Ford Transit Connect

At 70.6mpg the Transit Connect 95PS 1.6 diesel is 13mpg up on its big rival, the VW Caddy

Ford Transit Connect 3m load

A flap in the front bulkhead allows even the short wheelbase van to carry 3m pipes

It’s difficult to argue against the logic.

I drove a 95PS 1.6 diesel short wheelbase model (L1) and the van pinged along as if you were driving a large hatchback. Except there was a half load tied down behind the fixed metal bulkhead.

Then there’s the brilliant load carrying ability.

There’s a flap that opens in the bulkhead which allows you to carry 3m long pipes or planks of wood. It’s facilitated by a passenger seat that folds down. The seatback is scolloped so that pipes don’t roll around in transit.

If you opt for the L2 long wheelbase model this can take 3.4m lengths. While both vans can take two Europallets in their stride, the L2 can have one Europallet loaded from the side door (although you have to be careful how you pack it to avoid the curvature of the steel bulkhead).

You can also stack 8×4 boards in the L2 model – as Andy says, “Why would you need a bigger van?”

In terms of cost of ownership, the new Ford Transit Connect should save operational expenditure. It’s simply better on fuel.

The new Transit Connect ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi 95PS model has a combined economy of 70.6mpg. At £1.40 per gallon of diesel, that’s a fuel cost of £7200 compared to VW Caddy 1.6 TDi BlueMotion at 57.6mpg with a fuel cost of £8833 (based on a four-year / 80,000 mile lifecycle).

Ford Transit Connect 2 pallet capacity

Short and long-wheelbase versions will take two pallets, but you can load one through the side door of the long wheelbase van

The old Transit Connect was a byword for toughness. So too must the new one, so Ford has put the new Transit Connect through more than 5 million km of specific commercial vehicle testing before it went on sale.

As well as the 95PS L1 Transit Connect, I drove the Cab-in-Van option with the same engine option. With five seats, no bulkhead and more window area it felt – inevitably – far more spacious in the interior, giving SME van fleet operators the ability to move men and their equipment around.

And the L1 version fitted with the 1.0t EcoBoost petrol engine. While I’m a great fan of the engine in the Ford passenger car range (click here to see why), it’s difficult to see this gaining any traction in the small trade van market – especially as there is no price differential to tempt buyers. Despite the fact it adds an additional dose of three-cylinder fun to the van.

Andy Barratt sees it differently. “We think there will be demand, albeit small. We think small businesses operating locally where mileage isn’t an issue will find the lower cost of petrol appealing.

“It also won’t have any diesel particulate filter issues due to those continual short journeys. So it will have a place on the UK’s roads, we’re sure about that.”

Hmmm, still not convinced Andy, although the particulate filter issue is a good point.

But what’s undeniable is that we’ll see plenty of Transit Connects on the road. Like the new Transit Custom, it’s too good to ignore.

Click here for our full Business Vans review of the Transit Connect.

Ford Transit Connect range

Here’s how the Transit Connect fits into the rest of the Ford Transit range

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