Item: Ford Transit Connect
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Blind-spot warning systems, Active City Stop to prevent slow speed bumps and adaptive load control that manages the Electronic Stability Control when unladen, partially loaded or totally full is available on the Transit Connect. There’s also a standard driver’s side airbag, emergency brake assistance&nbsp;and Trailer Sway Control. Rounding off the package are&nbsp;rear parking sensors on top-end Limited vans, an optional rear camera and optional lane-keeping assistance.

If your budget can stretch to it, Limited vans really are the best value for money for their high equipment levels.&nbsp;Ford allows most of its options to be specified on all vehicles regardless of trim, though, so&nbsp;you can customise your vehicle. One novel feature&nbsp;is that if you have the automatic gearbox, the FordPass app lets you&nbsp;remotely start the van to pre-heat or cool the interior,&nbsp;or defrost the windscreen.

Service intervals are set at 20,000 miles or one year, while the warranty on the Transit Connect is 100,000 miles and three years.

The latest Ford Transit Connect has a downsized engine, but the 1.5-litre diesel unit is an ideal match for the small city van. Of the three power outputs available, the 118bhp is definitely our preferred choice.

While the two smaller engines are both well suited to the Connect, the addition of the six-speed manual gearbox in the range-topping engine transforms the van. While the Powershift automatic is also well regarded, the manual gearbox has a smooth and pleasing action that&nbsp;complements the car's driving characteristics.

Handling is accurate and very responsive, with just the right amount of feedback from the road. Whether laden or unladen, the suspension performs admirably, making the Transit Connect one of the most comfortable vans in the sector.

A&nbsp;mention must be given to the Ecoboost petrol option, because&nbsp;there is no doubting it is a fantastic engine. However, unless you plan to transport very little weight, the lack of pulling power for city driving is a real drawback.

The best-performing diesel engine for fuel consumption is the 99bhp Econetic with an official&nbsp;figure of 67.3mpg. Non-Econetic vans have an official 58.9mpg and regularly achieve mid-to-high 40s in real-world conditions.

The Ford Transit Connect&nbsp;was originally launched as a replacement for the Escort van, but this city vehicle has come a long way since then.

Now regarded as one of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-best-small-vans-2021/n20723">best small vans</a> in the segment, the Transit Connect is&nbsp;more efficient, safer and better suited for all manner of uses than ever before.&nbsp;A 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine now powers the majority of the&nbsp;range, with three different outputs of 74bhp, 99bhp and 118bhp which are rounded up to 75, 100 and 120 on the badges.

A five-speed manual gearbox is standard on the two lower outputs, while the 118bhp unit gets a six-speed manual. An automatic gearbox option, called Powershift, is available on the 99bhp and 118bhp engines. If you’re inclined to opt for petrol, Ford even has a 99bhp 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine available which could make ideal sense for use in cities and with lighter loads.

Two lengths of Transit Connect are available, badged as the L1 and L2, but there is just one height option. In addition to panel van variants, there is also a Kombi van with up to seven seats or a five-seat double cab. Buyers looking for a more car-like version will find a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/tourneo-connect/estate/review/n195">Ford Tourneo Connect</a> model is available too.

As with the rest of the Ford commercial vehicle range, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Ford Transit Custom</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a>, there are Base, Trend and Limited trim levels. The Transit Connect also comes with Econetic fuel saving equipment including advanced battery management, acceleration control, switchable speed limiter, gearshift indicator and automatic start-stop.

This review will tell you all you need to know about the Ford Transit Connect, including what it's like to drive, how useful&nbsp;the load space is and how it compares with key rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/doblo-cargo/van/review/n18505">Fiat Doblo Cargo</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caddy/van/review/n18482">VW Caddy</a>.

Don't forget, whichever van you decide suits your needs, we can help you find the best leasing deals for personal or business use through the free&nbsp;<a href="https://whatcar.com/car-leasing/">What Car? Leasing</a>&nbsp;section, which has a wide range of deals on many makes and models.

As with the rest of the Ford Transit range, you will find the interior&nbsp;of the Connect either&nbsp;ergonomic and appealing&nbsp;or just a real mess of buttons. Fortunately, the Connect is a vast improvement on the vans that came before it, but for some tastes it is still perhaps a bit cluttered.

