By: Dave Abrahams
Pretoria - The Ford Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect siblings, released in South Africa this week, share the smallest platform in the Transit range - but that doesn't mean we shouldn't take them seriously.
The compact C-segment panel-van and MPV sectors comprise a relatively small share of the local market now but, based on global trends over the past few years, that could well change as customer demand for car-like sophistication up front and versatile load-carrying capacity at the back raises the bar.
Purely from a safety point of view, a motorised box on wheels doesn't cut it any more.
Enter the new Tourneo Connect, in a choice of three trim levels and two wheelbase configurations. The Ambiente and Trend use the short-wheelbase five-seater platform, while the Titanium models are based on the long-wheelbase Grand Tourneo layout in either standard five-seat or optional seven-seat format.
In either case, the second (and third) rows of seats fold flat to clear a cavernous cargo bay - 2620 litres in the Tourneo and 2761 in the Grand Tourneo - accessed via dual sliding doors and a tailgate.
AWARD-WINNING ENGINE
The entry-level Ambiente comes with the multiple International Engine of the Year award-winning 1.0 Ecoboost engine, tuned in this application for 74kW and 170Nm and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, for a nominal fuel-consumption figure of 5.6 litres per 100km.
Standard kit includes a four-speaker radio/CD player with Bluetooth connectivity, auxiliary and USB ports, and satellite controls on the steering wheel, air-conditioning with pollen filter, a trip computer, 16-inch steel rims, tyre pressure monitoring, idle stop, traction control, hill hold, trailer sway control and six airbags.
The 1.0 EcoBoost Trend adds cruise control with speed limiter, power windows for second-row passengers, front fog lamps and Ford Sync with Bluetooth connectivity, voice control and a 3.5-inch multi-function display.
The range-topping long-wheelbase Titanium is available with either a 1.6 TDCi turbodiesel (85kW and 285Nm at a nominal 4.9 litres per 100km) and six-speed manual 'box, or a 1.6 EcoBoost (110kW and 240Nm for eight litres per 100km) and six-speed self-shifter, each with dual-zone auto aircon, a panoramic glass roof, integrated roof rails, 16-inch alloy rims, active city stop, adaptive cornering foglights, auto headlights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
TRANSIT CONNECT
Ford's smallest panel van comes in just one model - the long-wheelbase Ambience 1.6 TDCi (85kW and 285Nm, 4.9 litres per 100km, remember?) with six-speed manual 'box.
That said, it offers some impressive numbers, starting with an echoing 3222 litre cargo bay, a payload rating of 1004kg and a maximum towing capacity of 1200kg. Floor length is 2153mm, there's 1226mm between the wheel arches and 1269mm from floor to ceiling, allowing it to carry two Europallets
All of which is accessed via dual side-hinged rear doors and a sliding door that opens wide enough to load a Europallet from the side. There are six tie-down points in the floor, with more at waist and shoulder height that are also suited to installing racking or other internal fittings.
It has all the active safety kit of the equivalent Tourneo Connect, including traction control, hill hold and trailer sway control, while the flight deck offers power windows, reach and rake-adjustable steering column, and a two-speaker audio system with Bluetooth, auxiliary and USB ports and satellite controls on the steering wheel.
PRICES
Transit Connect
1.6 TDCi Ambiente LWB - R272 900
Tourneo Connect
1.0 EcoBoost Ambiente SWB - R269 900
1.0 EcoBoost Trend SWB - R279 900
Grand Tourneo Connect
1.6 EcoBoost Titanium LWB AT - R359 900
1.6 TDCi Titanium LWB - R367 900
Prices include a four-year or 120 000km warranty, a three-year or 60 000km service plan for petrol models and four years or 60 000km on the diesels. Service intervals are 20 000km for petrol derivatives and 15 000km for diesels.