Which one is the best small working van in the land? This TFLtruck matchup video review compares the newcomer 2015 Ram ProMaster City against the 2015 Ford Transit Connect and the 2015 Nissan NV200. (All vans were provided by Ram.)
The small working van market has exploded with more brands and more choices than ever before. Finding the best will depend on the requirements of your business or family. Do you need to most compact and maneuverable cargo hauler? Do you need the van that can carry the biggest and heaviest cargo? Are you looking for the best efficiency and price?
The newest entry is the ProMaster City. It brings a single wheelbase configuration, but is offered in both: cargo van and 5-passenger wagon models. The only powertrain is the 2.4L four-cylinder that makes 178 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm and 174 lb-ft of torque @ 3,800 rpm. The 9-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the front wheels and is geared for quicker 0-30 mph accelerations. It’s rated at 21 MPG city, 29 MPG highway, and 24 MPG combined.
The Nissan’s combined MPG number is 25 MPG and the Ford can squeeze out 30 MPG on the highway from the optional 1.6L EcoBoost engine.
The Ram has the largest cargo volume at 131.7 cu-ft. It has the most maximum payload capacity at 1,883 pounds and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 5,395 lbs.
The ProMaster City can be configured as a 5-passenger Wagon. The Transit Connect is the closest competitor here as it also can be had in a 5-passenger or 7-passenger long-wheel-base versions.
At $23,130 base price, the ProMaster City is the most expensive of this bunch. Which van is the best? You can use this to decide for yourself.
| 2015 Ram ProMaster City | 2015 Ford Transit Connect | 2015 Nissan NV200 | |
| Engine | 2.4L I4 | 2.5L I4 | 2.0L I4 |
| Power | 178 hp / 174 lb-ft | 169 hp / 171 lb-ft | 131 hp /139 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 9-speed Auto | 6-speed Auto | CVT |
| Drive | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Turn Diameter ft | 42.0 | 36.1 | 36.7 |
| Fuel Tank gal | 16.0 | 15.8 | 14.5 |
| EPA mpg | 21/29/24 | 21/29/24 | 24/26/25 |
| City Range mi | 336 | 331.8 | 348 |
| Cargo cu-ft | 131.7 | 128.6 | 122.7 |
| Curb weight lbs | 3,512 | 3,467 | 3,260 |
| Payload lbs | 1,883 | 1,620 | 1,480 |
| Towing lbs | 2,000 | 2,000 | n/a |
| GVWR lbs | 5,395 | 5,280 | 4,751 |
| GCWR lbs | 5,900 | n/a | n/a |
| base MSRP $ | $23,130 | $22,330 | $20,720 |
What this informative TFLtruck video matchup with all three vans.
Andre Smirnov is a life-long automotive enthusiast, software engineer, writer, and reporter. He has been writing and reporting at TFLcar since 2011.
