2016 Ford Transit Connect LWB Review - My FAVORITE Little Van!

[@michaelhoskins832]

Had a older version of this Transit Connect (2010, IIRC) as a work vehicle at Portland State University for many years. Lots of cargo space, and easy to park.

[@GeeEm1313]

Ha. I was doing some patrol work down at PSU today.

[@bwofficial1776]

These mini commercial vans are underrated. You don't always need a big van and it's a shame all the mini-vans are discontinued. The Transit Connect is a good-looking van and probably the best choice out of the three. Over in Europe, there's a midsize Transit Custom that fits between the Connect and the full-size Transit.

[@RIVERSIDEREVIEWS]

Totally agree, and mini-trucks too like the Ranger and S-10……. My poor Ranger isn’t going to last much longer.. Rusting into dust…

[@cafn8ed74]

I'm old enough to remember '80s tall wagons and smile fondly from my Mazda 2 whenever I see a Mazda 5 in the wild. I've seen passenger versions of these Transit Connects puttering around my area and always thought they might be decent compromise vehicles if I needed an ultra practical family hauler but didn't want to go full minivan or SUV.

[@theadvocate4698]

Love these little cargo vans! I'm gonna be converting one in a RV in some years!

[@blautens]

I have 2 neighbors who bought these - both are very happy. One is a work van and the other picked up a used one to do some camping and other stuff - it's a lot of van in a little package.

[@eisenerballer]

Put 460,000 km on my 2014 transit connect. Front wheel fell off where the steering knuckle broke but that was the only issue i had with it that wasn't my direct fault

[@Aglassact77]

Best in the “small” van class. These things run good, ride good, and have plenty of cargo space. I’ve had a Ford Winstar, GMC Safari, and now this Transit connect. The Connect is my favorite to drive so far. The Astro/Safari had great options/features, and great cargo room. But driving it wasn’t spectacular. It was leany on turns, noisy cargo area, and went through the gas. The Winstar was nice, drove ok, but very tight inside to work out of. However the Winstar before hooking on a ladder rack & ladders actually got 25 mpg, which is unheard of on a large Mini-van at the time. But still the Transit Connect’s are great little rigs, with lots to offer the Work-force. I’m loving mine so far. I do wish they offered an All wheel drive option, it would be Epic!

[@damilolaakanni]

I think the SkyActive engines are different from the Duratec engines, so much that the only thing common between them is the displacement (2.5 litres).

[@meowymeowerton2820]

I have a 2016 Titanium. My absolute favorite vehicle ever!! And use the cupholders in the front door. It fits lol!!!

[@Trance88]

I've always liked this size class of van. I think these would make GREAT little modern conversion vans.

[@jordanbloomfield]

If you can find one of the transit connect with passenger seats in the back I’d love to see that! See how it compares to the big 4 popular minivans, or compare it to three row compact suvs

[@blautens]

So these are made in Spain and shipped over as passenger vans to avoid the 25% tax, then converted to cargo vans in the US. I would think there should be a bunch of seats floating around some place.

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

You guys are looking for the Ford Transit Connect -Wagon-.

[@kc9scott]

My local Ford dealer still uses one of those as their shuttle. I've ridden in it several times, and it works fine for that.

[@WH05DAT]

There's the Tourneo Connect for that. Can also get a second row of seats here in UK

[@Foxonian]

At my workplace, the maintenance dept. uses these Transit Connect mini vans (with a ladder rack mounted on the roof) as emergency response vehicles. They have full size Transit vans as their main work vehicles.

[@wigletron2846]

IIRC some of these could be had with the 2.0t out of the Focus ST

[@damilolaakanni]

During this era Ford was trying to make their cars look the same globally, so they redesigned several of their cars to look like their counterparts in Europe. For example, the last generation of the Ranger was the same design globally with a few differences for each market (engines, transmissions, trims, styling changes etc.). I think they called it the "One Ford" program.

[@winstonmiu]

I like your reviews of niche vehicles!

[@davidp2888]

Saw tons of these when I was in England years ago.

[@alanonsr3942]

this little van is awesome in my opinion -- I'm a musician and it hauls my gear and me very nicely. It's also 3/4 ton for weight capacity. That's pretty generous for a vehicle this size. However, I'vd learned from others they are NOT very forgiving. Don't overload them, and be sure to change your fluids appropriately, and it should last a long time

[@WH05DAT]

I've got a 2009 and a 2019. Both LWB. Absolutely love them, both manual transmissions (I'm in UK) - The 2019 handles like a car and they can both fit two motorcycles (a bit tight, but rather that then a bigger van) - keep up with oil changes 3-5k and they'll look after you 😎 Avoid wet belt versions, or convert them to chains when it's due a change

[@jacko2815]

What ones better mate I got MK1 connect looking at possiblly getting mk2

[@Dankcatvacs]

I rode in a transit 250 and was pretty impressed by the quietness and fuel economy

[@sailingspark9748]

I just purchased a 2017 Transit Connect Wagon. The people hauler "MPV" version. Better interior, back seats, windows all around, roll down windows in the sliding doors and a big moonroof. The idea is to convert this nicer version into a small weekender camper van for taking my kayaks and sailing dinghies out far from home and still have a place to comfortably sleep for a couple of days. I thought of getting the cargo version like this, but all of them seem a bit beaten up by uncaring employees and got indifferent maintenance by the owners.

[@fabyrbl8177]

the "2013" transit is based on the european ford fusion, that is based on a fiesta, so the 2016 one being based on a focus is a big big bonus

[@bazilwreckerloughead]

We have one just like this at work for small deliveries of moulding for building.

[@fabyrbl8177]

i can't wait for you to review a vw caddy from the mid 2000s

[@VitaliyKofman]

My company operates 10 of these - great vans! Strange to have windows at the back since anything valuable will be stolen...

