Let the Minivan Resurrection, BEGIN!

[YSSMAN]

Ford Transit Connect Brings Minivans Back into the Ford Fold for 2014

Well, I can't say that I didn't see it coming. I've seen quite a few Transit Connects already being used for "normal use" with small families around here, and with their Taxi Use (among others), it was only a matter of time before they made a real thing.

Just look at it though. It's like they put an Escape into a taffy stretcher, and created this very strange vehicle that just seems to work. I dunno. The extra space is nice, the seating for seven will definitely be a selling point to some, and on top of all of that they're offering EcoBoost power if you need it. Great! But, what about this?

Okay, it's down two seats. In Hybrid form, it'll likely be more fuel-friendly. I'd argue that it looks a bit better, if a bit like an overblown Focus. Clearly Ford thinks there is a market for minivans... or MPVs... or whatever we're calling it these days.

What does everyone else think? Is this the kind of practical choice you'd like to make? Or would you stick with the current crossover crowd?

 

[Tornado]

I can't see that doing particularly well after the advertising barrage they've been giving the C-Max lately (plus, it's apparently the best thing in that segment on the market?). Plus, the interior still betrays its roots. It still looks like an airport shuttle van on the inside, no matter how much leather they throw on it.



Good on them to give it a try, though. The Connect has been doing pretty good in the commercial sector from what I've seen.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Umm...Mazda5?

 

[eSZee]

Was considering the C-Max as a commuter over the Prius/prius V. Got to drive it for a couple days last month and was pretty disappointed with actual MPG compared to the advertised numbers. Pretty surprised since we were able to meet and exceed advertised numbers on both the focus and fiesta during the same period.
As for it being an MPV or minivan or whatever, not sure how. It's nothing but a focus with a few extra inches of headroom.

 

[homeforsummer]

Umm...Mazda5?

Would normally be my suggestion too, but Ford is actually claiming better mpg from the Connect.

 

[CodeRedR51]

The 5 doesn't have any of the fancy Skyactiv stuff yet, right? And I think it'd due for a new design anytime now. Wonder what Mazda will come up with.

 

[daan]

The 5 doesn't have any of the fancy Skyactiv stuff yet, right?

That'll be the CX-5.

 

[CodeRedR51]

That'll be the CX-5.

So then that's a no.

 

[homeforsummer]

The 5 doesn't have any of the fancy Skyactiv stuff yet, right?

Correct. I wonder if they'll introduce it in the 5, or wait until the 5 gets replaced? Mazda seems to be concentrating on its new platforms at the moment.

 

[YSSMAN]

I wouldn't think Mazda would choose to do another version of the 5. I just don't think that it's a big money maker, especially when the CX-5 give or take does the same exact thing.

At the very least, I'd imagine that Ford would be trying to pick off a few of the former 5 owners with something like the Transit Connect. But, I'm having a hard time thinking that very many people would cross-shop it with the Dodge Caravan.

It's definitely a bit more compact, and the fuel economy shouldn't be too bad with the EcoBoost. I'm just not sure who they're targeting with it. Yeah, I've seen civvies using altered versions of the previous Transit Connect as a family vehicle, but it isn't as if it were that common.

 

[homeforsummer]

Have they priced it yet?

Over here the van-based ones tend to be a lot cheaper than the dedicated MPVs. And I assume Ford is building this one in the U.S. now rather than shipping it in from elsewhere?

 

[YSSMAN]

The current XLT Wagon, which only seats five, starts at $23,890. I would imagine that the next version would start somewhere nearby, probably closer to $25,000.

I'm actually surprised that they start that cheap, currently. Even though it's based on an ancient version of the Focus, it isn't exactly a small vehicle.

Getting a loaded SEL Transit Wagon with the EcoBoost option will probably run you pretty close to $30k. That still isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things, especially if you've got more than two kids and need room to carry things around. That's still mid-level family sedan territory, and a lot of the crossovers only open up at base trim levels at that price.

