Look for a large fridge van and you’ll almost always end up choosing between the Ford Transit and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. We sell and convert both, new and used, so here’s how they compare as fridge and freezer vans, with real prices from our stock.
At a glance
| Ford Transit | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Large | Large |
| New on our stock | 350 Trend L3H2 and L3H3 | 315 CDI PRO L2H2 and L3H2 (cancelled orders) |
| New chiller from | £41,995 +VAT | £49,995 +VAT |
| New freezer from | £44,495 +VAT | £52,495 +VAT |
| Used on our stock | 2024 vans from £32,995 +VAT | 2022 and 2023 vans from £32,995 +VAT |
| Electric version | E-Transit | eSprinter (in stock from £62,995 +VAT) |
Price
On our stock the Transit is the cheaper of the two new: a Transit 350 L3H2 chiller is £8,000 less than a Sprinter L2H2 chiller. If you want a large van at a lower price still, look at the Maxus Deliver 9 and Citroën Relay too.
Pallets and payload
This is where the Sprinter earns its money. A long-wheelbase Sprinter takes four pallets; on most other makes you need to step up to an extra-long wheelbase for the same. And going longer doesn’t always mean carrying more: a medium-wheelbase van will often take more weight than a long one.
The conversion matters too. A chiller is lined with 50mm of insulation and a freezer with 75mm, which takes a little space and adds weight. If your loads are heavy, we check the payload left after conversion against what you carry before you buy.
Height
We have the Transit in L3H2 and in the taller L3H3, if you need to stand up inside or carry tall racking. Going the other way, some of our new Sprinter L3H2 PROs have a recessed condenser pod, which sits the fridge unit down into the roofline for a lower van that fits under more car parks and barriers. See what is a recessed condenser pod?
Electric
Both come as electric vans: the Ford E-Transit and the Mercedes eSprinter. We have the eSprinter MWB in stock now as a chiller (£62,995 +VAT) and a freezer (£65,495 +VAT). Both meet the London ULEZ standard with no daily charge. See Ford’s E-Transit battery update and our electric fridge vans.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Transit if price matters most, or if you want the taller L3H3 we have in stock.
Choose the Sprinter if you need four pallets on a long wheelbase, want a used van, or want an electric large van from stock.
Whichever you pick, decide on electric standby before the conversion: it lets the fridge run from the mains with the engine off, and it can’t be added afterwards.
See every Ford Transit fridge van and Mercedes Sprinter fridge van we have, or all our large fridge vans and large freezer vans. Not sure which suits your round? Call us on 01444 245555 and tell us what you carry, how far and how often.
