The diesel is by far the most fuel efficient model. You'll see mileage in the mid-20's unloaded, no problem. Yes it is also the most expensive option and has the most expensive fuel, but it will pay for itself over time, it's all up to how much you drive and how.

Check out this thread over on the Transit Forums:
Diesel MPG - Page 4 - Ford Transit USA Forum

 

Significantly better than the out going / gone forever E-series vans would ever see.

 

If the vehicle is FF and a high compression motor, check the manual for power levels. It takes high compression to use it appropriately. The GM DI motors for the 1500's get a very big power boost when run on E85 instead of premium, don't remember for sure but I think it's 40HP.

 

I rented a Transit 250 today, it was strictly a cargo van, it had the 3.7L V6, on a 300 mile trip, some of it in heavy traffic in New Orleans, the rest 75 + MPH, it averaged 17.3 MPG. Half of the trip I had about 800 lbs in the van. I was actually impressed with the van, I would rather have the EB version though, the 3.7L is okay, but struggles some up hills while loaded.

 

Late to the thread but I just want to second the opinion that Flex Fuel is a total sham. Flex Fuel is a result of the A-clowns in congress bending down and giving a hummer to Iowa farmer-lobbyists by making laws requiring us to shove corn into our fuel tanks.

You see, congress made laws requiring auto manufacturers to raise the fleet average fuel economy of vehicles sold, OR make the vehicles capable of running ethanol. It was all under the guise of getting off foreign oil, however what it really was is another situation of propping up an addiction to government cheese. Corn farmers love it, your engine hates it. You'll get poor fuel economy in your car and if you have a lawn mower, ATV, snow blower or snowmobile that sits over the winter/summer, get use to cleaning out the fuel system every year because that garbage will turn to sludge. Ethanol also hampers a change in Aviation fuel from leaded fuel (100LL) to automotive gasoline because ethanol cannot be run in aircraft engines due to the fact that it's garbage, and all automotive fuel contains some ethanol now because of the grand BJ the Iowa farmers are getting.

Fun fact: it takes more energy to make a gallon of ethanol than you get from a gallon of ethanol. Most ethanol comes from Iowa, where coal is the primary power source used to create ethanol. That's right, you're better off just burning a few pounds of coal to cruise down the road than using ethanol. Meanwhile they are laying off and mothballing projects in the North Dakota, Texas and Gulf of Mexico American oilfields.

I'm not normally a very political guy, but this is one issue that pisses me off. Corn belongs on the dinner table, not in gas tanks. Total sham.

 

I agree that E85 and ethanol in our regular automotive fuels is really dumb and not a sensible energy saving model. Still, the stuff makes more horsepower than gasoline--Indy cars now run on ethanol but they obviously have different needs from a daily driver.

George

 

I was on an ethanol tirade. The stuff has a place, but not in main stream automotive use. Anyhow, those low roof transit conversions might actually be what I'll be considering down the road. I need an 8ft clearance vehicle. It's frustrating that the stock offerings don't include an 8ft roof height.

 

I firmly agree about the ethanol.
I don't know that much about the Van world, but as stated earlier I had rented a Transit to move some things and was impressed with the volume of cargo it will handle and loaded fuel mileage, and as a bonus, very easy to maneuver in congested city traffic.