Ford Transit Connect Review 2025: Price, specs & load capacity

Written by Phill Tromans
Quick overview
Pros
- All-round improvement over earlier models
- Plug-in hybrid option adds appeal
- Clever 'FlexCab' seating option
Cons
- Some rivals have larger payloads
- No electric option
- Small choice of engines
Overall verdict on the Ford Transit Connect
“There’s a lot to like about the Ford Transit Connect – there are several body variants to choose from, the engines are strong and there’s a good amount of equipment included. The availability of a plug-in hybrid version is a notable plus, too. However, it’s not a slam-dunk leader of the pack."

The driving experience, while refined, doesn’t feel as agile as the old Transit Connect. The engine choice is small, there’s no electric model and the payload, while decent, isn’t as good as some rivals. For some, they might find that the Transit Connect’s boundaries lie outside their requirements where others fit very nicely. For those that do match its strengths and abilities, however, it’s a very decent bit of kit.
The Ford Transit Connect has been a favourite for more than 20 years now, and this third-generation model has been on sale since 2021. Under the surface, it shares much with the latest Volkswagen Caddy, which is no bad thing, because the Caddy is itself based on the Volkswagen Golf. As well as the various van variants it’s also available as a passenger car called the Tourneo Connect.
In theory, then, the Transit Connect is a car-based van, but Ford hasn’t just taken a Focus and blanked out the windows – it should drive like a car but have the practicality of a purpose-built van. Can that give it a boost in its battle against its small-van rivals? They’re numerous, and include the Caddy, the Citroen Berlingo, the Vauxhall Combo and the Peugeot Partner, not to mention the Mercedes-Benz Citan and the Renault Kangoo.
In case you’re not clear on the Ford Transit naming scheme, the Transit Connect sits above the Transit Courier in size, but below the Transit Custom.
The Ford Connect is available in short-wheelbase L1 and long-wheelbase L2 sizes, with three engine options including a plug-in hybrid, and the possibility of adding a nifty 'FlexCab' flexible five-seater cabin with a folding rear bench.
Looking for a used van for sale? We've got 100s of Ford Approved Used Cars for Sale for you to choose from, including a wide range of Ford Transit Connect vans for sale. If you're looking for the old model, you can check out our Ford Transit Connect (2013-2022) review.
Is the Ford Transit Connect right for you?
What’s the best Ford Transit Connect model/engine to choose?
What other cars are similar to the Ford Transit Connect?
Comfort and design: Ford Transit Connect interior
"The Ford Transit Connect’s cabin has a very contemporary and dare-we-say stylish look. It's very practical, too"

There's a digital driver’s display and touchscreen infotainment system that dominates the cockpit-like dashboard. As you’d expect of this size, it’s pretty car-like, with a long dashboard and steeply sloping windscreen.
It is, of course, all but identical to the cabin of the Volkswagen Caddy. Which is a good thing in terms of its stylish design, but less good in terms of some of the user-interface choices, like the frankly rubbish touch-sensitive temperature controls on the bottom edge of the infotainment screen bezel, which we've spent years moaning about when testing other VW vehicles.
More importantly, though, it's a very practical interior full of useful cubby holes and should provide sufficient comfort to ease you through a long day at work on the road.
Quality and finish
Infotainment: Touchscreen, USB, nav and stereo in the Ford Transit Connect
Space and practicality: Ford Transit Connect boot space
Handling and ride quality: What is the Ford Transit Connect like to drive?
"The Transit Connect is car-sized, car-derived and, you’ll be surprised to hear, drives like a car, too. It’s unremarkable when judged by car standards, but for a van, it feels alert and lively, comfortable enough for a whole day of zipping about, and confidence inspiring and stable at high speeds."

