Ford Transit Connect van review (2023)

The Transit Connect is typically the bestselling small van in the UK – though the Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo run it close. Ford’s extensive dealer network means there’s usually a plentiful of supply of new examples, and this sales success means you shouldn’t struggle to find a used one, either.

>> New Ford Transit Connect vans for sale

>> Used Ford Transit Connect vans for sale

But with such a broad range, how do you know which version is best for your needs? Let’s see if we can help.

Best Ford Transit Connect for running costs

If you're looking at a pre-facelift model, go for an Econetic version if you want maximum mpg; much of the extra kit fitted to these is standard on post-facelift versions.

Want to save even more fuel? Then consider a fixed speed limiter – just don’t come crying to us when you’re crawling along with the lorries on the M6.

The petrol-powered versions are not a good choice if you want a fuel efficient van over long distances, but can work just fine around town.

Best Ford Transit Connect for payload

Ford makes this quite straight forward for by offering clearly labelled High Payload versions, capable of carrying nearly 1,000kg (1.0 tonne).

Full details of load area and carrying capacity can be found in our dedicated Ford Transit Connect dimensions section.

Best Ford Transit Connect for value / standard equipment

Most small van buyers and operators are extremely cost-conscious, so the good news is that even Transit Connect Base/Leader models are well equipped from the factory.

Given the opportunity we’d still upgrade to a Trend, which features improved comfort and practicality features that are very worthwhile.

You'll need at least a Limited model to get air-con, cruise control and parking sensors as standard, though – so if you value these features be sure to carefully compare their individual cost with the ‘walk-up’ from Trend to Limited to see which makes the most sense for you.

Ford Transit Connect individual model reviews

We've also got dedicated reviews of the following key models, which may help you make up mind:

• Ford Transit Connect Active review - tested June 2021
• Ford Transit Connect Limited automatic - tested October 2019
• Ford Transit Connect MS-RT review - tested September 2019 (opens in new window)
• Ford Transit Connect Sport 1.5 EcoBlue 120 review - tested June 2019
• Ford Transit Connect Trend 1.6 TDCi 95 review - tested Feburay 2014

Ford Transit Connect Active review

Tested June 2021 by CJ Hubbard

• The most lifestyle small van on sale
• Tested with trick mLSD for extra traction
• Not cheap, but great fun and very appealing

Small vans have typically been the runts of the van world – with the exception of perhaps the Volkswagen Caddy, they’re traditionally basic boxes on wheels, served up at the cheapest possible cost. But in recent years, this has been changing, with the introduction of sportier trim levels and a general increase in build quality and standard equipment from the latest models.

The Ford Transit Connect Active is arguably the apex of this trend. While the Connect is hardly the newest small van on the block, the application of the Active trim level from Ford’s car range makes it the most lifestyle-orientated small van you can currently buy. And while this includes a lot of show, pick the right options and its stand-out appearance is backed up by plenty of, if not go, then certainly capability.

What’s this Active business all about then?

Active is the name Ford uses for ordinary vehicles that have been given a bit of a roughty-toughty SUV-style makeover. Often – as with the Sedona Orange here – these are finished in bright colours, which are all the better to contrast with the black plastic body cladding that’s added around the wheelarches and in other areas in order to achieve this look.

In the Transit Connect Active’s case, there’s also cladding on the sides, door mirrors and bumpers – plus front and rear skid plates (more cosmetic than functional, but they do look good), shiny 17-inch alloy wheels with a polished finish, and roof bars.

What’s more, unlike the larger Transit Custom Active, the Connect matches the Active car range by also having mildly raised suspension. It’s just 24mm higher at the front and a mere 9mm higher at the rear, but completes the picture of adventurousness that Ford is trying to paint here.

To our eyes it’s a cool-looking little van, and one that will definitely help you stand out from the crowd – whether you’re buying it as an extension of your business or to sling something like mountain bikes in the back at the weekend.

Ok, so it looks good – but won’t it just get stuck if you venture away from a regular road surface?

Like a lot of other Ford’s vans now, if you stick with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the Transit Connect Active can be optionally upgraded with an mLSD.

This mechanical limited slip differential provides extra traction for slipper surfaces. So while the Transit Connect is only front-wheel drive, the mLSD can give it the tenacity to go further off-road than any regular small van (you just can’t have it in combination with the eight-speed automatic).

If you really want to go bashing the countryside in a van of this size, you’ll be better off with the Vauxhall Combo Cargo 4x4 – but if you need to traverse the occasional track or muddy field, this Connect Active should cope more than adequately.

What’s more, the mLSD also makes it a riot on the road. The Transit Connect was already the best-handling small van on the market – the addition of the grippy diff means you have to try hilariously hard before it starts to understeer, allowing you to carry an enormous amount of speed along twisty roads, and even through roundabouts.

