The Ford Transit Passenger is a full-size van designed to carry large numbers of passengers, similar to versions of the Chevrolet Express, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and Nissan NV. It gets light updates for the 2021 model year.

Ford offers the Transit Passenger with maximum seating for five, 10, 12, or 15 passengers, depending upon configuration. Those configurations include Low Roof, Medium Roof, and High Roof variants, in Regular, Long, and Extended wheelbases. No matter which one you choose, you’ll get a sliding side door and 50/50 split-hinged rear doors.

The standard engine is a 3.5-liter V6 with 275 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. You can specify a more potent twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 with 310 hp and 400 lb-ft. Both engines come paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and while rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is available. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) maxes out at 10,360 pounds.

The Transit Passenger comes in XL and XLT grades. The base XL trim includes 16-inch steel wheels with black hubcaps, 12-volt power points, a cloth headliner, roof marker lights, tinted glass, a rear window, air conditioning, automatic high-beams, an AM/FM radio, a 4-inch multimedia LCD screen, and a new power parking brake. The XLT gets exterior upgrades, keyless entry, power windows and locks, and additional safety equipment. Features like an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a hinged passenger-side door, an alarm, running boards, a rear-window deflector, and privacy glass are extra-cost options. New for 2021 is a Livery Package, bundling premium options like leather upholstery, 10-way power seats, a power sliding side door, privacy glass, and 16-inch silver wheels.

Standard safety features on all Transit Passengers include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beams. The XLT trim adds Ford CoPilot 360, which consists of blind-spot monitoring with trailer coverage and cross-traffic alert, reversing sensors, adaptive cruise control, afront and rear split-view camera, and an active parking assistant.

The Transit Passenger keeps its status as one of the most cost-effective ways to transport large groups.