Ford Transit Connect (2013-2022) Review

Plenty of people will buy a small van as their only van – they might run a business that is big enough to need more carrying space than a car, but they don’t need to commit to something large enough to haul around vast amounts of kit. The Ford Transit Connect does a brilliant job of making van life easy even if you are more used to, say, a family hatchback.

It’s a great all-rounder, which makes it even more suited to being an only van. Others might be able to carry more stuff, but the car-like handling is a big bonus and that remains the case even if you’ve got a fully-laden load bay.

Sole traders are likely to want their van to be more than just a load-lugger, though, and the fact that the Ford Transit Connect doesn’t share its body shape with any vans from another brand means that it is more likely to stand out. Get one of the Citroen/Peugeot/Toyota/Vauxhall group and you’ll be hard pushed to tell them apart at a glance, which is less likely with the Ford.

In one sense there are loads of other models to choose from in the small van class, but in another sense, there are very few. This is because several manufacturers essentially offer the same van but with a different badge on the front and a slightly revised interior.

The Citroen Berlingo, practical Peugeot Partner, Toyota Proace City and Vauxhall Combo are all much the same van with the same basic construction and largely the same range of engines. Being newer, they have the edge on the Ford in terms of tech, and they offer an improved payload, too. The Fiat Doblo is another one to look at if payload is your priority.

If you want something that is a little different then the Volkswagen Caddy is another good bet, although with a new model from 2020, then it may feel a bit outdated compared to rivals.

The material quality in the Ford Transit Connect is impressive, with a mixture of stuff that is hard wearing enough to withstand the sort of abuse that work life will throw at it and that which is plush enough to not make it feel like you are in a workshop all day long.

As is the case with almost every van, the basic model gets less in the way of frills although the majority of the main touch points like the gear lever and steering wheel are more car like.

The higher up the range you go, the more you get, both in terms of posh materials and design flourishes. The steering wheel and gear lever surround get different coloured surrounds to break up the large swathes of black, while the door handles are finished in chrome too.

From Ford Transit Connect Limited, the higher of the two mid-range models, the steering wheel is finished in leather, too. Go for the top-of-the-range version and there’s some leather on the seats as well. This is restricted to the edges, though – the main bulk of the seat is still cloth. Some will find the fully cloth versions in the Limited model slightly comfier, though.

There are two different screens available on the Ford Transit Connect, with a 4.2-inch version available as standard from the mid-range trim upwards – the base model doesn’t get anything visual. That said, you do get a DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity and stereo controls on the steering wheel on every model.

The upgraded six-inch touchscreen is a pricey upgrade, but you get more than just the screen – the package also brings parking sensors, a rear parking camera and the latest navigation system with real-time traffic information. It also adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

If the overall outlay seems like a lot then it’s worth considering that the camera alone would cost more than a third of the package’s cost if you were to spec it alone.

The mapping on the navigation is clear and bright and the shortcut buttons that let you locate fuel, cash machines or somewhere to get food at the end of a long working day are handy and easy to hit. 

The downside is that the live traffic updates on the navigation are only free for the first two years after the van is registered and you have to pay a subscription after that. Most portable sat navs, or indeed the systems you can stream onto the screen through your phone, are free.

Depending on your take on it the passenger room in the Ford Transit Connect is either great or not good enough.

Simply, this is because the Ford is only available with two seats in the front – rivals such as the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner etc are all available with three seats across the front bench. This isn’t available even as an option on the Ford Transit Connect, so if you have three people due to head to a job then you’ll have to take two vehicles.

However, if you are regularly going to carry three people then small vans are not really up to the task as they aren’t big enough. Rather than cramming three in in discomfort, Ford has made sure that the two people in the Ford Transit Connect can travel in comfort. You get more legroom than in some larger vans, like the bigger Ford Transit Custom, and the lack of middle seat means that there is little chance of bashing into one another accidentally.

The storage around the cabin is decent, with a pair of large door pockets with capacity for a big water bottle in each, while the hidden compartment above the steering wheel also has a 12V socket. There is an additional socket and a pair of USB connectors by the central cupholders, too.

Oddly, only the entry-level Leader and the Trend models get a coat hook, but there is space to bundle kit behind the central console if you need to. Don’t expect it to dry off down there, though.

There are two lengths available, with L2 models able to take two Euro pallets. The standard-fit side door is big enough that you can get one of those pallets in at the side, too.

The bulkhead is full metal as standard, although you can opt for a glazed section if you like. There is also the option of a fold-flat passenger seat and a through-load hatch, which means you can get long items such as pipes in – up to 3.0m long in the L1 and 3.4m in the L2.

