Ford Transit Connect

On the inside, the Ford Transit continues the essence of being a large vehicle which is generated due to the airy cabin. The Ford Transit is available with multiple seating configurations for 10,12 or 15 passengers, which makes it a great people mover to begin with.

The four-spoke steering wheel as well as instrument console, as expected, look not so flashy and are designed for the purpose. The Kinetic interior design, which was very well seen on the previous generation models of Ecosport and Fiesta, is very well carried out in the Transit as well. This is well evident from the vertical AC vents and slanting centre console with a centrally tucked-in touchscreen infotainment system and an array of buttons below it. The dashboard-mounted AC levers and gear lever are very ergonomic to use too.

Where the Ford Transit really shines out is the amount of space it has on offer. There is oodles of legroom, knee room and shoulder room for all the passengers, while the headroom is simply massive. And even with all the seats up, the Ford Transit has great boot space on board.

Aimed purely at comfort and functionality, the Ford Transit isn’t a vehicle which is visually arresting enough to catch one’s attention. The vehicle is boxy and large, which is not convincing enough to draw attention towards it.

The only profile which looks slightly aerodynamic in the Ford Transit is the front, which has a slanting bonnet and curvy headlamps. Also, the hexagonal chrome grille at the front adds some amount of attitude to the vehicle.

While the Ford Transit is one boxy vehicle, however, there are busy lines and a couple of interesting design cues which surely manage to prevent it from looking drab. The front windows are angular and have a kinked design towards the bottom, while the rear large and rectangular windows add to the big appeal of the Transit. However, compared to the large size of the vehicle, the wheels are too small and give it a puny feel.

The Ford Transit has a large rear windscreen which is partitioned from the middle, with slim and rectangular tail lamps on the outer edges of the split rear door.

The Ford Transit has independent MacPherson struts with stabiliser bars at the front and leaf springs with heavy-duty coil springs at the rear. While this suspension is sorted enough for providing a cushy ride and sturdiness over uneven surfaces, it isn’t dynamic and convincing enough for spirited driving, something which only gets amplified by its boxy looks. However, the roll stability control has tried to minimise the body roll effects by a huge margin.

The Ford Transit is being offered with a total of three different engine options to choose from. Firstly, there is the naturally aspirated 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine, which is capable of producing 278 PS of power and 353 Nm of torque. Then comes the inline-five 3.2-litre turbo diesel, which pumps out 185 PS of power and 475 Nm of torque. And finally, there is the most powerful 3.5-litre Ecoboost (turbocharged) V6 petrol motor, which belts out 313 PS of power and 542 Nm of torque. All these three engines have the common 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

The list of safety features in the Ford Transit isn’t too long and a sophisticated one, however, it still manages to cover up the basics. The big van is equipped with front, side and curtain airbags, ABS, rearview camera with trailer hitch assist, post-crash alert system, tire pressure monitoring system, and Ford’s MyKey feature.

For a people carrier, the Ford Transit covers many grounds as a capable people mover, with a very roomy cabin and supple suspension setup. The boxy looks might not be a treat to eyes, but the large windows and dimensions to give it an airy feel on the inside.