In replacing the fabled E-Series passenger wagon in 2015, Ford’s full-size 5-door Transit Passenger carries over its modernized looks, power, and feel essentially unchanged for 2016. Like its late E-Series progenitor, the Transit Passenger can haul from 8 to 15 folks in comfy, though still somewhat Spartan, ambiance while losing the old-school V8 powerplant offerings in favor of a standard normally aspirated V6 engine, with a turbocharged V6 or a turbodiesel inline 5-cylinder (I5) mill each returning as options.

The 2016 Transit Passenger upgraded wagon is again expected to be offered in half-ton 150 and one-ton 350 trims, with both available in a pair of trim levels: the base XL and the up-featured XLT. Look for both trims to return in low-, medium-, and high-roof editions, along with a pair of wheelbases: 130 inches (10.8 feet) and 148 inch (12.3 feet). Additionally, this Sprinter-like Ford wagon again comes in 3 body lengths: 219.9 inches (18.3 feet), 237.6 inches (19.8 feet), and the Transit Extended Body’s 266.1 inches (22.2 feet).

Should you choose the low-roof standard-length version, look for 4.4 feet of roof height, with medium-roof iterations offering 5.6 feet and high-roof versions offering 6.5 feet. Look for cargo capacities, meantime, to run from 292.7 cubic feet in regular-length low-roof versions to 461.9 cubes in the high-roof Extended Body Transit Passenger trim. However, be advised that serious cargo stowage involves completely removing the rear seats.

Once again, the 2016 Transit Passenger, in all iterations, is expected to pack a 3.7-liter Flex Fuel V6 as its standard powerplant. Managed by the standard 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission, this non-turbocharged V6 will put out 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, with mileage estimated at 14 mpg city/19 highway/16 combined. Look for towing capacity to max out at 6,600 pounds, with the proper equipment.

Again optional in the 2016 Transit Passenger is a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 that mates with the ubiquitous 6-speed shiftable automatic for 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, while EPA-estimated mileage mirrors that of its normally aspirated sibling. Towing capacity, meanwhile, is bumped to 7,000 pounds.

Although mileage ratings are currently unavailable, the optional 3.2-liter turbodiesel inline 5-cylinder (I5) powerplant, which is again offered as an option throughout the 2016 Transit Passenger lineup, combines with the 6-speed shiftable automatic for 185 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque and is expected to be significantly more fuel efficient than the gas burners, while retaining the grunt needed to schlep a full load of passengers, not to mention up to 7,000 pounds of trailer, from here to there.

Standard appearance features in the 2016 Transit Passenger XL trim level are scheduled to remain 16-inch steel wheels and a sliding rear passenger-side door, while the low-key cabin will doubtless return sporting cloth upholstery, full power accessories, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, air conditioning, and a 6-speaker AM/FM stereo with auxiliary audio input.

The XLT, meantime, adds wheel covers, cruise control, carpeted flooring, rear air conditioning, and 2 additional speakers, along with a single-CD player and 4-inch infotainment display to the list of standard goodies.

Options for the upcoming model year’s Transit Passenger editions include ambulance and school-bus configurations as well as various seating arrangements for up to 15 passengers (depending on body length). Further extra-cost bling includes beefier axle ratios, a heavy-duty towing package, and either Sync or MyFord Touch infotainment, with the latter boasting GPS navigation and an upsized display. Additionally, look for such available extras as extended outside mirrors, rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera, not to mention alloy wheels and a bunch of window configurations, to return as well.

Finally, standard safety equipment aboard this svelte wagon includes 4-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, full-length head curtain airbags, and a post-collision safety system. The top-shelf XLT adds standard rain-sensing wipers, as well as optional lane-keeping assistance, while all trims can be equipped with available Ford MyKey programmable speed and audio-volume limiting technology, as well as an optional remote antitheft alarm. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), by the way, gives the 2015 Transit low-roof editions 4 stars for overall safety.

Again for 2016, the Transit Passenger will compete with the likes of Ram’s capable ProMaster wagon, Mercedes-Benz’s high-end Sprinter, and Nissan’s NV Passenger, which offers an available V8 engine.