2019 Ford Transit Connect Bests Minivans in EPA Ratings

Ford announced today that the 2019 Ford Transit Connect will offer best-in-class EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 24/29/26 mpg city/highway/combined for its gas-powered 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine and eight-speed transmission.

This make the Ford Transit Connect not only the most fuel-efficient commercial van on the market, but in seven-seat Passenger Wagon trim it also could be considered the most fuel-efficient — and least expensive — minivan sold in the U.S. A 2019 Ford Transit Connect Passenger Wagon will start at $28,040 compared to sales leaders Dodge Grand Caravan at $28,045, Chrysler Pacifica at $28,390 and Honda Odyssey at $31,085 (all prices include destination). The EPA rates the Grand Caravan at 17/25/20, the Pacifica at 19/28/22 and the Odyssey at 19/28/22; see them compared here.

We should also note that the Transit Connect will likely up those fuel-economy numbers when the van's diesel engine — the first in the class — arrives in the form of the turbo-diesel 1.5-liter EcoBlue, likely in the first quarter. Ford is projecting the EcoBlue-equipped TC to offer at least 30 mpg on the highway and will include the auto stop-start system and eight-speed transmission in the gas-engine Transit Connect vans.

The 2019 Ford Transit Connect will be offered in both cargo and passenger van configurations in XL and XLT trims. Both the cargo and passenger vans will come in short- and long-wheelbase versions and offer a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds with a maximum payload capacity of 1,570 pounds. Pricing for the 2019 Transit Connect cargo van starts at $25,295.

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