Some cars aren’t designed for a general market – they’re designed for a general need. The overriding factor that catches your eye isn’t how it looks or what options it has – it’s how well the car will do the job. And if you’re moving a lot people around, you’ve got to take a good look at the 2009 Dodge Sprinter.

Yes, stylistically, there’s little to write home about, but that’s par for the course in this class. There are only two other real competitors, the Chevy Express – which was recently cloned into the GMC Savana – and the Ford Econoline, neither of which has been redesigned in the last fifteen years. With that in mind, a design that’s only two years old seems like a fresh face in this class.

First, let’s get a few things out on the table. This van is a rebranding of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which means that it carries all the elements of the European design. For that reason, you’d expect the Sprinter to be more maneuverable and fuel-efficient, and you’d be right. There’s less power than in a traditional American V8 or V10, but who’s really looking for a passenger van to take out on the race track? For the fleet buyer, the increased fuel efficiency will certainly be a big draw.

There will be those who see the narrow-looking body as a drawback, but that’s only because it’s longer and taller than other vans in its class. In fact, the Sprinter’s standard wheelbase is longer than the Econoline’s extended wheelbase. And the 170-inch wheelbase dwarfs what either Ford or GM has to offer. This is also the only full-size van that has a choice of factory roof heights, meaning that you have access to a roof option that will allow a man over six feet tall to stand up inside.

This year, the 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 is the only available engine on the Sprinter, and it offers wonderful fuel economy and plenty of torque for most uses, especially driving around town. However, if you need to tow something with your passenger van, this isn’t your best choice – it has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while its competitors can haul upwards of 10,000. But is that really a concern? Keep in mind that you’re likely buying this van to move people.

So what about that interior? Know that the Sprinter’s interior is identical to the Mercedes-Benz version sold all over the world. In addition, the build quality is better than the other full-size vans on the market, to say nothing about other Dodge products. There’s a tilt/telescoping steering column, four different front-seat styles that have multiple adjustments to ensure plenty of comfort, while the Sprinter’s control layout is so good that it feels more like a mid-size SUV than a utilitarian van.

And due to its 51-inch sliding-door opening and a head of the class 20-inch step-up height, the Sprinter makes entering the passenger area a breeze. Add this to the aforementioned roof option and the Sprinter becomes an ideal choice for passenger shuttles or non critical medical transport. Really, when you have to move people in efficiency and comfort, the 2009 Dodge Sprinter is the best option for your money.