Ford calls the new Transit Connect a wagon, but let's face it: it's not a wagon at all. Instead, it's a seven-seater minivan starting at $25,000 with a 2.5 four-cylinder, or a bit more with the 1.6-liter Ecoboost.
Honestly, the first thing Ford wants you to do with the 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon is the following:
Think of the all-new 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon as the #unminivan.
Got that? Are you #thinking about #it now as #the #unminivan? Fantastic. Now, here's what matters:
The Transit Connect Wagon will be available in two wheelbase lengths. On the short-wheelbase, the second row flips, folds or can be removed entirely, leaving 77.1 cubic feet of space behind the first row with the second-row seats flipped forward, and 46.9 cubic feet behind the second row.
The long-wheelbase, seven-passenger model's second- and third-row seats fold flat. It has 104.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row (with the second and third row folded flat), or around 60 cubic feet with passengers in the second row.
The sliding side doors are standard of course, but as for the rear, you have the option of a liftgate or side-hinged doors. Ford's minivan also offers a load capacity of 1,270 pounds.
As for the engines, the 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg on the highway, while the 1.6 Ecoboost can do 29 mpg. Both are linked to a six-speed automatic.
Ford says the Transit Connect's roominess is exceptional, too, with 46.8, 45.1 and 41.3 inches of headroom at the back. There's also a lot of extra storage space and a long list of customization options, while build quality should be great thanks to the claimed 3 million test miles they put into it during engineering.
As far as the gadgets go, the Transit is packed with airbags all around and can be equipped with a rear view camera and ultrasonic forward and rear-sensing systems displaying color-coded guidelines on the dash, which can come handy when towing.
Not bad, but I still think it's a minivan.