Limited SWB 120PS

Ten Second Review

Ford's Transit Connect is a small van - with big ideas. It must suit buyers in both small and compact sectors of the LCV market - and does so thanks to the choice of both short and long wheelbase bodystyles and a versatile loadbay. This revised version gets a smarter look, a classier cabin and a more efficient 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine and a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. Overall, there may be prettier little vans, but there are few more practical ones.

Driving Experience

This little LCV has been significantly updated in recent times, primarily with the addition of the new 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel powerplant that most Transit Connect customers go for. There's also an improved 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine option with 100PS. An upgraded six-speed manual transmission is now fitted to all engines as standard and the 1.5‑litre EcoBlue engine (offered with 75, 100 or 120PS) can also be specified with an advanced new 8-speed automatic transmission, which has been engineered to deliver smooth, swift gearshifts.

Design & Build

As for practicalities, well even the short wheelbase L1 version that most Vanarama customers choose has a loading volume of 2.9m3  that’s 1,269mm in height and 1,538mm in width, a figure that narrows to 1,226mm between the wheel arches. The door-to-bulkhead loadspace length is 1,753mm, but there is the option to take longer items if you get yourself a Connect model with a load-through hatch into the cab, that’ll mean you can transport things up to 3,000mm in length – like step ladders or carpet rolls. It’ll also increase your vehicle’s overall carriage capacity to 3.6m3. Which may negate the need to for some owners to stretch up to the bigger L2 body length.

We reckon most operators are going to want to do that though, if only for the extra flexibility that the L2 variant provides. After all, you know what it’s like, there are always going to be occasions when you’ll need that touch of extra space. And when that happens, you’ll be glad that the L2 variant holds an extra 400mm in body length. Inside the cargo bay, this means that the total load space volume rises by about 20% over the L1 to 3.6m3. That’s thanks to a door-to-bulkhead load space length increase to 2,153mm - which means that you could accommodate a 2.4m x 1.4m sheet (that’s 8ftx4ft) laid flat on the floor.

Practicalities & Costs

Leasing is the convenient, affordable and simple way to drive a brand-new van. It lets people drive brand-new LCVs for hassle-free fixed monthly rentals. At Vanarama, we guarantee you the best deal, thanks to the way that we scan over 140 million deals in the market to give you the best price. Road tax is included too.

Summary

As for this Ford, well it might be true that other competitors can rival its cargo bed spaciousness but few can match the sheer versatility of this model’s design. Get the right variant and there’s space for three people up-front, room for astonishingly long items to be pushed through from the back and even the option of fork-lifting in a Euro pallet from the side. The Transit Connect might still be an odd job van, but these days, it’s a very clever one indeed.


Last updated (05/04/19)