Ecoblue

1,5 Ecoblue 4-cyl. turbo diesel, 120 HP and 270 Nm @ 1750 – 4000 revs.

Ford Transit Connect L1

transit connect

Drivetrain from Ford Focus and practical van solutions from Transit make Transit Connect a Columbi egg for those who need a van without sacrificing driving pleasure. But I didn't choose it for fun.

 

A good reason for van?

My daughter and her boyfriend are coming to visit for Christmas. They need a wider bed. Therefore, today's task was to get rid of the old one and buy a "new" bed at "finn.no". A sofa bed from IKEA fits well. Since I no longer have villa, Volvo and own trailer, I had to go online to hire a van. Fortunately, I still have wife og whoop-whoop, - so on a walk with vov-voven the other day I noticed a brand new Ford Transit Connect for rent in the neighborhood. "I have to try that one", I thought. Because if I'm being completely honest, there's a little bit of anticipation in driving a brand new car, even if it's "just" a van.


Do you really need a reason to drive a van?


I found an all right place behind the wheel. You sit at passenger car height, with plenty of space in the height and a windscreen like on a tour bus. The car has three seats where the middle one can be folded down as a stable work table and the armrests – an excellent combination. The compartment in vans is not only for driving, but also a warm room where you chat, eat, drink coffee and the like.


 

Same engine, new automatic transmission

It was 5 years since last time I drove the Transit Connect. Later, it came in an upgraded version, including a new front. I noted the changes on the dashboard. The ugly button cluster is gone and the infotainment screen is larger. The engine is the same, but not the automatic gearbox. I liked the old one better, but now you know that there have been a number of problems with Ford's Powershift solutions.

Automatic transmission in a van is not so stupid, especially if you do mail and goods deliveries - and the like. The car I drove 5 years ago had a 6-speed double-clutch solution. It made better use of the fine bottom draft in the engine than the new automatic gearbox. The new one is a conventional 8-speed gearbox with torque converter. It takes some getting used to for the right foot to cooperate 100 percent. If you step on the gas a little too hard, the gearbox downshifts instead of holding the gear. I had mixed feelings. Automatic cash registers make driving fun - at the same time, I think it can get a bit fussy. On the highway you don't notice that the car shifts between the highest gears, but I wish it could hold the gears a little longer before downshifting.


 

transit connect

Short or long?

Ford Transit Connect comes in two sizes, L1 and L2 – short and long. I had the short one. With a total length of 4,43, it slips playfully easily into all parking pockets, but the luggage compartment is limited in length. The mattresses and bed frames that I had to drive onto the pile were 2 metres. The maximum load length of the L1 is 178 cm down at the floor, but only 155 directly behind the back of the driver's seat. The long version of the Transit Connect, L2, can carry 215 cm down at the floor - sufficient for all frame mattresses. My solution was to cut up the mattresses and bend the steel. They should have been discarded anyway. I made room for the frame rails by opening the loading hatch into the compartment. The "new" piece of furniture was a two-seater sofa bed. We got it loaded fine.

The Ford Connect L1 falls short as a moving vehicle. The cargo space is nevertheless a decent 2,9 cubic meters and rather snobbish with two sliding doors, a side window on the right side, inner lining on the floor and Plexiglas in the partition from Lafinto. In addition, there are many nice furnishing solutions to buy, with shelves, drawers and double floors and more, so you can keep your sewing things in order. You can also buy great camping equipment from abroad, but then you should probably choose L2 because of the bed space.


 

transit connect
The middle seat can be folded down and provides a nice table and armrests. In vans, I almost always lose something between the seats. There are many places where small items, such as a mobile phone, can hide if it falls off the table.

 

Facts about the 2022 Ford Transit Connect 1.5 Ecoblue

Weights and Measures
External dimensions - L, W, H: 443 x 184 x 186 cm
Wheelbase: 266 cm
Net weight: 1602 kg (without driver)
Payload: 728 kg
Number of seats: 3
Max trailer weight w/brakes: 1390 kg
– without brakes: 750 kg
Roof load: 100 kg

Drivetrain
Diesel engine: Transverse 1,5 Ecoblue 4-cyl. Turbo
Power: 120 HP
Torque: 270 Nm @ 1750 – 4000 revs
Gearbox: 8-speed automatic, Ford 8F35 (conventional with torque converter)
Front wheel drive

consumption
In ht vehicle license: 6,0 litres/100 km
Own measurements: 5,8 litres/100 km
From brochure: 5,1 litres/100 km (combined)
– 5,8 litres/100 km (city driving)

Cargo space
Volume: 2,9 cubic meters
Load length along the floor: 178,6 cm
Load length behind partition: 155,8 cm
Load length through hatch: 300,0 cm
Height in cargo space: 126,3 cm

About the car
Place of manufacture: Otosan, Turkey
Colour: Magnetic
Equipment level: Prof+
Price: 410 (with 600 ecoblue 1.5 HP, 100 Nm)
Varnish supplement: 6

Leased by Hyre.no
Model: 2022
Mileage: New
Km driven: 75
Source: Ford.no, Vegvesen.no


 

 

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The neighbour's Transit Connect
Ford Transit Custom
Got the job done!