The multi-function steering wheel is perhaps the most confusing element, with identical circular controls at both thumb tips to control the trip computer and infotainment systems. The cruise control switch below is no less complicated but once you're used to it, it's quite straightforward. The central dashboard now houses an improved 6.0in&nbsp;colour touchscreen that is fitted with satellite navigation on&nbsp;top-spec vans. Otherwise you’ll have to make do with a 3.5in&nbsp;version that appears on Trend vans.

Base models get remote central locking, Ford’s Easy-Fuel capless refuelling system, a DAB radio, electric&nbsp;windows and an adjustable steering wheel. Trend gives you an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, which is far superior in support and comfort to the seating in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caddy/van/review/n18482">VW&nbsp;Caddy</a>, as well as electric heated mirrors, quick clear windscreen and body-coloured bumpers.

Top-trim Limited vans get rear parking sensors, chrome strips in the grille and headlights,&nbsp;air conditioning, cruise control, heated driver's seat and leather-trimmed steering wheel. While none of the Limited spec is vital, the creature comforts it introduces makes it well worth considering.

Perhaps the most important addition is the new Sync 3 infotainment&nbsp;system. Not only does this introduce <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone connectivity, but&nbsp;the Transit Connect can also be fully connected for business purposes.

The addition of 3G connect and an in-van wi-fi hotspot allows the Connect to be paired with a smartphone via the FordPass app. That in turn allows connectivity to the van with options to check on the vehicle’s health, remote access that includes fuel level monitor, tyre pressure and mileage checks, as well as locking or unlocking it through the app.

Those features are in&nbsp;preparation for the introduction of Ford Telematics and Ford Data Services for enhanced fleet management – great for big companies, but probably irrelevant to most regular buyers.

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

TRANSIT CONNECT

One of the best-driving and smartest-looking vans around – you really can't go far wrong with one.

The Ford Transit Connect is perfectly positioned between the smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-courier/van/review/n22081">Transit Courier</a> and larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit-custom/van/review/n18288">Transit Custom</a> in terms of its payload carrying potential, and it has an impressive weight range.

Gross vehicle weights range from 2.0&nbsp;tonnes to 2.4 tonnes, which means the payload varies from 595kg to 967kg for the appropriately named&nbsp;Ford Transit Connect High Payload models.

Load volumes vary depending on which of the two body lengths you opt for. The L1 has a maximum loadspace length of 1753mm while the L2 allows 2153mm. Width across the loadspace is 1538mm and the internal height measures 1269mm. The addition of the load-through bulkhead option, which allows longer lengths to be carried through a flap in the steel bulkhead, means the L1 can transport 3000mm lengths and the L2 can move 3400mm.

Loading height for the rear deck is 599mm and the side door (fitted as standard) has an opening aperture of 433mm in the L1 and 660mm in the L2.

The Transit Connect is 1835mm wide, 1861mm high and 4418mm in length for the L1 and 4818mm for the L2 van. The dimensions of the Transit Connect are broadly in line with those of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/caddy/van/review/n18482">VW Caddy</a> and other key rivals. However, the option of that High Payload van means the Connect has a maximum payload matched only by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/doblo-cargo/van/review/n18505">Fiat Doblo Cargo</a>.

The Transit Connect is one of the best-driving and smartest-looking vans around – you really can't go far wrong with one.

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Ford Transit Connect review

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Read review covering Ford Transit Connect boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

The Ford Transit Connect is perfectly positioned between the smaller Transit Courier and larger Transit Custom in terms of its payload carrying potential, and it has an impressive weight range.,Gross vehicle weights range from 2.0 tonnes to 2.4 tonnes, which means the payload varies from 595kg to 967kg for the appropriately named Ford Transit Connect High Payload models.,Load volumes vary depending on which of the two body lengths you opt for. The L1 has a maximum loadspace length of 1753mm while the L2 allows 2153mm. Width across the loadspace is 1538mm and the internal height measures 1269mm. The addition of the load-through bulkhead option, which allows longer lengths to be carried through a flap in the steel bulkhead, means the L1 can transport 3000mm lengths and the L2 can move 3400mm.Loading height for the rear deck is 599mm and the side door (fitted as standard) has an opening aperture of 433mm in the L1 and 660mm in the L2.The Transit Connect is 1835mm wide, 1861mm high and 4418mm in length for the L1 and 4818mm for the L2 van. The dimensions of the Transit Connect are broadly in line with those of the VW Caddy and other key rivals. However, the option of that High Payload van means the Connect has a maximum payload matched only by the Fiat Doblo Cargo.,,

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