 

[eSZee]

I'm not exactly sure what ford is thinking with the transit connect, this time around.
They've been selling them here, or I should say trying to sell them here, for years and they haven't done too well. Now they want to take that contractor/DHL delivery/cargo van look/feel/stigma and sell it as a minivan?
Why didn't they do that from the start? or at least give it a different name?

 

[YSSMAN]

I've seen a pretty good uptake with service companies and the Transit. Mind you, these are the service vehicles without rear seats. The sales must be strong enough, or enough customers are demanding that Ford do something like this. I find it all quite surprising.

I mean, Ram is bringing this one over:

And Nissan will start cranking these out soon:

There is definitely a market for these vehicles. Ford definitely looks like they want to be as far ahead of the competition in the civilian market as possible.

 

[Tornado]

Isn't the Nissan just being made for the civilian market because they might as well do so after it won the NYC Taxi contract?

 

[Doog]

Any measurements as to how big this Transit Connect is? I looks enormous in the pictures, on par with normal American minivans, but in real life, they're quite short. Seeing as it'll use two four cylinder engines, it can't be that large. Regardless of size, I think it's a very nice van; it's got a lot of quirky charm to it. It may be tall, but in turn it has some neat little shelves and cubbies, even if they're not that useful, they give the illusion of space. The interior's essentially the Focus-Escape interior which I love, and there's actual buttons on the center stack! The leg room appears to be lacking, but every seat is an actual seat! None of that BS where the person who gets the middle seat has to make do with some hard, narrow thing in between the two nicer seats of the second road. As nice as it is, I doubt it'll be very successful here, unless Ford hammers the public with MPG numbers.

 

[Tornado]

About the size of a 4 door S-10 Blazer.

 

[YSSMAN]

Isn't the Nissan just being made for the civilian market because they might as well do so after it won the NYC Taxi contract?

Nissan has a whole line of NV products that they want to push, from the little Taxi up to this monstrosity:

 

[Northstar]

^I saw one of those a few days ago, I'll be fine if I never see one again.

I actually like the Ford in the OP, just not in that color.

 

[Omnis]

The C-Max is a TOTAL piece of crap! The pedals on it are from a freaking church organ. It's such an awful driving position. Might as well get a real minivan. But, then again, all the other minivans are FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS WTF.

 

[Keef]

Umm...Mazda5?

Would normally be my suggestion too, but Ford is actually claiming better mpg from the Connect.

The 5 doesn't have any of the fancy Skyactiv stuff yet, right? And I think it'd due for a new design anytime now. Wonder what Mazda will come up with.

The 5 never even had an advertising campaign in the US and yet they consistently sold out the entire allotment. In order for Ford to outdo the 5's dominance of the small minivan sector it will have to advertise which just goes to show how good the Mazda is.

Any word on how well the CX-5 is doing? I can't say I've seen any on the roads. I'll have to ask my buddy who works at the dealership.

 

[YSSMAN]

There are a few CX-5s driving around out here in West Michigan, but it seems that the Escape is doing a bit better around here (not entirely surprising). The weird thing is that almost all of the CX-5s I've seen have been that blue color, or black. Nothing else.

 

[eSZee]

The 5 never even had an advertising campaign in the US and yet they consistently sold out the entire allotment.

Well, when the allotment is only 16-18k a year, then yes.
The 5 is constantly outsold 2-3 to 1 by the prius v. The scenario with the C-Max will be the same because of the blind stupidity, I mean brand loyalty.


edit:
cx-5 sold ~33k units through October.

There are a few CX-5s driving around out here in West Michigan, but it seems that the Escape is doing a bit better around here (not entirely surprising). The weird thing is that almost all of the CX-5s I've seen have been that blue color, or black. Nothing else.

Same here. The first couple of months the CX-5 was sold out everywhere, yet I only see maybe 1-3 a week. Now every dealership has a dozen of them sitting on the lots.
The Escape is everywhere, as you said.