 

Ford Motor Company and the Hat Trick
How we test the cars

Got the job done!

Ford Transit Custom
Ford Transit Custom 2,0 130 HP, automatic 340 L2H1 Trend

I don't know if it is the new front that has given the car more character - or if it sells better than before. In any case, I think that there have been more of them on the way. Last year, it was number seven on the sales lists for vans in Norway.

 

The car

Today's Ford Transit is number 8 in the model series that started a full 53 years ago. Today, the cars are produced at Ford Otosan in Turkey and shipped all over the world, even to the USA and Australia. Transit includes 4 different models, Courier, Connect, Custom and "full-size" Transit - or just "Transit".

I chose the Transit Custom for the job. The variant which in van language is called L2H1 – long length and normal height. Equipment level Trend with side doors on both sides, one side window on the right side and windows in the rear doors. The drivetrain consists of Ford's well-known 2,0 TDCi 130HK EcoBlue with Powershift automatic.

 

custom transit
Instrument panel with touch screen.

The mission

Pick up some leftover parquet at Maxbo Sinsen and wardrobes at IKEA Furuset. Unload the car at Skillebekk and load old parquet and old wardrobes there. Continue to Bærum to take the remains after a garage clean-up. The next morning, everything must be delivered to the recycling station at ISI in Bærum.

The warehouse

6,8 cubic meters – on paper. The length is 2,92 metres, but it is possible to extend it to 3,4 for long objects by opening the hatch to a separate compartment under the passenger seat. The loading height is 1,41 metres. The width is 1,77 meters and 1,39 between the wheel arches. The floor is covered by an elaborate plastic "floor liner" that was curved up along the sides. Good solution for keeping the warehouse clean and tidy.

custom transit
6,8 cubic metres, load length 292 cm, with a load hatch under the passenger seat you get 340 cm. Normal width is 177 cm - 1390 meters between the wheel arches.

Space in the compartment

I don't know who decided where the dividing wall should be. It was probably in between cargo volume og comfort? You don't have to be much above medium height to notice that there is a lack of legroom - also in the Transit Custom. The solution is a high sitting position with a straight back - much like sitting in the pew. I appreciated that it was possible to jack up the seat a little in the front as well. The passenger seat is locked in one position - as is usual on such cars. Depending on the conditions, the passenger in the middle has good legroom as the gear lever solution does not steal too much space.

custom transit
The interior (Trend)

look and feel

After the facelift in 2018, the Transit Custom received an upgrade to the instrument panel. The infotainment system is controlled via a touch screen. Comfortable leather-covered steering wheel and clear instruments. There are cup holders "everywhere" for coffee and Coke. By folding down the middle passenger seat, you get a table surface with extra cup holders. There are several USB ports available for portable devices.

Vibrates a lot at idle

It might not have been a good idea to go across Oslo just after working hours. Almost continuous queue from Skillebekk to Alexander Kiellands Plass. People are clearly starting to come out of their Corona hibernation. But what caused the whole car to vibrate when idling? It also created a lot of noise. I suspect it is the Powershift solution. When we stood still in Drive with the engine idling, the vibrations propagated throughout the car, but gradually disappeared as we drove. The idle speed was normal.

On the road

After loading the car with parquet and other building materials, the trip continued outward towards Furuset. On the country road, the drive functioned well. The gearbox left the engine revs comfortably low. The torque is absolutely superb and made it easy for us to take the climbs. At speeds between 80 and 100, we also noticed very little of the speed. Once you get up to speed, the interior noise level is very pleasant. - And for being a van, the steering feels good on the road. Someone had probably had a small accident with "our" car, such that it was on one winter tire and one summer tire at the front.

custom transit
Lunch break!

With the car to work

It was quite difficult to back in from the street where the cars were all over the place. Good mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, as well as a reversing camera are good aids when you have to pry the car around other cars with centimeter precision on all sides. Sliding doors on each side allow quick loading and unloading when parked illegally. Three parcels that were too long for the lift had to be carried all the way up to the 4th floor. Why aren't the stairwells made more suitable for carrying large objects?

Pass the height!

