2020 Ford Transit Connect

In the cargo hauler segment, there's not much competition to deal with. The Nissan NV200 lacks power to really be any worth, the Ram ProMaster gets a better engine, but still has the infotainment from the 90s, the Mercedes Metris is way too expensive for a work van and GMC Savana has been due for an update for a long time. Let's see if the Ford is the best minivan for you.

Unlike the Passenger minivan, the Cargo does not get a premium Titanium trim level. The base trim is the XL starting at $24,100 which comes with rudimentary features that you'd need from a fleet vehicle to the XLT trim at $26,045 which gets added functionality through more tech rich features like multi-function displays and dual-zone temperature control.

Trim	Transit Connect Cargo XL	Transit Connect Cargo XLT
MSRP	$24,100	$26,045
Key Features	QuickClear Electric Windshield Defroster - Includes Heated Washer Jets and Power Adjust, Heated Exterior Mirrors	Front-Row Manual Climate Control
	Front-Row Manual Climate Control	Dual-Zone Front Auto Temperature Control
	Remote Keyless-Entry with 2 Key Fobs	Remote Keyless-Entry with 2 Key Fobs
	4-Spoke Steering Wheel	Premium Carpeted Floor Mats
	Rear Cargo Area Light LED	4.2" LCD Multi-function display with steering wheel controls
	AM/FM Stereo with audio input jack	AM/FM Stereo, single-CD player, and audio input jack
	Power Adjust, Heated Exterior Mirrors with Manual Fold Black	SYNC 3with rearview camera - includes AM/FM Stereo, single-CD player, HD Radio,SiriusXM satellite radio, SYNC with USB, 6.5" LCD touch screen with Navigation
	Daytime Running Lamps	Front Fog Lamps

We Recommend

If you're planning to spend more than a significant portion of your day behind the wheel the XLT trim is highly recommended, because basic features like Climate control and an infotainment screen are much needed in a modern day minivan.

Known for generally responsive handling and nicely weighted steering, and for a small van, the Transit Connect delivers those qualities. - Edmunds

With a tiny 2.0L inline-4 engine that makes 162 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque, the Ford Transit Connect is a heavy-duty fleet vehicle. However, the headlining the release of the 2020 Transit Connect, is the new 1.5L turbo diesel engine - the only diesel engine available in the minivan segment. Aside from that, the Ford is also available with a 2.5L inline-4 which runs on Compressed Natural Gas. The front wheel drive minivan is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Models	Ford Transit Connect cargo van XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo van	Nissan NV200 Compact cargo S minivan	Ram Promaster City Tradesman cargo minivan	Chevrolet City Express LS minivan
MSRP	$25,295	$26,570	$23,245	$25,740	$23,850
Engine	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	2.4L i4	2.0L i4
Transmission	8 Speed automatic	7 Speed automatic	Continuously variable-speed automatic	9 Speed automatic	Continuously variable-speed automatic
Horsepower	162 hp@ 6500rpm	208 hp@ 5500rpm	131 hp@ 5600rpm	178 hp@ 6400rpm	131 hp@ 5200rpm
Torque	144 ft-lbs@ 4500rpm	258 ft-lbs@ 1250rpm	139 ft-lbs@ 4800rpm	174 ft-lbs@ 3800rpm	139 ft-lbs@ 4900rpm

Comparatively, the minivans like Nissan NV200 and the GMC Savana are severely underpowered for the task at hand, while the Ram ProMaster City Tradesman is a powerful minivan sporting a 178 hp and 174 lb-ft 2.4L inline-4 engine mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox.

Acceleration

Minivans aren't great at accelerating considering the hefty weight they carry and their low horsepower engines, however, the Ford Transit minivan takes a little more than 10 seconds in the sprint to 60 miles an hour, pretty impressive considering the sheer amount of weight it needs to haul.

Models	Mercedes Metris Cargo van	Ford Transit Connect cargo van XL	Nissan NV200 S minivan	Ram Promaster City Tradesman cargo minivan	Chevrolet City Express LS minivan
0-60 MPH	7.9 seconds*	10.1	10	N/A	N/A
Quarter mile	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Engine	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	2.4L i4	2.0L i4
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	8.4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

In comparison, the powerful Ram ProMaster City Tradesman is the fastest one through the 60 mph sprint while the Nissan NV200 with its tiny engine barely manages to hit 60. The Acceleration figures won't matter much if your intention for these minivans is to use them as fleet vehicles, but it helps as you pull away from stop signs or intersections.

