Ford Transit Connect vs Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Ford Transit Connect burns about $2,350 of fuel annually against $3,450 for the Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo. That $1,100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $5,500 over five years and $8,800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Ford Transit Connect leads in both cycles — 24 mpg city and 29 mpg highway against 21 and 25 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Ford Transit Connect is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 2.5), the Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo with 2 (SIDI, SIDI; Stop-Start). Across 55 recorded Ford Transit Connect configurations and 21 for the Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Ford Transit Connect is offered with Front-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo with Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD and Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Ford Transit Connect emits 344 g/mile of CO2 versus 395 g/mile for the Mercedes-Benz Metris Cargo. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.