Ford Transit Connect

The Ford Transit Connect is sold as a commercial delivery vehicle and tall family van in most markets.

History

The Ford Transit Connect was designed to replace the Ford Courier van, which ceased production when the Connect came out.
The Ford Transit Connect was first sold in Europe around 2000. The Ford Transit Connect was first sold in the US since 2000. The Ford Transit Connect had a redesign in 2013. That version added more comforts for riders.

Design

The Ford Transit Connect is built on the Ford C170 platform shared with the Ford Focus.
Ford does not sell a formal minivan, so the Ford Transit Connect is sometimes sold as a family friendly tall wagon. The Ford Transit Connect is more commonly used as a commercial delivery van. The Ford Transit Connect comes with two different wheel bases.
The passenger Ford Transit Connect version has three rows of seating. The Ford Transit Connect is used as a taxi in New York City.
The redesign in 2013 gave drivers the option of a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine or 1.6 liter turbo four cylinder engine. The 2.5 liter engine can pull a load of up to 2,000 pounds.
The cheapest version is the XL van; the second trim level for vans is the XLT van. For the wagon version with three rows of seats, the XL wagon has the fewest features and the XLT more. The highest trim level is called the Titanium level. The Titanium level is sold as an alternative to much more expensive SUVs and minivans.
The XL trim level has front wheel drive, a radio with an audio input jack, four speakers for the passenger vans, manual windows, manual door locks, and six speed automatic transmissions. The XLT version adds HD radio, two more speakers, power windows, power door locks, and the Ford Sync verbal control system. The Titanium version added a CD player and MP3 player, leather seating, HD radio, keyless entry, dual zone climate control, power driver seat, heated front seats, a security system, and nicer wheel covers.

Performance

The initial version of the Ford Transit Connect managed 21 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
An all electric version of the Ford Transit Connect called the Azure Transit Connect Electric was offered, but that was killed during the 2012 Ford bankruptcy. That version used an electric drive train and lithium ion battery pack. That vehicle was built in collaboration with Smith Electric Vehicles.
A compressed natural gas engine package is still available.

Price

The 2015 Ford Transit Connect van new cost around $22,500 for the basic package. With all the features and upgrades with the Titanium trim level, the Ford Transit Connect cost up to $30,000.

Rivals

Rivals to the Ford Transit Connect include the Ram ProMaster city wagon, Mercedes Benz Metris, and Nissan NV200. The Ford Transit Connect competed with the Honda Element and Chevrolet HHR until those cars were cancelled in 2012. The Ford Transit Connect never formally competed with the Ford Aerostar cargo van, which stopped production three years before the Transit Connect came out.


Trivia

When the Ford Transit Connect was only manufactured in Europe, the cars were all brought in as five wheel wagons because commercial vehicles faced a twenty five percent import tax. The import tax disappeared when the Ford Transit Connect started to be made in the United States.