Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan LWB (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan LWB (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan LWB (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan LWB (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan LWB (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan LWB (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan LWB (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
Titanium w/Rear Lift.gate 4dr Wagon Minivan (2.0L 4cyl 8A)
The 2021 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van offers one of the best overall packages in the minivan segment with Ford’s dependability and comfort and the ruggedness of a minivan, you would expect. It is the largest selling minivan worldwide.
The 2021 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van offers one of the best overall packages in the minivan segment with Ford’s dependability and comfort and the ruggedness of a minivan, you would expect. It is the largest selling minivan worldwide. The 2021 Transit Connect starts at $24,500 for the base trim and goes up to $33,000. All trims come equipped with the same engine to deliver similar power figures. The vehicle can be fitted with additional features for the infotainment system and various interior modifications. It also comes with all the basic driver-assist features.
Today, this minivan faces stiff competition from the Nissan NV200, Mercedes Metris, and RAM ProMaster City. Here’s our take on the 2021 Ford Transit Connect Cargo van that’s soon going to be on sale in the market.
"The Transit Connect isn't the most refined machine, but it's a highly functional tool for tradespeople." - Car and Driver
The 2021 Ford Transit Connect trim levels comprise three trim options: XL. XLT & Titanium. The vehicle comes with all the safety features and driver-assists available as standard. The base XL trim starts at $28,315 while the top trim Titanium costing around $32,165. The competitive pricing and the configurable packages provided by the Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van shows why it is so popular in its segment. Ford also provides added packages to add more value to your vehicle with each trim.
The XL trim, priced at $28,315 comes with plenty of features as standard with Ford-Pass Connect, Rear cargo glass doors with wipers, One-touch power font windows and all the safety features as standard such as Automatic Headlamps, Automatic emergency brakes, Blind Spot Monitoring and Pre-collision alert.
The XLT trim comes next at $29,050. It gets a 6.5” touchscreen infotainment setup with SYNC3, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Co-Pilot 360, wireless charging. XLT trim also gets roof rails which adds to its SUV-alike looks.
The Titanium trim adds some luxury to the XLT trim at $32,165 and bundles leather-trimmed seats with 6-way power adjustments, DLRs, and Dual-zone climate control.
Model |
XL |
XLT |
Titanium |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP(CVT) |
$28,315 |
$29,050 |
$32,165 |
Key Features |
Pre-Collision Assist |
Adds to XL features |
Adds to XLT Features |
|
Automatic Emergency Braking |
SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto |
Leather Seats |
|
Auto Start-Stop Technology |
Wireless Charging |
6-way Power adjustments with Lumbar support |
|
Automatic Headlamps with Wiper-Activation and Follow-Me-Home feature |
Co-Pilot 360 Technology |
Panoramic Glass Vista Roof |
|
Ford-Pass Connect |
High-Intensity Discharge Headlamps |
SYNC3 with 6.5” LCD Touchscreen |
|
Tire Repair Kit |
Roof Rails |
Daytime Running Lamps |
|
Remote Keyless Entry |
Eco-Coach |
Quick-Clear Electric Windshield Defroster |
|
|
|
Dual-Zone Front Auto Temperature control |
We will recommend the Titanium trim from the Transit Connect Minivan lineup. All the trims come with all the safety features available, as standard, but the Transit is a vehicle built to last forever and run all day long and what you need most in long drives is not a powerful car, but a comfortable one. The Titanium trim comes with all the features from the Ford Ranger from leather powered seats to dual-zone climate control, so to cheap out for a few grand and missing they might hurt in the long run.
"The Transit Connect is only offered with front-wheel drive, but it is available with two optional four-cylinder engines." - Car and Driver
All the trims of the 2021 Ford Transit Connect come with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 162 horsepower and 144 lb.-ft. of torque connected to an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission and front-wheel drive configuration. Despite being underpowered when compared to its competitors, the Transit Connect can still tow up to 2000 pounds and a payload of 1570 pounds. The engine feels agile and offers a nice range of low-end torque for fun city driving. However, you’ll think there’s a large room for improvements in ride quality when you hit uneven pavements and tarmac.
