Ford Transit Connect XLT - Proving that versatility can come in small packages

When Lee Iacocca introduced the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan minivans, they were true minivans in every sense of the word. Others that followed were the Mazda MPV, Nissan Stanza, Mitsubishi Expo, and the first-gen Honda Odyssey (as well as the cloned Isuzu Oasis). Yet as time marched on, the minivan grew in size. Nearly every manufacturer was in the hunt back then, yet the selection is now limited to the grown-up Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager, Dodge Grand Caravan, not to mention the Kia Sedona, which had a clone cousin in the Hyundai Entourage.

The Transit Connect passenger van comes in three trim levels, XL, XLT (which was our tester), and Platinum. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize the Transit Connect is one of the most popular cargo vans on the roadway compared to the Ram Pro Master and Nissan NV200.

If I were in the market for a van to haul the family, I’d be looking at the more budget friendly spectrum. My choice would also be the XLT, optioned with the blind spot monitor, forward and reverse sensing system, adaptive cruise control, alloy wheels, and the second-row bench – you never know when you need to haul seven instead of six. So equipped, the sticker would be somewhere in the mid-$30k range before incentives. That’s far more palatable than the near-$50k figures on the high-zoot Honda, Toyota and Chrysler vans. The only thorn in the Transit Connect’s side is the Kia Sedona, as well as the Dodge Grand Caravan (yes, it’s still in production), which come closer in price, yet offer more girth. And don’t forget the Chrysler Voyager, which was a 2019 mid-year plain vanilla wrapper model of the Chrysler Pacifica.

What makes the Transit Connect Wagon so interesting is exactly why minivans are so great – flexibility. The lack of luxury and convenience features can be a blessing for someone who needs a vehicle for business as well as people-hauling. With fewer plush leather bits to scuff, sturdy plastic trim everywhere, and impressive fuel economy, this van will work beautifully for many buyers.

Fast forward to 2020 and we have the Transit Connect, which is here thanks to the fact that the Transit Connect is considered a utilitarian cargo panel van first and foremost.

I was impressed with the comfort of the seats - and my personal preference is cloth seating, as found in the XL and XLT trims - rather than the leather in the Platinum. Still, the chairs were supportive enough to keep driver and passenger refreshed on a long road trip; and there certainly are no complaints in either the second or third rows as well.

For 2019 Ford replaced the previously available 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which makes 150 horsepower and 144 lb.-ft of torque. But don’t think that’s enough oomph to really push it down the road; It isn’t. However, Ford canceled the Transit Connect's previously announced diesel engine.

The Transit Connect features automatic stop/start technology and pairs exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. It can also tow up to 2,000 pounds and carry a maximum payload of 1,570 pounds. That version felt very agile around town thanks to its accurate steering and well-controlled body motions. However, it bounced when driving over uneven pavement and had irregular tracking on the highway.

The Transit Connect's front seat will look familiar regardless of whether it's the cargo or passenger van. The passenger version can be had with a second as well as a third row which enables seating for up to seven. Every model has a low seating height that emulates a car rather than a truck or crossover. The dashboard incorporates an ergonomic center stack that features physical controls for the climate control and infotainment system.