Price the mileage in, check the records against the schedule for that mileage, and have a mechanic look at it.
Do small cargo vans get better gas mileage?
The small vans have EPA ratings; the full-size ones don’t, so there’s no official comparison. The Transit Connect, ProMaster City and NV200 are rated well under 8,500 lb gross vehicle weight, so each has an EPA fuel economy rating you can look up by year at fueleconomy.gov. Cargo vans over 8,500 lb, which includes every full-size ProMaster, Transit and Express compared here, are exempt from EPA testing.
Will a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood fit in a small cargo van?
Not flat on the floor. Each small van has about 4 ft between the wheel wells (48–48.7 in) but only about 7 ft of floor (82.8–87.6 in), short of the 96 in a sheet needs. Every full-size ProMaster, Transit and Express version we compare takes one flat.
Which cargo van turns tightest?
Of the vans compared here, the short ProMaster 1500 on the 118 in wheelbase (36.3 ft) and the NV200 (36.7 ft), by the makers’ published figures. The Transit Connect needs 40 ft and the ProMaster City 42 ft; the regular-length Express 49.2 ft.