Probably not the sort of thing you’ll be indulging in if you regularly travel fully loaded, but if you’re considering a van as a more practical, two-seater alternative to a regular car then you might as well get one you can enjoy driving.

With a modest 120hp 1.5-litre TDCi turbodiesel, it’s not super-quick. But with the diff you really don’t have to slow down very much in the corners. While it leans a bit – as you’d expect with the raised suspension – all of the body movements feel very controlled, and the suspension soaks up bumps and bad surfaces with supple effectiveness.

What’s the Transit Connect Active like inside?

Ignore the dude doing yoga in the background – apparently there was some miscommunication when the press office asked for ‘lifestyle’ shots – and concentrate on the interior in the picture below.

As you can see, it’s not radically different to any other high-end Transit Connect. Nice set of seats, a screen on the top of the dash for the Ford Sync infotainment system – here upgraded to include sat-nav for £396 – and some generally well laid-out and not over-complicated controls.

Compared with other models, the Active gets a more premium gauge cluster and a reversing camera as standard. You’ll still have to pay extra if you want the full suite of safety kit Ford makes available, including autonomous emergency braking, unfortunately, but you do get dual air-conditioning for the basic asking price.

Some of the plastics are a little hard and, well, plasticky – especially around the doors and door bins. It feels well put together, though, and we certainly didn’t find ourselves driving around shuddering at the occasional sight or feel of them. These days the Transit Connect is close to the top of the class for interior quality.

There’s got to be a catch here…

The price might make you wince. The short-wheelbase (SWB) model tested here starts at £23,196 on-the-road excluding VAT, while the long-wheelbase (LWB) variant costs from £24,646.

That’s quite a chunk of change for a small van, and you’ll need another £550 ex. VAT for the mLSD.

Still, it’s a bargain compared with the less sexy Combo Cargo 4x4, which will set you back over £36k thanks to the cost of its extensive four-wheel drive conversion.

Should I buy a Ford Transit Connect Active?

This is one of the most fun vans we’ve driven in ages. Distinctively stylish to look at, good to drive, well put together, and usefully practical with it, the Transit Connect Active manages to combine utility with desire – if you can afford one and it suits your needs, don’t hesitate.

Ford Transit Connect automatic review

Tested October 2019 by CJ Hubbard

• Eight-speed auto gearbox tested in the UK
• Good performer that makes life easy for the driver
• But is it worth £1,200 more than the manual?

Following on from the 2018 facelift, you can now get a Transit Connect with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. At the time of writing, it’s a £1,200 upgrade over a Connect with the same engine and a manual gearbox, and available on every trim level except Sport.

This particular example is a long-wheelbase L2 model in Limited specification, fitted with the range-topping 120hp 1.5-litre EcoBlue turbodiesel engine. The auto can also be paired with the 100hp 1.5 diesel as well.

Aside from some colleagues’ cruel comments suggesting the black paint makes it look like a hearse, this is a really good small van. But should you be tempted into spending all that extra cash on the automatic gearbox? Let’s see if we can help you out.

What is the Transit Connect automatic like to drive?

The Transit Connect is already arguably the sweetest van to drive in the small van sector. Probably not your top priority in a van, where load capacity, payload rating and practicality are likely more important, but if you’re going to be in it all day, every day, it might as well be fun.

And these things are fun. They’ve got great steering, don’t roll around too much in the corners, possess impressively high levels of grip, and generally feel very much a product of the same engineering team that’s consistently delivered great handling cars for years and years.

What’s more, the 120hp diesel engine is quiet enough – if not as quiet as the Citroen Berlingo / Peugeot Partner / Vauxhall Combo Cargo trio – and pulls so well you’re more likely to find yourself worrying about speeding than getting out of a slip road in time to not get crushed by that lumbering lorry.

However, since the standard six-speed manual gearbox has a smooth, precise action, with none of the baulkiness you find in some other vans, the automatic already has its work cut out to be a convincing use of money. A standard Transit Connect is not a chore to swap cogs in, at all.

The instant appeal of the automatic is that it makes changing gear one less thing you have to think about. That might not sound like a big deal, but if you’re having a busy day it could free up valuable brain space, and reflects the fact that this is generally speaking a very good automatic transmission.

What we mean by this is that it rarely does anything to make you really pause and doubt its programming. While it’s not the swiftest-reacting transmission, the gear changes mostly pass unnoticed and you’re rarely left wishing it had done something better.

So it’s pretty faultless?

Close to it. Drive it particularly hard, and the gearbox occasionally loses its cool a little, with some minor jerkiness and a tendency to hang on to second gear too long. We’re not that keen on the way the Manual gearshift mode has been implemented, either.

