From flower delivery to drywall installation and ridesharing, make a used Ford Transit Connect part of your work fleet. We’ll show you its many configurations and which model years you should seek out.

A Staple of Service Fleets Throughout North America

Originally introduced in Europe in the early 2000s, the Ford Transit Connect made its way across the ocean and has established itself as a versatile, reliable fleet van. It was even given the distinction of “North American Truck of the Year 2010” at the North American International Auto Show in its first year in the North American Market.

As it earned its bona fides as an easily-configurable cargo van, Ford was at work creating a passenger version, the Transit Connect XLT Premium Wagon, in 2011. With seating for five, rear windows, and safety features including blind-spot monitoring and a rear-view camera, the Transit Connect Wagon reintroduced the passenger van to the Ford lineup.

With critical safety technology and features such as onboard Wi-Fi hotspot and smartphone capability, the Transit Connect and Transit Connect Wagon became fixtures in taxi and cargo fleets across North America. Canada Post even adopted Transit Connect as its official cargo van in 2010.

The Long and Short of It: Dozens of Configurations

The number of ways you can configure a Ford Connect Transit is almost overwhelming. Among your choices include:

• Long (189.7 in) or short (173.9 in)
• Short, medium, or high roof height
• Rear door (liftgate or panel truck style)
• Six engine options, including two turbo diesel
• Crew seating in the back or front seats only

And that’s before you start configuring the interior and adding feature packages!

To get you started, the current generation of Ford Transit Connect vans is offered in three trims:

• XL: Offers the basics such as AM/FM radio, manual door locks and windows, and vinyl seating.
• XLT: Upgrades the stereo to include HD Radio, adds more speakers and a USB port. Ford’s SYNC infotainment system is included as well as power windows and door locks.
• Titanium: Available only in passenger models. It adds a CD/MP3 player to the AM/FM/HD Radio, plus a steep upgrade in technology and interior appointments.

Save Cash on a Used Ford Transit Connect

As you can imagine, once you start adding comfort and convenience packages and start configuring the interior to your needs, the price can jump pretty high and pretty quickly. But by shopping around, you can find some great deals on used Ford Transit Connect models that can save you a lot of cash.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive to buy a used van with over 100,000 miles, modern vehicles are built better, and manufacturers are better at incentivizing owners to stay on top of regular maintenance.

Which Model Years to Look For

Although it did get a mid-cycle facelift in 2019, the Ford Transit Connect is still in its second generation. If you’re looking for a van that balances modern technology with reasonable mileage, look for a 2017 or 2018 model.

Build Your Fleet on a Budget

When you’re building a fleet on a start-up budget, a used Ford Transit Connect van is a great value. And if you’re savvy enough to find a company in your industry looking to upgrade their fleet, you may find some incredible deals.