2021 Ford Transit Connect

As with any vehicle, the 2021 Ford Transit Connect also faces strict competition from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz Metris, the Nissan NV200, and the RAM ProMaster City - all the vans providing extreme utility to the intended audience, along with lots of value that each of these brings in. 

The Ford Transit Connect is available in three trim levels - XL. XLT, and Titanium - which start at an MSRP of $28,795 and stretch all the way up to $32,995. For this, the van is very well equipped and comes standard with all the features that are deemed important for the task it is intended to do. One thing to note is the top-of-the-range Titanium trim is only available as a passenger van, while the others can be had in cargo van configuration as well. 

Speaking of the options on offer, Smoker’s Package and Trailer Tow Package are available as standard throughout the range whereas the XLT trim gets another package called the XLT Premium that patches in HID headlamps, mid vehicle overhead console, leather-trimmed seats, and 16" alloy wheels to the trim. 

Which trim should you buy?

The base XL trim offers a lot of versatility for the money it demands but we recommend stepping up to the XLT trim because of all the additions it makes to the van in terms of comfort, safety, and also in terms of the options that it can add on. Another great thing about the XLT remains the fact that it can be had in both cargo and passenger configurations, further increasing its versatility. 

The Ford Transit Connect comes with only one engine configuration under its hood - a naturally aspirated 2.0L Inline-4 which is good for producing 162 horsepower and 144 lb-ft of torque and is paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox sending power to the rear wheels only. Another engine is available on offer but is specifically reserved for fleet customers. This engine is 2.5L Inline-4 which is essentially a bumped-up variant of the standard engine and now produces 169 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque. Everything else remains the same. 

From all the vans, the Metris is the only one that is turbocharged which gives it a lot of advantage when it comes to performance and acceleration. These vans aren’t really meant to be the fastest but an acceleration test does let the reader know how exciting the vans can be, despite their intended job. The ford and the Nissan are very similar in terms of acceleration, while the RAM does a better job than both.

How well does the 2021 Ford Transit Connect handle?

The Transit Connect is a relatively easy van to drive with light steering and ease of maneuverability despite its massive size. The door mirrors are huge and provide a very clear idea of what’s behind and the seats are comfortable and are an ideal fit for daily use but long hauls might feel a bit of a stretch. 

The driving position is nice as the driver sits high and gets a wide view of the road in front. The engine has got a decent amount of performance in it, making overtakes convenient. The gearbox is smooth and aids in overall driveability. And this Ford van comes with an individual suspension at the front that makes the ride pretty good at the driver end which is a must for long hauls.

2021 Ford Transit Connect Braking Performance

The 2021 Ford Transit Connect boasts 12.1-inch rotors on all four discs for the stopping duties. These rotors do a fantastic job of maintaining the van’s posture whenever the pedal is floored. Adding to this is the ABS that increases functionality and the safety net of the brakes. There is no nosedive and the braking feels sure-footed. The brake pedals do an impressive job of instilling confidence in the driver by giving rather accurate feedback, without too much play. 

The Ford Transit Connect boasts of the biggest rotors in the competition but is also on the heavier side when compared to the Nissan and the RAM. Although the braking performance data of the latter two aren’t available, we do expect them to take slightly longer to brake due to the smaller size, but still, stop short of the much heavier Ford. 

The 2021 Ford Transit Connect’s engine is a naturally-aspirated motor that is rather favorable for fuel economy. This is solidified by the EPA’s rating of 22 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on the highway, for a combined 27 MPG from its 15.8-gallon fuel tank. The MPG estimates are impressive considering the loads the van will be carrying, but the rivals do one-up the Transit Connect, as shown in the table below:

The Nissan NV200 aces the fuel economy kudos to the efficient engine-CVT gearbox combination that it runs but the overall range takes a hit due to the rather small 12-gallon fuel tank. Apart from this, the RAM ProMaster City is meant to carry cargo/people for a longer distance due to its impressive fuel economy and big fuel tank. 