[@RIVERSIDEREVIEWS]

Because they can’t break the windows in the front just as easily?

[@VitaliyKofman]

@@RIVERSIDEREVIEWS They can, just decreases the chance :)

[@jacko2815]

​@@RIVERSIDEREVIEWSusually have a bulkhead to then get through to get to the tools ect in the back

[@WILDINO14]

I love it I use it to transport my motorcycle anywhere 🎉

[@TheIncredibleJumpman]

I've driven the passenger version of this, definitely an odd little van. Closest thing I can think of would be a mazda5.

[@mattwolf7698]

I occasionally drive a 2022 at my work, it's a nice van. I hate that they discontinued this in the US. It doesn't even make sense to me, I see trade people using these all over my city. I'm guessing the profit margin on this just wasn't high enough.

[@WookieDrives]

The transmissions are weak in them unfortunately. Not as bad as the Focus' PowerShift or the NV200's CVT, but they cab be a pain for those who use them for work.

[@JoseNunez1]

Can you put a standard pallet in the back?

[@RIVERSIDEREVIEWS]

Working as an owner operator delivery driver ina ford ranger. Would love one of these… or… A Honda CR-Z… my poor Ranger is rusting apart I’ll have to find affordable solution soon or else I’ll be on a Yamaha Zuma125 or Honda Trail as my delivery vehicle.

[@weegeemike]

Ford did a good job of beating the competition to the market with these as they were one of if not the first, European style "city" (small) commercial vans available in North America. I remember thinking when they first came out that they were too small and not capable enough to meet the demans of the American tradesman. Boy was I wrong, you see these around EVERYWHERE. I have no problem with thos segment and I can see the economic and convenience benefits of a small cargo van, but I'm not a fan of the Euro style full size vans that have come to replace the more truck-like, American style pickup based vans of the past. I really am not a huge fan of how skinny they are nor do I like the extremely tall, high rood models. My uncle has owned vans for years for his business and, as a Mopar guy, always bought the old B series vans back in the day. Sadly, Dodge was the first Amerixan make to sell the then-new, Mercedes based Sprinter, years before the new Fiat-based ProMaster. As a result dodge was off his list back in 2012 for looking for a newer used. Economize (now E series) Fords vans were common and plentiful especially back then when they were still in production as a VAN (Ford still makes them as a cutaway chassis) but he hates Ford due to having several junk Fords back in the day, so he had to break his 40 year Mopar loyalty streak to buy a Chevy. For some reason, GM was really weird there for a period with the engine choices in the Express vans...most 1500s had the 4.3 V6 which was really underpowered for such a big van, especially when hauling. After searching for months he couldn't track down a 1500 with a V8 so he had to step up to a 2500 with the 4.8 (his is an '08). Then when you jumped up to the 3500 you could get the 5.3 and sometimes the 6.0. Why didn't they just do engine options like the trucks? 1500s: 4.3/4.8/5.3; 2500s: 5.3/6.0, 3500: 6.0 or DURAMAX 6.6 and maybe even the big block 8.1 when it was available...sorry for the ramble I needed to get this off my chest somewhere. Great video and review as always Zack.

[@GeeEm1313]

I'm that companies have replaced the big hulking E-Series type vans. All companies need are a Transit or a NV200.

[@seanmcgivney7631]

All it needs is a mattress.

[@eddiefalcon8316]

Great vid Zack. Rolodex?? Have you ever seen one in person 😂

[@MrFlyingmonkeypants]

I wondered the same thing 😜😂

[@23ginger]

I wish Toyota or Honda made a mini cargo van because I would 100% buy one. I’ve always liked the transit connect from a type of car stand point but would I buy it? No as I don’t trust that it is reliable enough to handle what I put my Hondas and Toyotas through . I know they can take a beating but fords not so much lol

[@RIVERSIDEREVIEWS]

Both Toyota and Honda sell minivans like this. Just take the seats out.

[@Maddie2u]

But yeah more,$$$$$ too!

[@runoflife87]

Well, Ford of Еurope had similar vans (both cargo and passenger) since late 80's. The also had decent minivan - Ford Galaxy (later S-Max too).

[@damilolaakanni]

The Ford Galaxy was a joint venture with Volkswagen, I believe theirs was called the Sharan.

[@Scoobawoo]

the ford transit was to europe what the ford econoline van was to america

[@runoflife87]

@@damilolaakanni absolutely right.

[@runoflife87]

@@Scoobawoo still it was sometimes way too big for in-town delivery. That's why Ford used their Escort mk V platform to build smaller cargo van. I just wonder why it wasn't sold in the US by early 90's.

[@Scoobawoo]

@@runoflife87 probably didnt meet USDOT regulations at the time and also the chicken tax is the main reason we didnt get alot of small vans and trucks from europe and still dont

[@mando1407]

I drove these on the ramp for ups

[@JamesMJaime]

Uses these as delivery vans for this little paint company and I always hated them. The F-150's we had also weren't any better.

[@NERDLYFE-es9ef]

Why hated ?

[@dave11686]

Very cool

[@davidrivera778]

I'm thinking about camper project rail on top for tent little ladder on back door inside u seats with TV popping down from the back door ps5 and portable ac with two battery packs to run that ps5 tv and portable ac for least 8hours straight.

[@scaryman101086]

Yeah the dodge is more like a fiat doblo shte box. No wonder its only problems.

[@JakeTerch]

I worked at Chick-fil-A back in high school and college. Our franchise operator bought one of these for marketing events and catering deliveries, and I have many memories driving it wearing my shirt and tie (assistant manager uniform) and jamming loudly to music while the smell of nuggets permeated the entire cabin! 🚐 🐔

[@Maddie2u]

😂