Making vans is a funny kind of business. Unlike other vehicles which tend to be judged by the regularity of their upgrades, with passenger and cargo vans it seems that opposite is true. Hence the two mainstay vans on the market, the Ford Econoline (now E-Series) and GMC Savana, have both been more than 10 years without a serious upgrade and have been kicking around for more than 40 years. Ford claims that the E-Series is America’s favorite full-size van for 29 years running. What car can boast that? This year the Ford E-Series gets as close to an upgrade as it is likely to get. The dash and instrument panel have been redesigned and there is a “Work Solutions” package which offers a built-in computer system with wireless internet and special tool lock-up, as well as new safety features added this year to bring the E-Series up-to-date.
2009 Ford E-Series Performance
Like the GMC Savana there are more options in the 2009 E-Series than you can poke a stick at. The first choice is about size: there is a half-ton E150, a three-quarter ton E250 and a one-ton E350. Then there is an extended length chassis is available on the E250 and E350, while passenger vans are available in the E150 and E350. Confused yet? You wait!
There are four different engines available on the Ford E-Series vans. The base 4.6-liter V8 with 225hp and 286lb-ft of torque is available on the E150 and E250 models. A 5.4-liter V8 with 255hp and 350lb-ft of torque is optional on these but standard on the E350. The big-daddy 6.8-liter V10 produces 305hp and 420lb-ft of torque, while the turbodiesel is dropped in favor of E85 fuel compatibility for the 4.6 and 5.4-liter versions. Of these engines the 4.6-liter struggles to generate enough power to pull itself let alone a load of passengers or cargo, but the 5.4-liter V8 has enough oomph to be a perfect vehicle for light family and cargo duties. The two heavy-duty engines are much more suited to serious passenger or cargo hauling and both have the option of upgrading the alternators for even more heavy work.
One thing is for sure, you don’t buy a Ford E-Series van for its handling ability. With an incredibly wide turning circle that makes parking lots a nightmare and the steering of a huge box on wheels, the E-Series is much more like driving a bus than a minivan. Cornering is best done very slowly to avoid the startling body roll and braking needs a gentle touch especially in the wet to maintain traction. If it is all-weather driving that you are planning on, the GMC Savana’s all-wheel drive system may be a better option.
Fuel economy is predictably low at around 14/18mpg for the 4.6-liter and 13/17 mpg for the 5.4-liter. Ford have attempted to improve on that with E85 compatibility this year for these two engines, but to our mind it may compromise the performance for hauling.
2009 Ford E-Series Interior and Features
Door configurations are many and varied, but in general there are double rear cargo doors and then on the passenger side either a single sliding door or 60/40 folding doors. Seating in the passenger vans is for up to 12 passengers in the regular length van, or 15 in the extended length van. In cargo vans comes with the option of adding a rear bench seat to seat 5 passengers in total. Seating space is good but not great, with limited legroom in the passenger bench seats and difficult access to the rear rows. Cargo space ranges from 235 – 275 cubic feet.
The Cargo trim is the base level and features air conditioning, vinyl seats, front bucket seats and AM/FM radio. To this can be added power accessories, cloth upholstery, remote keyless entry, and power telescoping trailer tow mirrors as well as rear obstacle detection, limited slip diff, navigation system, rear air conditioning, etc. In passenger vans there are the XL and XLT trim levels which offer most of these features as options and even leather seats and in-built computer system, rear seat DVD entertainment system, power driver’s seat and 6-speaker stereo system.
Standard Safety Features:
- Electronic stability control, ABS brakes
- Front airbags but no side airbags
- Tire pressure monitor
- Optional front and rear obstacle detection systems
Overall the 2009 Ford E-Series of passenger and cargo vans is a timeless wonder of the auto world that remains a manufacturers dream thanks to its utilitarianism, without the need to upgrade or modernise much at all. It continues to meet the hauling needs of a vast number of schools, church groups, summer camps, and small delivery businesses all over America.