One of the most important characteristics of a van is to arrive hero forward - also into car parks and garages. Most facilities have a maximum height of 2,10 - some only 2,05. The Transit Custom is perhaps one of the tallest in its class. "Our" Transit had integrated load bars on the roof that did not build in height. Brilliant. The only thing to watch out for is the antenna whip on the roof. I had to tape it to the roof when I was driving into my own garage to load some heavy bags. The antenna can withstand hitting the roof when we drive in the direction of travel, - but not when we back up...

transit
Cargo rack that does not build in height when not in use.

Security

It is not as easy to determine the safety in vans as in passenger cars. In the event of a collision with a passenger car, the van gives you an advantage because you are sitting in a higher and heavier vehicle. But if you hit a brick wall, the sense of security can be false. I also have a feeling that a short person sits more securely than a tall, long-legged fellow. Transit Custom was tested by Euro NCAP in 2012. The report says that there is a lot of hard plastic that can cause damage, - depending on where - and how one sits. This is where I'm afraid we long-legged people can come off badly. However, the greatest damage was caused in a side-post collision and whiplash when hit from behind (station wagon/minibus). Fortunately, there is little to worry about in vans with a partition wall.

Total score in 2012 was 5 stars and 84% for protection of adults. Toyota Proace got 91% then the material moisture meter shows you the was tested in 2015. The Opel Vivaro was also tested in 2015 and scored only 52%. Like the Transit, both cars were also pulled for side pillar impacts and whiplash for rear seat occupants.

Conclusion

Vans like the Ford Transit Custom are made for business - not pleasure. These are not cars you get overly excited about, but "our" Transit was perfect for the job! The EcoBlue engine is an example of how good diesel has become. Adequate torque and low consumption. The automatic solution is not recommended unconditionally, as far too much noise and vibrations propagated into the cabin while we stampeded in line. During normal driving, we found that the gear changes were well adapted to the engine and kept the rpm comfortably low.

custom transit
Mood picture through the Fortress tunnel. Chevy on the left.

Facts about the Ford Transit Custom L2H1

Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 534 / 208 / 202 cm
Wheelbase: 330 cm
Own weight: 2111 kg
Payload: 1014 kg
Total weight: 3200 kg
Cargo volume: 6,8 m3
Cargo space length: 292 cm
– loading hatch: 340 cm
Cargo space width: 177 cm
– between the wheel arches: 139 cm
Cargo space height: 141 cm
Max trailer weight with brakes: 1900 kg
– without brakes: 750 kg
Max trailer weight: 4200 kg
Max roof load: 150 kg

Engines
2,0 TDCi EcoBlue
Horsepower: 130 at 3500 rpm
Torque: 385 Nm between 1500-2000 revolutions
6-speed automatic Powershift (dual clutch system)
Front wheel drive

Tires
Summer tires: Continental Vanco 2
Dimension: 215/65R16 C
One wheel (vf) replaced with a studless v. tire.

Performances
Top speed: 160 km/h

consumption
Stated consumption combined: 0,64 l/mile
Stated consumption highway: 0,58 l/mile
Stated consumption city: 0,73 l/mile
Not without own measurements.

Prices 2020
Ford Transit Custom 340 L2H1 130 HP Aut.
Total price: NOK 467
Includes the following equipment:
NOK 7 Integrated roof rack (expensive but nice)
NOK 6 Alloy wheels
NOK 3 Park assistant (recommended)
NOK 2 Reversing camera (recommended)
NOK 5 Bi Xenon (recommended)
NOK 1 Tire pressure indicator
NOK 8 SYNC/infotainment/radio
NOK 2 Airbag passenger seat
   NOK 500 Window in sliding door h.side (recommended)
NOK 1 Central locking
NOK 1 Rear windows (recommended)
NOK 1 Dressing in goods room
NOK 4 Sliding door v. side
Other additions:
NOK 6 Trailer hitch

About the car
Country of manufacture: Turkey
Registered: September 2019
Mileage: 6834
Km driven: 81
Sources: Vegvesen.no, ford.no , Ford Europe
Euro NCAP: Report 2012 Ford Transit Custom
Owner: Hyre.no

You can also rent a Transit Custom for an hour, day or weekend by downloading the mobile app from Hyre.


 

Ford Transit Custom photos

You can click on all images to see them on a larger scale.

ford transit custom
Extra side door on the left side, window on the right side and windows in the rear doors cost a total of NOK 5 Recommended!
custom transit
The Ford Transit Custom 340 L2 can take long objects up to 340 cm.

custom transitToday, the red building houses City Self Storage on Skøyen. Here you can rent a van if you need to. The building was once grey-blue - and was my workplace for 17 years. The office building has today been converted into a self-service warehouse. Wondering what items are stored in my old office?

 

On the way home, I just had to stop to take a picture of this great Mustang.

 

See

Will the Proace become a Hiace?
The neighbour's Transit Connect
Who makes the engines for the IKEA cars?
Toyota Proace Electric 50 kwh