2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon – the puzzle behind the Unminivan

2014 ford transit connect wagon review

What does it mean to be the “Unminivan”?  TFLtruck was at the Los Angeles 2014 Ford Transit Connect launch event to find out.

One thing that hits you when climbing into the 2014 Transit Connect Wagon is the enormous amount of headroom throughout.  Ford says it makes for a unique experience, and they are right.  The fixed panoramic roof option adds to the airy and premium feel of the cabin.  It’s not just the high ceiling that impresses, this minivan (or #unminivan as Ford likes to call it, more on this later) simply feels bigger on the inside than it seems from the outside.  There is plenty of hip and shoulder room in the non-sliding and non-reclining second row.  The two seats in way-back do slide and recline for added comfort.

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The puzzle of Ford’s “unminivan” is that it attempts to carve its own niche between the traditional minivan, midsize pickup truck, and crossovers.  And it’s a fairly big niche as the previous generation sold 40,000 units last year.  The new generation is going for more refinement and people carrying comfort.  Ford expects the passenger Wagon to increase market share and April numbers already start to show it.

The other big story is the way this new Wagon drives.  Ford lined up a nice stretch of the Topanga Canyon road for the journalists to sample the van.  Really? A winding mountain road to evaluate a seven passenger people mover?  Well, the Transit Wagon did not blink an eye.  After all, it is based on Ford’s global C-platform that also underpins the Focus and the Escape among others.  The short-wheel base 5-passenger model handled the twists with utter confidence and with barely a hint of body lean.  You might think that the higher roof will make it top heavy, but this Transit keeps a lot of the weight down low and handles the road more like a Focus than Escape.

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There are two engine options, two wheelbase sizes, and a choice between the cargo-carrying Van and the flexible people or cargo carrying Wagon. The base motivation comes from 2.5-liter I4 with 169 hp and 171 lb-ft, while the optional engine is the 1.6-liter I4 EcoBoost with 178 hp and 185 lb-ft and will cost you $795 extra. A 6-speed automatic transmission is the only choice.  Cargo volume stands at 105.9 cu-ft for short wheel base, and 130.6 cu-ft for the long. When properly configured, it has a maximum payload capacity of 1,710 lbs and maximum towing of 2,000 lbs.

There are a few of caveats on the configurations.  The 1.6L EcoBoost is not available on the long-wheelbase Wagon, which has three rows of seats that can fold but do not remove.  The long-wheelbase cargo Van can had with the 1.6L.  The short-wheelbase only has two rows and the second does fold and remove.

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The EcoBoost has very usable power, but does exhibit serious torque-steer under full throttle acceleration.  The 2.5L is also pokey  and willing to move this van around.  Fuel economy ranges among very good 28 – 30 MPG depending on the configuration, making the Transit Connect a great road trip vehicle.

TFLtruck will bring you a more detailed look at the new 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon soon.  In the meantime, enjoy this walk-around of the Wagon from 2014 Chicago Auto Show.