Payload is ok, but has been overtaken by the best in the class now, with 876kg the most that any Ford Transit Connect can carry. Given that several rivals are able to take over a tonne, this is decent rather than class leading these days.

The Ford Transit Connect dimensions are 4418-4818mm length, 2137mm wide and 1861-1840mm tall.

The engine choice in the Ford Transit is relatively conventional in the main, with a choice of three diesels with 75, 100 and 120PS power output options. What is less conventional for a van is the fact that you get a petrol version as well.

Even though petrol has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the car world, it remains more of a niche choice in the van market, and for fairly good reason. The 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine is smooth and quiet but it is better suited to those that know they are only ever going to spend their time around town. It’s only available on the lower trims, too, which will further limit its appeal.

The 75PS version is also more suited to lower mileage journeys, and to those that will be carrying lighter loads – florists rather than bricklayers for example.

If you are unsure what you are likely to be doing from day to day then the 100PS engine will perform best as a jack of all trades. It offers enough oomph for both country roads and motorways and is strong enough to pull away happily with a load on board.

It’s good enough that most won’t need the 120PS version, but for those that will spend more time maxing out the carrying capacity, or even want to make the most of the 1,500kg max towing potential then it offers strong amounts of pulling ability from low revs.

All come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, which is a particular bonus on the motorway as it means the Ford Transit Connect doesn’t sit at high revs at speed. There is an eight-speed auto as well, which makes for a more relaxing experience in stop start traffic, but it does have a bit of an impact on fuel economy.

Before the introduction of the 1.5-litre engines, the Ford Transit Connect offered a very similar set of 1.6-litre units. They had very comparable power outputs but they only came with five-speed gearboxes.

If noise levels in your van are of paramount importance then the petrol engine is by far the best bet – it is really smooth and quiet on the move. It won’t be quite as quiet as the same unit in a car, thanks to the lower levels of sound deadening you get in a commercial vehicle.

That’s not to say that the 1.5-litre engines are noisy, though – they are far removed from the rattly old vans of the 1990s. The Ford Transit Connect is supremely competent and keeping noise out of the cabin on the move, although this is inevitably going to be impacted by what you are carrying in the back and how much of it is in there.

Overall, though, it is surprisingly refined at motorway speeds, meaning you can pop on the cruise control (if you’re in one of the higher spec models) and sit back and relax.

The older 1.6-litre engines are less refined, and are gruffer on the move, particularly under hard acceleration. 

Vans tend not to get tested by Euro NCAP, and comparing the Ford Transit Connect to its passenger equivalent – the Tourneo Connect isn’t to be advised. The Tourneo gets a load of safety kit that doesn’t appear on the commercial vehicle version.

The Ford Transit Connect only gets a driver’s airbag for example, with passenger, side and curtain airbags all optional.

Emergency Brake Assist is standard, though, which is a welcome bonus but it is a shame that side wind stability is only an option.

You get a steel spare wheel as standard, unless you go for the Double-Cab-In-Van version or the Sport model. In both those cases you get a tyre inflation kit as standard, although you can choose to get the full-size spare should you want it, but as a cost option.

To deal with the inevitable blind spots that you get on a van, the Ford can be had with a blind spot information system that uses a pair of orange lights on either side of the cabin, which really come into their own in lower light conditions. Active braking assist and lane keeping assist are also available, but once again you will have to convince the holder of the purse strings to shell out extra for them, even if you go for the higher trim versions.

There's not too much to worry about it terms of reliability - vans tend to live a tough life so maintenance is more important than ever. The diesel engines are pretty tough, and although there have been issues with the EcoBoost petrols historically, rectification work should have been carried out under warranty.

The Ford Transit Connect is one of the cheapest vans to insure, going by its grouping at the very least. It starts in group 3E.

The panel van and crew van are in this group, and it’s the same whether you go for a petrol or a diesel. Older versions also start in group 3E, but crew vans might cost you a little more to cover as they kick off around group 5E.

The two best value trims are the ones in the middle of the Ford Transit Connect range, with Trend and Limited making the most sense. The Ford Transit Connect Trend version brings a few desirable bits over the Leader’s relatively sparse standard offering. The eight-way adjustable driver’s seat, heated windscreen for rapid de-icing and the infotainment screen lift it a little.

If you are more likely to be carrying out deliveries rather than spending time at a building site, the trim that makes the most all-round sense in terms of adding a little comfort is the Ford Transit Connect Limited. It adds cruise control, air conditioning, heated seats and rear parking sensors.

Sport’s additions are largely cosmetic, which might appeal but also be harder to justify on a financial basis alone.