Until you get used to it you’ll find it all too easy to select this instead of regular Drive due to the way the lever operates. And if you do fancy changing gears yourself you’ll have to use the unusual switches on the side the knob – Ford doesn’t offer steering-wheel mounted paddleshifters.

We suspect most drivers will simply leave it to get on with the job by itself, given there’s so little reason not to.

Is it as good overall as the eight-speed auto available on top-spec Berlingos, Combos and Partners? Perhaps not quite – that’s an even more seamless experience. But you’re unlikely to find yourself cursing Ford’s efforts here, and it certainly compares well to the Volkswagen Caddy’s DSG auto option.

Does the auto make a difference to fuel economy and payload?

The eight-speed automatic transmission is heavier than the six-speed manual, which increases the basic weight of the van by around 10-25kg (it varies with trim level).

This has a more minor impact on actual payload, though, as Ford has largely adjusted the gross vehicle mass (GVM – Ford’s equivalent to gross vehicle weight) to compensate, reducing the payload difference to less than 10kg.

Full details of the load area practicality can be found on our dedicated Ford Transit Connect Dimensions page.

Similarly, official fuel economy is a little over 1mpg worse for the auto at 55.4mpg instead of 56.5mpg – though this is an NEDC figure created using newer WLTP data, which makes it difficult to directly compare with the Transit’s rivals.

Should I buy a Ford Transit Connect automatic?

If you’re not restricted to driving automatics by your licence, the auto fitted here is best treated as a convenience feature rather than an essential buy. We like it, and it’s effortless to use. But we’d say the same thing about the Transit Connect manual.

Even so, if you spend a lot of time in traffic, or simply like the idea of having the van change gear for you, it shouldn’t be too difficult to justify the extra expense. There’s no reason not to buy it if you want one.

The theory goes that automatic vans are lighter on front tyre wear and reduce the damage clumsy drivers might otherwise do to the clutch. As such, it might even prove a worthwhile investment.

Ford Transit Connect Sport Van 120hp L2 (LWB) review

Tested June 2019 by Richard Kilpatrick

• New top trim level for Ford's small van following 2018 facelift
• Sharp to look at, great to drive - but then so is the rest of the range
• Pricey but worth it, even if sat-nav is still an optional extra

Blessed with Ford’s latest torquey 120hp 1.5-litre EcoBlue TDCi, the Transit Connect is no slouch as small vans go, but it doesn’t exactly advertise its 270Nm and impressive – for a small van – pace. Enter this new Sport model, a proven Ford route of making a van with skirts and stripes, so your fellow road users will be in no doubt as to your priorities when ordering a commercial vehicle.

What's different about the Transit Connect Sport Van?

The Connect Sport’s 'dark stainless' 16-inch alloy wheels make a surprising difference in looks, though the subtle bodykit is also effective at lifting a now mature design and keeping it fresh.

The bold racing stripes, a hallmark of Ford’s Sport vans, are somewhat lost on a darker colour like our test van’s Chrome Blue; if you want to stand out, traditional white, red or silver provide the best background.

What's it like inside?

Inside, the Sport’s cab gains half-leather heated seats and a leather sports steering wheel, though Sync 3 infotainment remains firmly on the options list, as does the more comfortable eight-way adjustment for the driver’s seat.

Ford’s wrap-around dashboard, with easy to use dual-zone air-conditioning panel, excellent ventilation and the neat covered storage over the instruments suits a low driving position as well as the more traditional upright van view, though the trade off is an immense amount of windscreen above the horizon and a less authoritative feel than you get in a Transit Custom.

It’s easy to forget that this is a van from behind the wheel. Though – Sync 3’s neat touchscreen aside – it feels more Ka+ than Focus in style and material.

Is it still practical?

As tested in long-wheelbase form – L2, in Ford-speak – the Connect can carry an impressive amount, thanks to over 2.1 metres of load length.

The single sliding side door is also wide enough to load a euro pallet, and yes there’s an option to have dual sliding doors, and it’s not particularly expensive. You can also have a glazed bulkhead, rather than the solid steel one that comes as standard.

Is the Transit Connect Sport good to drive?

Nothing about this lifts the Connect Sport above the abilities of a regular Connect.

You can hop behind the wheel of a Connect Sport and find the well-weighted, direct and communicative steering immensely satisfying, and the surprisingly balanced, predictable chassis entertaining in bends, yet amazingly smooth and refined in most situations, and you might think that the Sport’s been adapted to be more car-like. But it’s no different to a normal 1.5-litre diesel. How the Transit Connect drives is one of the best attributes of an already highly competent van.

