 | FordTransit Connect2021 Ford Transit Connect |
Cargo vans that measure anything less than full-size are in short supply these days. If you're put off by the big vans, one of the more viable options is the Ford Transit Connect. With a wide range of body styles and options, it can be configured to suit the needs of any small business.
This year, Ford was content to merely add a few new colors and shuffle around some optional equipment. Other than that, the Transit Connect is unchanged.
The Transit Connect isn't quite as customizable as the full-size Transit, but it comes close. Buyers can opt for either a cargo or passenger version, with two wheelbase choices available for the cargo variant and a choice of five-, six-, or seven-passenger seating on the passenger variant. Three trims are available, though the fanciest of those - the Platinum - is reserved for the passenger model. Pricing ranges from about $28,000 to $33,000.
The base powertrain is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that hooks up to an eight-speed automatic. For those who want to convert to CNG, Ford offers a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that brings with it a propane conversion kit. It's optional on all cargo van models and the base passenger van.
| Engine Type | Horsepower | Torque | Fuel Economy (Combined) |
| 2.0-liter 4-Cylinder | 162 hp | 144 lb-ft | 25 mpg |
| 2.5-liter 4-Cylinder | 169 hp | 171 lb-ft | 22 mpg |
Despite the various body styles and wheelbases available, all versions with the 2.0-liter engine return either 25 or 26 mpg combined. Highway mpg reaches as high as 29 mpg in the passenger variants; cargo vans only can muster 27 mpg. In the city, all vans get 24 mpg with the 2.0-liter engine and 22 mpg with the 2.5-liter.
In passenger form, the Transit Connect is offered with five, six, or seven total seats. The five-seater uses a typical rear bench; the six-passenger version uses two rows of captain's chairs. Seven-passenger models come with a bench for the middle row and two seats in the way back.
Legroom in row two measures 38 inches; that figure gets cut down to 35 inches in row three.
Cargo space is unsurprisingly massive. On passenger models, up to 25 cubic feet of cargo is found behind the third row and up to 106 cubic feet is available in total. Long-wheelbase cargo vans feature 127 cubic feet of total area, while the standard wheelbase versions are good for 104 cubic feet of total area.
The only standard driving aid on the Transit Connect is automatic emergency braking. Anything more advanced is optional - but only on the upper trims, not the base XL. The XLT and Platinum offer adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Parking sensors and active parking assist are also available on these trims.
The standard infotainment system comprises a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Ford's Sync 3 software. It gets Bluetooth functionality but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. That luxury requires stepping up to the XLT trim, which also throws in SiriusXM and satellite radio.
Navigation is found on the Platinum trim but is optional on all models. If you were hoping for a bigger touchscreen, you're out of luck: all models use the same 6.5-inch unit.
The base Transit Connect doesn't outdo itself for features. 16-inch steel wheels and black trim visually distinguish it as the base model from the outside; on the inside, its lowly status is enforced by the vinyl upholstery, manual climate control, a manual six-way driver's seat, and four-speaker audio.
Options include functional items like heavy-duty alternators and batteries, a composite bulkhead, dark-tinted windows, and Flex Fuel capability. On the amenities side, there's an available wireless device charger, cruise control, blind-spot monitors, an electric windshield defroster, and a CD player.
Moving into the XLT sees certain optional features become standard, such as the wireless charger, cruise control, and blind-spot monitors. Other standard features include cloth upholstery, heated mirrors, painted body trim, dual-zone climate control (passenger vans only), and two smart-charging USB ports.
HID headlights, adaptive-cornering fog lights, and heated front seats are among the available options.
While the XL and XLT come as both cargo or passenger vans, the Platinum is limited to the people-carrying variant. It showers occupants with features such as dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, nine-speaker audio, heated front seats, and a power driver's seat. Outside, there's heated and power-folding mirrors and HID headlights surrounded by chrome trim.
Options are few at this price point. The most notable include an overhead storage console and parking sensors front and rear.
Compare Transit Connect Trims Side-By-Side
If we were recommending a cargo van, the hardy, affordable XL would be sufficient for any business owner. Those hauling passengers will want to start at the XLT trim, as its additional niceties and safety equipment go a long way when there's a gaggle of people riding along.
