Ford’s new cost effective Transit Connect

The new Transit Connect is due to hit the roads of the UK at the end of the year at prices Ford says are seven percent cheaper than its predecessors.

With plenty of people feeling the pinch at the moment, not only does the showroom price represent a reduction on equivalent models of old, the compact van also provides class leading fuel economy. With best-in-class load carrying ability and durability, the Transit Connect is the perfect addition to the recently launched Transit Custom and Transit Courier.

The Connect comes in plenty of different guises, with Van, Double-Cab-in-Van and Kombi body styles available with both short and long wheelbases. The best-in-class equalling payload capacity figures stretch up to 1,000kg.

A new addition to the Connect is a multi-fold dual passenger seat which enables the van to accommodate up to three people in the cab, whilst the Double-Cab-in-Van and Kombi models provide enough seating for five and seven people respectively.

The fuel economy of the Transit Connect has been much lauded by Ford, with official figures for the ECOnetic version of the van quoted at 70.6mpg with CO2 emissions of 105g/km when fitted with a 62mph speed limiter; figures which are 34 per cent better than the outgoing model.

In terms of engine variants, the Connect is the first commercial vehicle from Ford to offer customers a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which produces an unrivalled 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 129g/km.

If you’re looking for a little more grunt, there is a 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine which is available with a power output of 74, 94 or 114bhp.

Fuel efficiency has been one of the primary considerations in the development of the Connect, with measures such as Auto Start-Stop and Active Grille Shutter introduced as standard on some models to minimise fuel consumption.

The aim for the Transit Connect is to set new standards for compact vans in affordability, fuel consumption and durability. We won’t have to wait long to see if Ford has got it right.