2009 Dodge Sprinter Cargo

The 2009 Dodge Sprinter Cargo Van is pricey and not very fuel efficient, though this doesn’t seem to bother most owners. The Sprinter makes up for these shortcomings in a big way, however, with the largest cargo capacity in its class. Designed to take on Chevrolet’s Express, Ford’s E-Series Wagons, and GMC’s Savana, the '09 Sprinter comes in two wheelbases, three lengths, and three roof heights. The Sprinter 2500 is classified as a three-quarter-ton van, and the 3500 is a one-ton. Both 144-inch and 170-inch wheelbases are offered for the Sprinter 2500 and 3500, and each can be delivered at 233 inches, 273 inches or (the extended version) 289 inches long. Cargo capacities for the Sprinter Cargo Van range from 318 cubic feet in the 2500 with standard 65-inch roof and 233-inch length to nearly 600 cubic feet in the Extended Length 3500 with 84-inch roof - what Dodge calls its mega roof. The Sprinter also offers a 76.4-inch roof height.

Both the Sprinter 2500 and 3500 for ’09 are rear-wheel drive only and powered by a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel that puts out 154 hp and is coupled with a five-speed overdrive transmission. Dodge claims an average of 20 mpg with the turbodiesel. The optional 254-hp, 3.5-liter gasoline engine offered in ’08 is no longer available.

The Sprinter Cargo Van sports double-opening rear and side cargo doors with a power-sliding side door available. Standard equipment in ‘09 includes air-conditioning, power windows, doors, and mirrors, a front stabilizer bar, a CD player, height-adjustable tilt-steering wheel, and 16-inch steel wheels. Optional equipment for both the 2500 and 3500 includes speed control, heated vinyl bucket seats, a six-disc CD player, a heated windshield with rain-sensitive wipers, heated exterior mirrors, and a power front sunroof.

Standard safety features for the 2009 Sprinter 2500 and 3500 include four-wheel disc ABS, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with roll mitigation, traction control, and front airbags. Optional safety offerings include front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, and the rear parking assist system. Crash test ratings are not available for the Sprinter.

Price and seat comfort were the only consistent complaints from owners of the ’08 Sprinter, with most owners satisfied by the Sprinter’s average fuel economy. Of course, all owners are impressed with the easy-access rear doors, the automanual transmission, and the smooth ride, but plain old hauling capacity is the true reason they own a Dodge Sprinter.

By Eric Tallberg