If you run deliveries, landscaping, plumbing, or any trade in Kalamazoo, Portage, or Battle Creek, which 2025 full-size cargo van actually saves you money and headaches during Michigan winters?
Short answer: The 2025 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500, with its high-output diesel, beats the 2025 Ford Transit in long-term reliability, winter capability, and total cost of ownership.
| Category | 2025 Sprinter 2500 (Diesel HO) | 2025 Ford Transit (3.5L V6) |
| Torque | 332 lb ft | 260 lb FT |
| Service Interval | 20,000 miles | Variable (max 10,000 mi) |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 yr / 100,000 mi | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Max Payload (Cargo) | 4,211 lbs | Up to 5,110 lbs |
| *Models vary confirm specs with dealership |
Winter Performance Where It Counts
Snow doesn’t care about your delivery schedule. The Sprinter’s available AWD system matters so much here, especially when you consider its higher ground clearance.
The Sprinter also offers something the Transit doesn’t: a Wet Wiper System that dispenses washer fluid directly through the wiper blade. On I-94, when salt spray coats your windshield, you won’t get that brief “blackout moment” while fluid sprays and the wipers catch up. Add the available heated windshield and heated steering wheel, and you’ve got a van built for the worst January mornings in Portage.
The Real Cost Difference
Yes, the Transit costs less upfront, but it’s important to consider the cost of ownership.
The Sprinter’s diesel engine is designed for 20,000-mile service intervals, alternating between Service A and Service B every 10,000 miles. The Transit uses an Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor that varies based on driving conditions, with a maximum interval of 10,000 miles or 1 year. Under heavy use common in delivery operations (stop-and-go driving, cold starts, short trips), the Transit’s monitor often triggers service around 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
For a van running 40,000 miles annually, that could mean just two scheduled Sprinter service visits versus four to six Transit visits.
Then there’s warranty coverage. Ford’s powertrain protection ends at 60,000 miles. Mercedes-Benz covers you for an outstanding 100,000. If you’re putting 25,000 miles a year on your van, the Ford falls out of powertrain warranty before you hit the three-year mark. The Sprinter stays covered into year four.
Torque: The Number That Actually Matters
Horsepower might win races, but it’s torque that moves your loaded cargo vans up the Westnedge Hill.
The Sprinter’s high-output diesel delivers 332 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 to 2,400 RPM. That’s right where you need it when pulling away from a stop with 3,000 pounds of plumbing supplies. The Transit’s gas V6 produces 260 lb-ft at 4,000 RPM and requires higher engine speeds to access its power. Over thousands of stops, that difference shows up in drivetrain wear.
The Bottom Line
But for Southwest Michigan businesses that keep vans five to ten years and need genuine winter capability, the 2025 Sprinter 2500 is the smarter long-term investment.
Ready for a Michigan-proof cargo van? Browse our 2025 Sprinter 2500 inventory in Kalamazoo.
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