Joined-up thinking

Has Ford played a masterstroke by ditching the diesel and installing a 1.0-litre petrol engine into a small commercial vehicle?

No longer just a nameplate for a van, the Ford Transit badge now stretches across four family members. The Transit Courier is the child of the range, while the Transit Connect tested here is the next rung up the Ford commercial vehicle ladder. The Transit Connect was first introduced in 2002 to replace the ageing Ford Fiesta-based Courier and Escort van ranges. Based on the first-generation Ford Focus platform, it lived for 11 years, before the current larger and more stylish model was ushered in during 2013.

Traditionally powered by diesel engines, this new variant of the small Ford commercial is fitted with Ford’s award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. With a light commercial vehicle aimed for use on city streets, was Ford wise to ditch the derv?

Refined and fun to drive
Let’s start with that engine. Designed at Ford’s research and development centres in Dunton and Dagenham in the UK, the three-cylinder unit is turbocharged. In the Transit Connect, it makes 98bhp and 129g/km of CO2. Awarded International Engine of the Year accolades in 2013, 2013 and 2014, Ford is justifiably proud of its new powertrain. On the move it’s easy to see why.

It’s hard to believe that the 1.0-litre unit has a footprint no larger than an A4 sheet of paper such is its eagerness. It’s even harder to comprehend that the Transit Connect is a van when you’re scything through urban streets. The 1,000cc engine is easily as refined as when it is fitted to a Ford Fiesta. It pulls well, giving the 1,342kg (unladen weight) Transit Connect a decent turn of speed. At first it feels strange using higher revs when pulling away than you would usually with a typical diesel engine, but it soon becomes second nature.

It’s a similar feeling when using revs past what would traditionally be a diesel’s narrow power band, but again you soon get used to it. An added benefit is that refinement afforded by the petrol – it makes a welcome change from noisy diesels typical of vans of this size. Drive is put down to the road through a slick six-speed manual gearbox. The Transit Connect is genuinely fun to drive with direct and nicely-weighted steering making for easy placement on the road. Ford’s renowned playful chassis tuning shines through, too, while lumps and bumps are shielded well.

With one eye on the environment, the 1.0 EcoBoost Transit Connect is also fitted with Ford’s Auto-Start-Stop engine switch‑off system, further trimming emissions. The company claims that when compared to a conventional 1.6-litre petrol engine, the smaller unit achieves 24 per cent better fuel economy as well as 25 per cent fewer emissions. Ford quotes a combined cycle mpg figure of 50.4 – not bad for a small van and even better for a petrol-powered commercial vehicle. A week of real-world testing yielded 40.2mpg.

Ford’s EcoMode system is fitted as standard which monitors gear-shifting and anticipation levels among other actions for more environmentally-friendly driving inputs. An ‘active grille shutter’ designed to improve aerodynamics and lower fuel consumption also features in the rosta of eco kit.

Five versions
The Transit Connect is available in five versions: short and long-wheelbase single-cab vans, short and long-wheelbase double-cab vans and a long-wheelbase ‘Kombi’ version with five or seven seats. EF63 YOK was the basic short-wheelbase ‘L1’ mid-range Trend variant, capable of carrying 628 kg with a 2.9m3 load volume. The standard L1 van can carry two Europallets as well as three-metre long items when fitted with a load-through hatch.

The loadspace itself is nice and square, while a full-height bulkhead not only protects the occupants in the cab but also helps to mask road noise from the cargo area. A single sliding nearside passenger door and two rear swing doors make loading easy. An near-fully lined cargo area means fewer scratches inside.

The driving environment is more akin to a car than a commercial vehicle. Taking cues from Ford’s passenger car range, the dashboard bears more than a passing resemblance to that of a Fiesta. No bad thing and combined with a high level of standard kit in the Trend model, makes the Connect cabin a nice place to be. Equipment includes a DAB/CD radio with voice control and USB/Bluetooth connectivity; steering wheel radio controls; and a centre armrest with USB and AUX-IN ports.

A flexible dual passenger seat folds flat to provide a writing surface and flips up to reveal a storage box. The driver’s seat features eight-way adjustability and lumbar support. The test van was also equipped with a £300 optional reversing camera, which appears in the rear view mirror. A very clever piece of technology, it aids parking brilliantly and could be essential for avoiding parking scrapes to the smart‑looking exterior which is elevated above its more commercial counterparts by its front fog lamps and body-coloured front bumper.

Stroke of genius
Refined, zesty and perfect for scooting around the city, the ‘International Van of the Year 2014’ Transit Connect has lots to commend it. Along with carrying capacity and stylish looks, the smoothness and quietness of the non‑diesel engine shouldn’t be underestimated. With 20,000-mile or 1-year service intervals, running costs should be low. Putting a small-capacity petrol engine into a light van is a stroke of genius by Ford. A jewel in the company’s commercial vehicle range, the Transit Connect 1.0‑litre 6-speed Manual SWB L1 represents joined-up thinking at its very best.

Ford Transit Connect Trend 1.0 EcoBoost SWB L1
GROSS PAYLOAD: 628kg
LOAD VOLUME: 2.9m3
ENGINE: 1,000cc, three-cylinder petrol
CO2: 129g/km
MPG (combined): 50.4
VED: £225
PRICE (ex-VAT): £14,150
(£15,640 as tested)