If you're looking for the most space for the least cash, the Transit Connect should be on your radar screen. Ford's relatively small commercial van has been gussied up just enough to transform it into a credible people mover.
About the length of a Honda Accord, the Transit Connect will seat seven passengers comfortably. Sliding side doors and a super-high roofline make access a cinch.
But don't confuse the Transit Connect's roominess for luxury. Common minivan features like power-sliding side doors and tailgates and rear-seat entertainment are all absent. Most mainstream minivans also offer sophisticated electronic safety gear, such as forward-collision warning, which you can't get in the Transit Connect. 2016 models will be offered with blind-spot warning and cross-traffic alert systems.
The competing Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are much more civilized with nicer interiors, richer amenities, and better attention to detail. And, crucially, it's much easier to fold or manipulate their rear seats or get to the third row.
It's not easy to fold, lift, and manipulate the Transit Connect's rear seats to convert the van from people to cargo-carrying configurations. But once you get the seats folded, the tall roof leaves enough room to stand up bikes inside -- something you can't say for many SUVs or wagons.
Based on the nice-driving Ford Focus, this big, tall box also drives surprisingly well, with impressive agility and a steady and supple ride.
But the Transit Connect clearly excels more for around-town people-moving than as a comfy road-trip machine. Wind noise is high and power from the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is just adequate, even with a light load. Load up all of the seats or max out the payload and it will feel pretty slow, especially when climbing hills. And at 21 mpg overall, it only matches the fuel economy of some larger, more comfortable minivans, such as the Honda Odyssey.
In addition to cargo vans, Ford offers a wide range of configurations, including shorter five-passenger and longer seven-passenger versions, and different rear door styles. They all deliver a lot of room and a decent driving experience for the money. Our long-wheelbase, seven-passenger XLT test van listed for $28,000.