Models |
2021 Ford Transit Connect (Expected) |
2021 Nissan NV200 S |
2021 RAM ProMaster City |
2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$24,275 |
$22,830 |
$24,430 |
$27,180 |
Engine |
2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 |
2.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 |
2.4L Naturally Aspirated Inline-4 |
2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4 |
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
RWD |
Transmission |
8-speed shiftable automatic |
Continuously Variable Speed automatic |
9-speed automatic |
9-speed shiftable automatic |
Horsepower (hp@RPM) |
162 hp @ 6500 rpm |
131 hp @ 5600 rpm |
178 hp @ 6400 rpm |
208 hp @ 5500 rpm |
Torque (lb-ft@RPM) |
144 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm |
139lb-ft @ 4800rpm |
174 lb-ft @ 3800 rpm |
258 lb-ft @ 1250 rpm |
0-60(sec) |
10.6 |
10 |
10.1 |
8.1 |
Quarter Mile (Sec) |
16.2 |
17.6 |
17.6 |
15.9 |
Top Speed (mph) |
115 MPH |
112 MPH |
113 MPH |
120 MPH |
60-0 MPH |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mercedes-Benz Metris offers the highest numbers of horsepower and torque because of its turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 which comes with rear-wheel drive and can uphold a heavier tow capacity of 5000 pounds and payload capacity of 2425 pounds all due to a more powerful engine and sturdy built-quality. Ford's 2.0-liter engine produces 162hp which allows the Transit Connect to reach from 0-60 mph in 10.6 seconds. The Transit Connect easily takes over vehicles in the city road even with full load capacity. It offers the second-largest towing capacity while Mercedes offers the best. The vehicle lacks in terms of torque when compared in the segment making it the hardest to pull in heavy traffics.
The vehicle also shows body leans around the corners due to tall body design and long wheelbase but not till a point you should push a minivan up to. Mercedes Metris offers the fastest 0-60 timing of 8.1 seconds due to its torque heavy rear-wheel-drive turbocharged engine. The Mercedes offers the highest top speed of 120MPH making it the fastest minivan in the segment.
"The EPA estimates that the Transit Connect's turbo 2.0-liter will earn up to 24 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. " - Car and Driver
The thing you look at most at in a cargo van is not power, not comfort but mileage, and the Transit Connect doesn’t disappoint. Ford offers the best mileage figures in the segment due to its naturally aspirated engine and lightweight body. The vehicle comes with a 15.8-gallon fuel tank combining with excellent mileage figures to give some nice range figures. Mileage and range are the most prominent selling points of the Ford Transit, as the cargo minivan segment thrives on these figures.
Models |
2021 Ford Transit Connect (Expected) |
2021 Nissan NV200 S |
2021 RAM ProMaster City |
2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (city) |
24 |
24 |
21 |
21 |
MPG (highway) |
27 |
26 |
28 |
24 |
MPG (combined) |
25 |
25 |
24 |
22 |
Fuel tank capacity |
15.8 gallons |
14.5 gallons |
16 gallons |
18.5 gallons |
Range (city/highway/combined) |
379/427/395 miles |
348/377/362 miles |
336/448/384 miles |
389 / 444/ 407 miles |
Ford Transit provides the best mileage in city driving, while the Ram Promaster offers better results on highways but suffers in city driving. The Metris provides the best mileage figures due to the largest fuel tank in the segment.
"As a full-size van, interior space is the best reason to buy a Transit." - Motor Trend
The 2021 Ford Transit Connect interior resembles a lot of what we see in the Ranger, from the dashboard to steering controls but the seat height is rather low, similar to what we see in a sedan rather than an SUV. The Transit also comes with dual-zone climate control with wireless charging for comfortable, worry-free long runs. The front seats are covered in leather with blue details. The seats offer large legroom but not so much thigh support. The Panoramic sunroof in the titanium combined with the huge windows all around makes the cabin airy making it the least claustrophobic, airy, and bright cabin in the segment. The interior uses hard-touch plastic but the fit and finish look clean.
The vehicle also offers better noise isolation than the competition except the Metris certainly performs better.
Models |
2021 Ford Transit Connect (Expected) |
2021 Nissan NV200 S |
2021 RAM ProMaster City |
2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris |
---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger Capacity |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
45.1/58.5/37.6 |
41.7/54.1/42.6 |
46.0/59.3/40.8 |
39.6/62.2/35.8 |
Mercedes Metris offers the most cargo space of 183cu-ft and 199 cu-ft in the long-wheelbase trim, which is exceptionally good when compared to the cargo space of 105cu-ft in the Transit. The interior of the Metris also feels like an upgrade when coming from the Transit and is much more comfortable and befitting a Benz.