Initially, we tried the lesser-powered diesel engine in the short-wheelbase L1, which has enough torque for nippy progress around town and just about enough grunt to get up to motorway speeds, but this was with an empty load bay – if you’ve got serious weight in the back then the gruntier diesel would be worth checking out. The manual gearbox is light and direct, and only available with the less powerful engine.
The plug-in hybrid is pokey enough to make for effortless progress, but again, we tried it completely unladen. Fully loaded, it might start to feel a little sluggish. It's certainly very relaxing to drive when the engine shuts off and the electric motor takes over, though.
Whichever version you go for, if you've driven other Ford vans, or any Ford vehicle for that matter, you might be missing that extra bit of 'spice' the manufacturer seems to add to its products whether they're intended to be sporty or not. It's hard to pin down exactly why, but it's simply not as fun to drive as Ford's other vans, which, weirdly, seem to lap up being hustled along.
The Connect on the other hand comes across as a bit more sensible. It's very easy to drive, though, and very car-like, which should come as no surprise given it's related to things like the VW Golf. The steering is light and reasonably fast, and the ride quite smooth even over choppier ground.
The body remains nicely stable in the corners and when negotiating roundabouts, with a small amount of body roll that's far from excessive.
What engines and gearboxes are available in the Ford Transit Connect?
Refinement and noise levels
Safety equipment: How safe is the Ford Transit Connect?
MPG and fuel costs: What does a Ford Transit Connect cost to run?
"The less powerful diesel engine, with 102PS, returns an official fuel economy of 52.1mpg in the L1 Transit Connect, and 51.2mpg in the L2."

Opt for the more powerful 122PS engine, and you can expect up to 50.5mpg in the L1 and 49.7mpg in the L2. These figures are based on the Trend trim – that figure drops very slightly in the Limited models, but you’re unlikely to notice the difference in the real world.
The official economy figure for the PHEV is a frankly hilarious 586.3mpg. The current testing procedure for obtaining such numbers isn't really fit to properly assess plug-in hybrids, with vehicles spending the vast majority of the testing cycle on electric power, which won't reflect most people's driving.
That said, if you can keep within the van's electric-only range within day-to-day driving and keep the car charged at home or work, you might not have to use any fuel at all during an average working week, making the PHEV very cheap to run.
Ford Transit Connect reliability and warranty
Insurance groups and costs
VED car tax: What is the annual road tax on a Ford Transit Connect?
Ford Transit Connect price
"Transit Connect prices range from £23,500 to £26,500 excluding VAT. You can pay a lot less by going for a used example of the previous-generation example."

There are a few used versions of the current, Volkswagen-based Connect available, but because it's a relatively new vehicle, choice is limited and the savings are still quite modest.
If you're buying new, it's £24,830.83 for an L1 Trend van with the 102PS manual diesel, £26,330.83 for the automatic 122PS diesel, and £29,880.83 for the plug-in hybrid. For the L2 van in Trend, it's £25,830.83, £27,330.83 and £30,380.83 respectively for the same engine options.
If you want the clever FlexCab seating on any of these, you'll need to add £2,000, and it's also another £2k to upgrade to Limited specification.
Trim levels and standard equipment
Ask the heycar experts: common questions
What is the difference between the Ford Transit and the Ford Transit Connect?
Is Ford discontinuing the Transit Connect?
Can you get an electric Ford Transit Connect?
Ford Transit Connect cars for sale on heycar
Ford Transit Connect1.5 EcoBlue 120ps Limited Van
202294,202 milesDiesel£248 mo£11,394
inc. VATCM145RSFord Transit Connect1.5 EcoBlue 120ps Limited Van
202132,000 milesDiesel£364 mo£16,194
inc. VATLN44AUFord Transit Connect2.0 EcoBlue 102ps Limited Van
20244,707 milesDiesel£538 mo£25,194
inc. VATEX28FNFord Transit Connect2.0 EcoBlue 102ps Limited Van
20245 milesDiesel£589 mo£27,588
inc. VATTR13LNFord Transit Connect1.5 EcoBlue 120ps Limited Van
202235,156 milesDiesel£348 mo£15,480
inc. VATBN236PX
Ford Transit Connect Alternatives
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