Ride and Handling

You can't expect a minivan to handle poise and grace like a Porsche, however, the Ford Transit Connect does a pretty good job eating up bumps and undulations like breakfast. On the downside, the soft suspension lacks the rigidity needed to tackle tight corners at high speeds as well as swift acceleration or braking, leading to body roll.

Despite the compliant suspension, it fails to isolate the cabin from stray jerks and vibrations. As a fleet vehicle, the Ford is a very effective hauler with great city driving as well as highway cruising. Maneuvering the massive minivan is quite a feat in cramped parking lots and crowded city streets.

Braking

The Ford comes with 12.1-inch both at the back and the front, it may not be the best, but it gets the job done. Continuous usage through the day doesn't cause any brake fade and upon emergency braking, the Transit connect handles the weight transfer quite effectively.

Model	Mercedes Metris Cargo van	Ford Transit Connect cargo van XL	Nissan NV200 S minivan	Ram Promaster City Tradesman cargo minivan	Chevrolet City Express LS minivan
Brake Front (in.)	11.8	12.1	N/A	12	N/A
Brake Rear (in.)	11	12.1	N/A	10	N/A
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4222	3650	3273	3509	3260
60-0 MPH (ft.)	119*	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

In contrast, Nissan NV cargo has the biggest brakes at 14.2 inches in the front and 14.4 inches at the rear. It is also the heaviest at 5,817 pounds almost 1,000 pounds heavier than Ford Transit cargo van and 600 pounds heavier than Chevrolet and GMC.

The Transit Connect is among the most efficient vehicles of the lot. It can cover 24 miles for a gallon of fuel within city limits. If you go cruising on the highway, the number elevates to 27 Miles per gallon as there are fewer mechanical intrusions and thus, the mileage increases.  With a combined mileage of 25 MPG, the Transit Connect stands out of the lot with the best figures here. 

Models	Ford Transit Connect cargo van XL	Mercedes Metris Cargo van	Nissan NV200 S minivan	Ram Promaster City Tradesman cargo minivan	Chevrolet City Express LS minivan
MPG (city)	24	21	24	21	24
MPG (Highway)	27	24	26	28	26
MPG (Combined)	25	22	25	24	25

All the vehicles are almost equally matched here. However, if observed with a keen eye, it's the Ford that takes the crown for offering the best mileage here, be it city or highways. That said, the NV200 and the Chevy offer the same mileage, essentially because they are twins with just different badges. However, both of them stay slightly behind the Transit.

The quality of the front cabin matches that of a modern compact car, though the van origins show through in a few of the hard plastics and extra-tough fittings, especially in the rear seats of the passenger versions. - Car and Driver

Seating and Comfort

The front cockpit and passenger seat comes with cloth upholstery and extra padding for a comfortable ride throughout the day. Getting in and out of the van as well as all-round visibility is excellent, thanks to the wide entrances, huge front windshield and ergonomic seating position.

Model	Mercedes Metris Cargo van	Ford Transit Connect cargo van XL	Nissan NV200 S minivan	Ram Promaster City Tradesman cargo minivan	Chevrolet City Express LS minivan
Passenger capacity	2	2	2	2	2
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	39.6/NA/35.8	46.9/57.7/41.5	41.7/54.1/42.6	46.0/59.3/40.8	41.7/54.1/42.6
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	-	-	-	-	-

The Ford and the Mercedes are the most spacious minivans of the lot with plenty of legroom as well as shoulder room for the occupants, meanwhile the Nissan NV200 Compact feels significantly cramped in comparison to the Ford Transit Connect.

Cargo Capacity

Despite the massive size, the Ford does not have the best cargo capacity in the segment. With the sole objective of hauling cargo, the Ford lacks the practicality you might find in larger minivans like the Ram ProMaster.

Model	Mercedes Metris Cargo van	Ford Transit Connect cargo van XL	Nissan NV200 S minivan	Ram Promaster City Tradesman cargo minivan	Chevrolet City Express LS minivan
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	183	103.9	122.7	131.7	`122.7

Infotainment System

The Ford's cabin is decked out with a whole host of creature comforts and updated technology like the Sync 3 system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system is easy to use and intuitive. This year Ford has made the system even more responsive and added standard features like navigation, phone connectivity, and WiFi hotspot.

