Our Vans: Ford Transit Connect
31 May 2019: The small van that's big on space
The Details
| Current mileage | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Claimed economy | 56.5mpg |
| Actual economy | 53.7mpg |
The short wheelbase (L1) version of the Transit Connect might measure just 4425mm in length, but it's proven itself as a practical workhorse when it comes to hauling materials and tools.
The L1 Transit Connect has 2.9 cubic metres of loadspace in the back and will carry payloads weighing up to 718kg. The low floor and 180 degree doors - with 1248mm of load width - also make it really simple to make the most of the van's space.
As you can see in the picture below, our van has a solid bulkhead that's fitted at an angle where it meets the floor so you can use all of the van's 1786mm load length - which is handy carrying planks of wood or metal panels. However, if you fit the optional bulkhead hatch, the L1 will carry items measuring up to 3000mm.
For builders, the load through hatch is a no brainer because it makes it easy to carry things like copper pipes and metal plaster stop beads. And if you choose the long wheelbase version of the Transit Connect - L2 - with the hatch you'll be able to shift items measuring up to 3400mm. Sadly my van doesn't have it fitted, but you get my point.
The side sliding door has a 433mm opening - or 660mm in the L2 van - and this makes loading/unloading a painfree process. During the past few weekends I've helped a mate - a plasterer by trade - shift materials and tools. The tie down hooks in the floor make it really easy to prevent things crashing into the side walls of the van, but you do get some plastic side panelling to protect the metal sides.
Most versions of the Transit Connect get a tough plastic load floor liner that makes it easy to sweep the van out with a broom at the end of the day. However, at night, the standard lights in the back are quite dim and this can make it quite difficult to find things. I'd recommend upgrading to the LED loadspace lighting pack, as this was really useful in the Transit Custom I was running a few months back.
The only area where this van falters a little is with loadspace tech; the latest Vauxhall Combo, for example, gets an overload warning system that tells you when the van is nearing its load limit. Sadly there's no such feature on the Ford options list.
The Transit Connect also falls behind the Combo on overall practicality, with the smallest version of the Vauxhall carrying two Euro pallets compared to the single you can fit inside the Ford. Overall weights are down too, with some versions of the Combo carrying 1050kg. In comparison, the Transit Connect will peak at 865kg.
« Earlier: How much does it cost to run a Transit Connect? Later: Petrol vs diesel - which is best in the Transit Connect? »
