Used 2020 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van

The 2020 Ford Transit Connect is a versatile machine, available as a Wagon for families or as a Cargo Van suitable for multiple work needs. The Cargo Van is available with two wheelbases and has a flat load floor and a max cargo capacity of 128.6 cubic feet. The passenger Wagon, with seating for up to seven, is available only with the longer of the two wheelbases.

This little Ford van is good at what it does, aided by its ready maneuverability and good fuel economy. We like how the 2020 Ford Transit Connect fits with ease in a standard residential garage. The Cargo Van is available as an XL and XLT, while the Wagon comes in XL, XLT and Titanium trims. Buyers have a choice of side-hinged double rear doors or a liftgate. One engine is available: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 162 horsepower. The diesel version of the Transit Connect that was supposed to arrive for the 2019 model year has been canceled by Ford.

The primary competitors for the Ford Transit Connect are the Ram ProMaster City and the Nissan NV200, both available as passenger or cargo vans.

The front-wheel-drive 2020 Ford Transit drives like a boxy Ford Focus. It’s easy to drive this compact Ford van in the city, thanks in part to its tight turning circle. We find the seats very comfortable, but shorter drivers may wish the driver’s seat could be raised a bit. What’s more, the Transit Connect’s standard 4G LTE modem allows a Wi-Fi connection for up to 10 devices.

For a vehicle capable of doing so much work, this compact van’s fuel economy is impressive. The long-wheelbase Wagon gets 29 mpg on the highway, and it can tow 2,000 pounds; the same as the Ram ProMaster City. Max payload of the Cargo Van is 1,550 pounds. The Wagon has a max payload of 1,420 pounds.

Although the Ford Transit Connect Wagon isn’t as refined or feature-rich as larger vans like the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona or Toyota Sienna, it gets the job done with an appealingly elemental nature.

The cabin of the 2020 Transit Connect Wagon feels not unlike that of a crossover SUV. Its third row of seats can flip, fold or be removed for extra versatility. The Titanium model has a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row, which drops the seating capacity to six. Cargo versions have two front seats. Behind them, the SWB model offers 104.8 cubic feet of storage, whereas the LWB versions have 127.4.

The load floor of the SWB model is 71.8 inches. In the longer Cargo version, it’s 87.6. In the Wagon, there’s 16.3 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third row. The base of the Transit Connect’s windshield is far from the driver, which makes for an expansive dash

Ford’s Transit Connect received some styling tweaks for 2019, so little has changed for 2020. In basic description, the 2020 Transit Connect continues to look like a van with a car’s front end. That boxy body provides headroom galore, and more than ample space for people or cargo in back. The Transit Connect Cargo with the short 104.8-inch wheelbase is 174.2 inches long; the LWB model with the 120.6-inch wheelbase spans 190.0 inches. You can order your Transit Connect with split rear doors (which open 180 degrees and will accept a 48-inch pallet) or a liftgate. The XLT Wagon gets body-color bumpers in place of black ones.

PRE-COLLISION ASSIST
If this safety system detects a potential collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian, it will emit a warning sound. If the driver response is not sufficient, the Transit Connect will brake automatically to prevent a collision or reduce its severity. Standard on all 2020 Transit Connect models.

FLOATING TOUCH SCREEN
A 6.5-inch touch screen (optional on the XL and standard on the XLT and Titanium models) leverages Sync 3 connectivity to provide Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.

The 2020 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van in base XL trim has Pre-Collision Assist, rear parking sensors, vinyl upholstery, air conditioning, manual seats, a tilt/telescope steering wheel, and an AM/FM stereo with two speakers and an auxiliary input. There’s also a cargo light and a 12-volt power point in back. Moving up to the XLT gets you cruise control, a floor console with a closing lid, Sync 3 and a wireless charging pad.

The 2020 Transit Connect Passenger Wagon in base XL trim has an AM/FM stereo with four speakers, a front USB port, dual-sliding doors with glass, and carpet for all three rows of seats. The XLT Passenger Wagon ups the ante with a power driver’s seat, a 6-speaker stereo, an acoustic windshield, rear privacy glass, and body-color bumpers, body-side moldings and door handles.

Notable options on the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon XL include cloth-trimmed seats and Sync 3 connectivity along with rear cargo doors in place of the liftgate. On the XLT Passenger Wagon, adaptive cruise control is available (as part of the Driver-Assist Package), as is a push-button starter and voice-activated Sync 3. The Titanium Wagon is available with a panoramic fixed-glass Vista Roof with a power sunshade.

Options on the Transit Connect Cargo Van include cruise control, cloth seats, Sync 3 connectivity, a wireless charging pad, and a reverse-sensing system. XLT Cargo Vans can be ordered with smart cruise control, dual-zone climate control, body-color side moldings. Other options on the Cargo Van include a blind-spot warning system, large and heated side mirrors, a heavy-duty alternator, a rear-window defroster and a premium audio system with nine speakers (it’s part of the voice-activated Sync 3 package).

The 1.5-liter diesel promised for the 2019 Ford Transit Connect never materialized, leaving this compact Ford van with two powertrain choices: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline unit making 162 horsepower, or a 169-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine for fleet customers only. Both engines feature automatic stop/start. The 2.0-liter mates to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2.5 gets a 6-speed. Front-wheel drive is the only drivetrain configuration available.

2.0-liter inline-4
162 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
144 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/27 mpg (Cargo), 24/29 mpg (Passenger)

2.5-liter inline-4 (fleet only)
169 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
171 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/27 mpg (Cargo), 20/26 mpg (Passenger)