2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon Bottom Line Review

Editors at TheCarConnection.com understand what's important to you: information. To bring you this review of the 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon, experts have combed the Web to find a wide variety of insights on the 2009 Sprinter. This inclusive review lets you head to the dealership with plenty of knowledge.

Likes
Positively shocking fuel economy
Perky acceleration at around-town speeds
Low loading height
Wide range of features and options

Dislikes
Lacks serious passing power, especially when loaded down
Ride can be choppy on some surfaces
Plain-Jane styling—a box is a box

The Sprinter Wagon is Dodge's full-size passenger van. The 2009 Sprinter Wagon emphasizes passengers and cargo more than the full-sized vans from GM and Ford.

The 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon is powered by a 3.0-liter CDI turbodiesel V-6 that makes 154 horsepower, along with a much more impressive 280 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission that comes with a manual-shift mode.

As in other full-size vans, the driver and front passenger sit perched high over the front wheels. Behind the front seats, the Sprinter Wagon is as close to a box as you're likely to find in a vehicle. Properly configured, it can seat up to 12 people, as the three different seating configurations in the 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon offer 9-, 10-, and 12-passenger capacities in up to four rows of seating. Drivers can choose to upgrade to a power-sliding door for easier passenger loading.

The 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon comes in two different wheelbases—144 and 170 inches—with the 144-inch (233 inches long) model quite maneuverable in the city. Two different roof heights are offered as well. With the seats removed, the Sprinter's tall roof allows awe-inspiring cargo capacity.

The ride is a bit choppy, but handling is surprisingly nimble for such a tall vehicle. Once you get used to the odd driving position, the 2009 Dodge Sprinter feels quite maneuverable for those accustomed to driving large sport-utility vehicles or other vans.

The options list is vast, including courtesy lamps and overhead consoles, bi-xenon headlamps, sunroofs, heated seats, rain-sensor wipers, and a backup sensor system. The 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon comes with standard keyless entry, automatic climate control, rear ducts, and a 13-speaker sound system; unlike most full-sized vans, the steering wheel tilts and telescopes. For commercial needs, there are several different axle ratios and various heavy-duty components available.

Front-seat side airbags and front side curtain airbags—two other features that aren't typically available in this class—are both optional. Electronic stability control, a feature that's not yet offered in all full-size vans, is standard on the 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon, as are anti-lock brakes. The Sprinter hasn't been subjected to either of the major crash-test series.

The Bottom Line: The 2009 Dodge Sprinter is incredibly spacious on the inside and remarkably fuel-efficient. It's a smart choice for any buyer.

Other Choices
If you include the 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon on your shopping list you should also consider:

- Chevrolet Express
- GMC Savana
- Ford Econoline

Reason Why:
The Sprinter offers far more interior space than the standard-wheelbase GM and Ford vans. Each of the full-size van models from Ford and General Motors have a harder, busier ride than the 2009 Dodge Sprinter Wagon; they don't steer as well as the Sprinter and lack its maneuverability. For 2009, the full-size GM vans (Express and Savana) have standard electronic stability control, but the feature is available on only some of the Ford lineup. Fuel economy, of course, is where there's no comparison. While the V-6 and V-8 engines of the GM and Ford models return fuel economy numbers in the mid-teens in most driving, the Sprinter gets mileage numbers well into the 20s.

Buying Tip
Parts may be a bit more expensive for the 2009 Dodge Sprinter than they are for the former Dodge Ram, as the Sprinter is simply a rebadged Mercedes-Benz.

All of our reviews come from experts at TheCarConnection.com.