Interior Features

Some of the key highlights of the 2020 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van are:

• 4-Spoke Steering Wheel
• Driver sun visor and passenger sun visor
• Front Dome lighting
• Front Row Full-Width Overhead Storage Shelf with Grab Handles
• Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• Six-way Manual Driver Seat and 4-way Manual Passenger Seat 
• Front-Row Manual Climate Control
• Rear Cargo Area Light - Halogen

Ford's designers have done a good job with what is essentially a large box with a car-like front end, and we think it strikes the right balance between function and flair. - Car Connection

Design and Dimensions

The Ford's design is a departure form the common boxy designs of bread and butter minivans like the GMC Savana or the awkward designs of the Nissan NV200 and the Ram ProMaster. The Ford Transit Connect gets pleasing aesthetics in the front fascia from the Ford Fusion. The car-like minivan is also available in a long-wheelbase version, for added practicality and cargo space.

Model	Mercedes Metris Cargo van	Ford Transit Connect cargo van XL	Nissan NV200 S minivan	Ram Promaster City Tradesman cargo minivan	Chevrolet City Express LS minivan
Curb weight (lbs.)	4222	3650	3273	3509	3260
Length(in)	202.4	173.9	186.3	187.1	186.3
Width(in)	75.9	72.2	68.1	72.1	68.1
Height(in)	75.2	72.6	73.7	74.2	73.7
Ground clearance (in)	4.4	6.0	6.1	5.2	6.1
Wheelbase (in)	126	104.8	115.2	122.4	115.2
Track width (in) F/R	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

The Ford minivan is the shortest van of the lot, while the Nissan NV200 is the narrowest minivan, which aids maneuverability in tight spots. All minivans have quite good ground clearance, while the Ram sits low to the ground and also towers the highest among the competition.

Exterior Features

• 180° Swing-Out Rear Cargo Doors
• Automatic Headlamps with Wiper-Activated Headlamps and Follow-Me-Home Feature
• Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs)
• Integrated Spotter Mirrors
• Rain-Sensing Front Wipers
• Dual Sliding Side Doors
• Windshield Wipers - Front Variable Intermittent Front Wipers
• Manual Adjust Exterior Mirrors with Manual Fold – Black

• Advancetrac w/Roll Stability Control Electronic Stability...
• ABS And Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Forward Collision Warning
• Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Front Airbags
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor
• Rear Child Safety Locks
• Safety Canopy System Curtain 1st, 2nd And 3rd Row Airbags
• Outboard Front Lap And Shoulder Safety Belts -inc: Height...
• Back-Up Camera

2020 Ford Transit Connect vs Mercedes-Benz Metris

The Mercedes Metris is larger than a common minivan but not up to full size van standards. Compared to the Ford Transit Connect, the Metris is a much more expensive option, but for that price, you get a better drivetrain, bigger cargo bay and more facilities in the cabin. At a tighter budget the Ford is a perfectly viable alternative with a smaller hauling capacity.

2020 Ford Transit Connect vs Ram ProMaster City Tradesman

The Ram ProMaster is the toughest rival the Ford Transit Connect faces, it comes with more power and a larger cargo bay the basic necessities of an effective hauler. However, Ford makes up for that with a better cabin and high-tech infotainment. Ram also lacks a diesel engine which Ford introduced for 2020. The turbodiesel adds punchy torque to the lower rvs and increases the payload capacity significantly, making it a better choice for you.

2020 Ford Transit Connect vs Chevrolet City Express

The Chevrolet City Express is essentially a Nissan NV200 with the front grille replaced with a Chevy badge. As underpowered as the Nissan, the City Express with the 131 hp engine stays true to its name, it works well in the city but fails to deliver on highways. The interiors are much better in the Ford Transit Connect and the infotainments feel from different decades. Ford is the obvious choice between the two.

The Ford Transit Connect is a dependable minivan with comfortable interiors and a tech-rich cabin. However, in terms of practicality i.e. cargo capacity, the Ford lags behind the rival minivans. Apart from that, the Ford is a very modern and powerful minivan which can handle any obstacle you throw at it. The prime highlight of the Transit is the amazing ride quality and handling in the city.