The 2021 Ford Transit gets a 4.2” inch LCD touchscreen infotainment screen which is linked with the controls on the steering wheel. It also gets a 4-speaker system in the front which can be upgraded to an 8-speaker system. The infotainment screen comes with Bluetooth and USB connectivity along with SYNC 3 in the XLT and Titanium trim and supports Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto, 911 Assist, App-link. The screen is also loaded with SiriusXM Traffic & Travel-link along with satellite radio, CD player, and wireless charging.
The instrument cluster gets two analog dials with a digital display in the middle. The dials show rev count and moving speed, while the middle screen contains all the information for trip meter, mileage, temperatures, and various other vehicle settings.
"For maximum people and cargo hauling in a vehicle with the blue oval, look no further than the Transit." - Motor Trend
The Ford Transit Connect, at first sight, looks a little funky with some weird proportions and the windscreen seems to extend a little bit higher than what the front hood suggests. The vehicle on the outside looks boxy and square to make more room for the interior space. The rear sliding doors come with visible rails and open wide enough for anyone to get in. The tailgate is wide and tall making it easier to hit large size items. It also gets 16” alloy wheels which add a touch to the executive styling of the minivan. The van looks a little tall from the sides but the view in the front gets better.
The front fascia of the Transit seems to be borrowed and mixed with that of the Ford EcoSport and Fusion. The front also gets wider grilles and sleeker LED headlamps. Overall, the design doesn’t attract much but certainly couldn’t be counted as ugly.
Models |
2021 Ford Transit Connect |
2021 Nissan NV200 S |
2021 RAM ProMaster City |
2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight |
3581 lbs |
3280 lbs |
3498 lbs |
N/A |
Length |
174.2” |
186.3” |
187.1” |
202.4” |
Width |
84.1” |
68.1” |
72.1” |
75.9” |
Height |
72” |
73.7” |
74.2” |
75.2” |
Ground Clearance |
NA |
6.1” |
5.2” |
4.4” |
Wheelbase |
104.8” |
115.2” |
122.4” |
126.0” |
Ford Transit Connect comes in two wheelbase options: short and long. The wheelbase of the Ford is the smallest in the segment but still offers the most width. It is also the smallest in length when compared in the segment resulting in the poorer cargo capacity than the rest but saving body weight to increase responsiveness and mileage of the minivan.
"Ford includes a host of driver-assist active safety features on every Transit." - Car and Driver
The 2021 Ford Transit Connect hasn’t been tested by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but the similar 2019 model yielded 4 out of 5 stars on the frontal crash protection test and 5 out of 5 stars in side-protection test, held by NHTSA. The vehicle comes with many safety features and drives assists as standard. The most prominent ones are Forward-collision warning with automotive emergency brakes, Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and Lane-keep assist.
In terms of Exterior, the Metris does look better with smoother body curves and AMG style front grille while the Transit looks boxier and squarer. What gives the Metris clear win over the Transit is its ride quality, powerful performance figures, better interior and features, better towing and load-carrying capacity. The Ford Transit Connect also gives a tough competition to the Metris with lesser price tag, more brake-pedal efficiency and feedback, more capable and flexible cabin accommodation. So, the Ford Transit faces some serious competition with the Metris as compared to the rest.
The Ford Transit Connect offers more mileage and range than the ProMaster and the nominal difference in power making the Transit a more reliable and cheaper car to run than the ProMaster. The ProMaster also lacks many driver-assist and safety features that come standard in the Transit and provides no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto support, making long drives much more tedious. Ford also offers better noise isolation and well-cushioned seats than the ProMaster, making it more comfortable for long runs. Despite being more powerful, RAM recommends similar weight carrying and towing capacity than what we see in the Transit.
Ford has been consistent in improving an already superb proposition for more than a century, the Ford Transit Connect may not be the top gun coming out of the factory but it sure is the highest selling one. Transit Connect is more versatile than the competition and simultaneously more affordable which makes it the top choice for cargo minivan buyers. The vehicle can be fitted with as many features in the interior as desired and comes with most of the features and assists you’d expect from it. The cargo van certainly has some lows too, being cheap interior plastic quality, bouncy and bumpy ride with no options for engine up-gradation in any trim, but the buyers looking for a cargo minivan may care for only two things, Mileage and Cargo space, all which makes that the 2021 Ford Transit Connect very functional and optimum for various trades.