Not only does the 1.5-litre engine pull well through the gears, with a refined motorway pace and good in-gear acceleration, the six-speed manual gearbox has a neat, precise shift that’s got enough travel for lazy driving with feel to satisfy hot-hatch aspirations.

Similar balance for work and play can be found in the Connect Sport’s seats, which use half-leather trim to look sporty without the uncomfortable deep bolsters of Ford’s ST or RS models; you’ll almost certainly find them comfortable enough for an eight-hour day even without spending more on the lumbar-support upgrade.

Most road surfaces are isolated to a degree that would shame many family cars, though rough motorways can cause the smaller van to boom and resonate, in part due to the full metal bulkhead. Although the interior is undeniably aimed at commercial users, it’s attractive and more importantly, put together to a high standard, free of rattles and squeaks.

Should I buy a Ford Transit Connect Sport?

Refreshed, but not substantially changed, the 2018 Transit Connect is already a polished, pleasant van and the Sport is more about adding a more car-like atmosphere than actual performance – half-leather seats, better climate control and a less functional appearance.

The upgrades are worth it, but it’s a shame this is a trim level, rather than an option pack to be applied to your ideal Transit Connect configuration.

Want to know more about the original 1.6-litre TDCI engine, launched in 2013? Keep reading…

Ford Transit Connect Trend 1.6 TDCi 95 LWB L2 review

Tested February 2014 by Gareth Evans

• Ford's smaller Transit - the Connect - put to task on UK roads
• Trend specification not top-seller, but makes sense to us
• Priced from £16,321* (excluding VAT) and available to order now

There’s no disputing it – the previous version of the Ford Transit Connect was feeling its age. Not only had the engines fallen way out of kilter with modernity’s drive for ultra-efficiency, but the styling was starting to feel aged too.

It’s a case of ‘about time too’, then, as the firm ushers in this all-new Connect with its freshly styled face and range of engines which return brilliant fuel economy and emit far less CO2, meaning all sorts of tax breaks. We’ve been driving one of the most impressive versions – a long wheelbase ‘L2’ model in Trend trim, fitted with the firm’s 1.6-litre TDCi diesel engine with 95hp.

The L2 has the biggest load area in the range.

According to Ford, it’ll also return an impressive 65.7mpg average fuel economy if you’re particularly careful with your right foot, which means it’s one seriously frugal van.

To do achieve that you will need to spend £300 on the Fuel Economy Pack, however, which gets a grille which shuts automatically to boost aerodynamics and a stop/start system.

What's it like to drive?

Out on the road the engine pulls well, developing its maximum torque of 230Nm between 1,500 and 2,000rpm.

This van has an impressively high braked towing weight of 1,200kg, and Ford says it put a Connect through a six-month continuous towing test at max payload to check it can do the business.

Encounter a steep hill, though, and you will have to drop down at least one of the car’s five manual gears to get the engine spinning with enough gusto to keep making progress.

That said, motorway speeds are reached in an acceptable period of time and it’s absolutely fine around town, pulling keenly and smoothly from nice and low in the rev range.

The gearbox itself – and the rest of the van, actually – works exactly like a Ford car. And we mean that in a good way.

Is the Ford Transit Connect easy to drive?

This larger L2 model has a 12.2m turning circle between a pair of kerbs, which means it’s easy to coax in and out of parking spaces.

Our van also featured a clever rear-view parking camera (which costs £300 and displays through the rear-view mirror that you didn’t think you needed) and rear parking sensors, which go hand-in-hand towards making your life easier in car parks.

The display on the rear-view mirror is incredibly crisp and clear, but we can’t help thinking it would benefit from being a little larger.

Transit Connect options tested

There were a few more optional extras on our test vehicle, too.

The City Safety Pack, costing £250, includes a system which will automatically brake the van at low speeds if it detects an impending collision. We tested this to the extreme in an off-road environment and can confirm it works well, stopping the van dead below 15mph. Automatic headlights are also included in the package.

That metallic grey paint costs £300, while manual air-conditioning is a hefty £600. An LED load box light costs £40.

Our model’s list price was £16,321.36 ex. VAT at the time of writing, and £18,111.36 ex. VAT with all of the optional extras included.*

Should I buy one?

There’s not much to complain about here. The Transit Connect drives well, it’s efficient, it has a large load area for this size of van and it’s got a fair amount of kit thrown in too.

The only question is whether you need all those options. If you’re adept at parking and don’t drive in cities a lot then you can save yourself £550 by simply ignoring the rear-view camera and the City Safety Pack.

Does the £300 Fuel Economy Pack pay for itself considering the mileage you cover? It’s worth doing to sums to find out.

*All prices correct at the time of writing in February 2014