Used 2022 Ford Transit Connect

The 2022 Ford Transit Connect compact van comes as a Cargo version or a multi-passenger Wagon model. Both variants are easy to drive and easy to live with. They fit in a regular home garage, yet can still handle many work duties.

Don’t confuse the Transit Connect with the Transit. The latter is a full-size van. Still good at what it does, just bigger. The Transit Connect has been around in this second generation since 2014. Admittedly, the work it’s used for hasn’t changed much in that time, but an updated-for-2022 Ram ProMaster City is also worth considering. Likewise, the newer Mercedes-Benz Metris midsize van.

There isn’t a lot of engine power to enjoy in the 2022 Transit Connect. This is especially noticeable when there’s a load on board. However, a well-tuned chassis gives the van a certain nimbleness while still keeping the ride quality bearable for the whole of the working week. And the turning circle is street-friendly.

Potential buyers who aren’t that tall should pay attention during a test drive, though. They might find the driver’s seat is set too low.

On the work front, the Cargo van’s payloads are 1,510 pounds (short wheelbase) and 1,550 pounds (long wheelbase). Compare that with the Ram ProMaster City’s 1,883 pounds. This may or may not be an issue, depending on each buyer’s requirements.

The quality of plastics in the cabin isn’t exactly high, but the 2022 Transit Connect is a working vehicle, not a status symbol. It’s absolutely ready for work. The business area of the Cargo van is wide enough to take a standard pallet. How much space does the Transit Connect Cargo have? It ranges from 104.8 cubic feet in the regular version with both front seats in place to 145.8 cubic feet in the longest variant with the front passenger seat folded.

The Wagon accommodates seven unless it’s in Titanium trim, where the 2nd-row captain’s chairs reduce the occupant count to six. Behind the third row is 16.3 cubic feet of luggage space. That’s slightly more than the trunk of a Toyota Camry midsize sedan.

We’ll leave the visual pluses and minuses to personal taste. And it’s hardly a surprise that a commercial vehicle comes standard with utilitarian steel wheels. The things to really know about the 2022 Transit Connect include the fact that the Cargo version comes with a choice of lengths.

The short-wheelbase (SWB) model has a total length of 174.2 inches and a wheelbase of 104.8 inches. The long-wheelbase (LWB) counterpart is 190 inches long, with a distance between the axles of 120.6 inches. The Wagon model comes solely in LWB form.

The Transit Connect also offers split rear doors or a roof-hinged tailgate at no extra cost. XL vans have black bumpers; the XLT brings body-colored bumpers. All versions are eligible for dual sliding side doors.

XLT WAGON
We realize the Cargo version of the 2022 Transit Connect can provide ideal service for many businesses. But you can fold the Wagon’s extra seats for added versatility. It might also work as a family vehicle in a pinch. And the XLT trim brings a lot of desirable standard equipment for just over $2,000 more than its XL sibling.

6.5-INCH TOUCHSCREEN
This larger display comes with the Sync 3 infotainment system in the XLT, including smartphone integration. It doesn’t feel cost-cutting like the 4.2-inch screen in the XL.

Things are kept simple at the XL entry-level. For example: 16-inch steel wheels, manually adjustable side mirrors, vinyl cabin flooring and seating surfaces, manually adjustable front seats, and air conditioning.

The infotainment system is based around a relatively small 4.2-inch screen and includes Bluetooth, AM/FM radio, a USB port, and Wi-Fi.

Standard driver assistance features in the 2022 Transit Connect include forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, side-wind stabilization, and hill start assist.

The Wagon version comes with side glass (with power-operated 2nd-row windows) and seating for seven. It also gains rain-sensing wipers and rear parking sensors.

Both versions of the 2022 Transit Connect are also available in a better-equipped XLT trim. This adds a nicer center console, cloth upholstery, carpet flooring, mirrors for the sunshades, heated/power-adjustable side mirrors, and fog lights. An upgraded infotainment system, called Sync 3, brings a 6.5-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, another USB port, wireless charging, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

This trim is also where more of the Ford Co-Pilot360 safety features come on board. Specifically, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

The Wagon version adds dual-zone automatic climate control, carpeted seating area, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. This model can be even posher in Titanium trim, which includes high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, LED fog lights, 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry/ignition, leather seating surfaces, 2nd-row captain’s chairs, navigation, and a 9-speaker audio system.

Some of the features in the higher trims are available as options further down. Other extras include adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, roof rails with crossbars, a 110-volt outlet, an alarm system, and a trailer tow package. Plus a fixed glass panoramic roof for the Wagon.

The main engine in the 2022 Transit Connect is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit developing 162 horsepower and 144 lb-ft of torque. This output goes to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

A slightly more muscular alternative is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission. That setup generates 169 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque. With either engine, maximum towing capacity is 2,000 pounds.

How economical is the 2022 Transit Connect? That depends on body style and powerplant. The smaller engine is naturally more economical. In the Wagon, it averages around 26 miles per gallon — one mile per gallon better than the Cargo. Compare that with the 2.5-liter option, which averages 22 mpg in both versions. But this latter engine can be converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

2.0-liter inline-4
162 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
144 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/27 mpg (Cargo), 24/28 mpg (Wagon)

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