To start off with, getting into the 2021 Ford Transit Connect is easy and a high step-up isn’t needed. The cabin is designed to be more car-like than a van with cloth upholstery that provides a lot of comfort and breathability. The dashboard is decorated with ergonomically placed controls which make the overall design language modern. All the controls and displays are appropriate to survive the tough commercial tasks the Transit Connect is assigned. 

The seats are fairly supportive and feel comfortable with a lot of head clearance. The quality of the materials used is comparable to that of a compact car, which is a significant improvement over the previous models. There are some hard plastics, obviously, but all of that comes as expected after all. 

In terms of comfort, the RAM ProMaster City leads the competition with the most legroom and headroom on offer, and the Transit Connect comes in a close second place. Talking of the cargo capacity, Metris offers much more than any of the others have to offer. Having said that, some of the highlighting features of the Transit Connect’s interior are:

• Vinyl flooring
• Carpeted flooring
• Dual-zone climate control
• Vinyl-trimmed sun visors
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Locking Glove Box 

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Ford Transit Connect is available with a 6.5" LCD touchscreen from the XLT trim onwards. This infotainment loads in features like AM/FM/XM radio, satellite 911 assist, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. There are 2 USB ports for charging and a FordPass connect wi-fi hotspot, powered by AT&T. 

Ford also offers Bluetooth that allows seamless mobile connection for music streaming as well as hands-free calling. Ford’s SYNC 3 is available which enables navigation with real-time traffic and weather updates. Some of the highlighting features of this system are:

• 6.5-inch touchscreen
• Smart-Charging USB Ports
• MP3 Player
• Bluetooth
• SiriusXM 
• Ford SYNC 3

The 2021 Ford Transit Connect is a typical van in all senses of the word. To the front, it houses a very familiar face with some funky style elements like the stretched-out headlights and the big grille upfront housing the company’s logo. The windscreen is wide suggesting a good view from the inside and the overall shape of the van remains very boxy to make room for people inside. The sides and the rear are typical of a van and overall, the Transit makes a good-looking package, considering the audience it aims at. 

The Transit Connect has the most width that justifies the shoulder room on offer but when it comes to the length and the height, it falls short of every other van in the competition, directly resulting in smaller cargo capacity. Apart from that, the Transit boasts of a smaller wheelbase as well which eats up the cargo capacity as well but makes it more maneuverable around the city. Some of the highlights of the Transit Connect’s exterior are:

• Tall-boy stance
• Halogen headlights
• Fog lights
• 15-inch wheels
• Sliding doors

Ford has not skimped when it comes to the 2021 Transit Connect’s safety features that are on offer. It is equipped with all the necessary safety aids like ABS, multiple airbags, stability control, etc along with advanced features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking from the base trim onwards. The higher trims add Ford Co-Pilot360 that further enhance the safety specs by adding:

• Automatic high beams 
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning 
• Lane-keeping assist

As for the safety ratings, the NHTSA has awarded the Transit Connect Wagon with a 4-Star rating, which is applicable to the cargo van as well due to the fact that these are literally the same vans, just used for different purposes. 

2021 Ford Transit Connect Vs. Mercedes-Benz Metris: 

The Mercedes-Benz Metris is a larger van than the Transit Connect and also boasts of better performance due to the turbocharged engine under its hood but despite that, it provides lesser fuel economy than the Transit on the highways. Also, the Ford boasts a lot of safety features on offer by way of the Co-Pilot360 system.

2021 Ford Transit Connect Vs. Nissan NV200

The Ford Transit boasts of better front-en legroom and overall space and provides more range than the Nissan despite the latter’s impressive fuel economy figures that are let down by a smaller fuel tank. Also, the Transit has a clear power advantage over the NV200 which translates to better-towing capability.

2021 Ford Transit Connect Vs. RAM ProMaster City

The RAM offers very similar capabilities to the Transit despite weighing less due to the more powerful engine. It is also the better handler and has a very quick response to inputs. The Transit, on the other hand, is a more comfortable van that has well-cushioned seats and better safety in terms of the advanced driver aids on offer.

The Ford Transit Connect is the go-to van for someone who is looking to make a fleet purchase. The Transit brings in an ideal mix of value, performance, and utility for the businesses that are solidified by many happy owners and positive ownership reviews.