Best Passenger Vans | 2023 Ratings

Characteristics of Passenger Vans

Shoppers have very specific expectations when it comes to buying new passenger vans, and automakers try their best to meet these. This isn’t too hard since they are designed with a focused purpose, so most share a number of qualities:

Size: While not all passenger vans are large, the majority can easily transport a decent number of people. But expansive dimensions have their disadvantages, and it’s difficult to make such a ponderous vehicle look attractive. Similarly, they aren’t the easiest vehicles to maneuver around town.
Power: Naturally, the larger a car is, the more power it needs to get moving. For this reason, the top passenger vans come equipped with a decent powertrain to make them more manageable. The biggest vans often come equipped with V6 engines. Small passenger vans, in comparison, like the Ford Transit Connect, make do with smaller four-cylinder powertrains.
Customization: Perhaps the greatest strength of the passenger van segment is its extremely high level of customizability. These vehicles can be arranged as 8-passenger, 12-passenger, or even 15-passenger vans. No other types of cars come with 12 seats or more. Beyond this, there is plenty of room in the cabin, even with maximum occupancy, and a fair amount of space for cargo, too.
Price: While the smallest van will only cost you around $30k, you should expect to pay $40k or more for some of the more practical models. This cost is further compounded by the fact that these cars are not particularly fuel-efficient. When fully laden with passengers, they seldom get more than 20 miles to the gallon.

What to Consider When Buying New Passenger Vans

Since they are so specialized, passenger vans may not be for every shopper, but carefully weighing the pros and cons can help you determine if one of these enormous people haulers might be the perfect car for your growing family. Of course, if you’re starting a shuttle business, it will be more a matter of comparing the various types of vans.

Pros

Versatile as private or business cars
Extremely spacious and practical interiors
Highly customizable inside and out
Usually well-powered

Cons

Such large vehicles can be difficult to drive, especially around town
Fuel efficiency is often an afterthought
The interiors are usually quite plain and lack features
There isn’t a whole lot of variety in terms of brands and models

FAQs

What’s the best passenger van to buy?

Among the top-rated vans on the market is the Ford Transit. It may seem a bit basic in base-model guise, but it quickly gains value as you move up the trim levels. The Mercedes Sprinter, on the other hand, is comfort and luxury biased, though it costs a lot more from the start.

What's the difference between a minivan and a passenger van?

Minivans, while larger than a sedan, are still close in size to your average private vehicle. As such, they can only seat up to eight passengers. Meanwhile, passenger vans can handle anywhere up to 15 passengers and are far more customizable. Though available for private use, they are most often employed as mass transport solutions and company shuttles.

Are there any electric passenger vans?

Though not yet widely available yet, the new Ford E-Transit and Mercedes eSprinter and EQV are both fully electric variants of their base nameplates.

Best Passenger Vans of 2023