When most people think of the Transit Connect from Ford, they think of a work van -- since that’s what it’s been known for to this point.

It’s earned lots of kudos in a few short years due to its solid mpg and
overall performance for people who are on the go for their jobs all day for deliveries.

Now, the brand is expanding more into personal use territory, with the redesigned 2014 Transit Connect Wagon, which I recently had a chance to test-drive (I had a 2014 Transit Connect Titanium Wagon -- the top trim level).

It’s safe to say there is nothing else on the road quite like the Transit Connect Wagon, which in and of itself is a bit of an accomplishment in this day and age in the automobile world.

It’s sort of a return to the minivan for Ford (sliding doors and all), but also something very different (Ford has dubbed it the #unminivan and officially consider it a crossover SUV). You can still get a Transit Connect in the traditional delivery vehicle style, but I tested out the wagon version that is aimed to be more of a consumer vehicle.

So what’s this thing all about and who might want to pick one up?

LOOKS
The 2014 Transit Connect is one of those vehicles with the great combination of not looking too huge from the outside, but having a surprisingly large amount of space inside once you open up the doors and look around. It seats seven, though the third row is best for the little ones or short adults.

You get a very large windshield on this vehicle, and the seat adjustment is so variable that you can set it up where the rearview mirror seems a mile away from your low-rider seat. At times I felt like a taxi driver during my time in this vehicle.

It’s worth noting that there is a ton of head-space in this vehicle, even for tall people.

And the key element to this vehicle is variability.
Second row of seats can be folded into the floor, and the third row can be lowered, leaving a large amount of space in the back for cargo.

So you can use it for work during the day, then put the seats back up and be ready to take the family out after work. The process of stowing and reopening the seats is a bit tricky at first, but something you quickly get used to.

The design of the vehicle is pretty no-frills inside, when compared to its minvian/crossover competition, but the Transit Connect wagon has a certain kind of charm. It’s not quite as big and luxurious as some traditional minivans or crossovers out there, but that’s OK with some of the vehicle-buying public.

My vehicle was a very unique color -- Mustard -- and between the unique design and the color I got quite a few looks my way and had some conversations with curious folks during my time with the vehicle. It’s definitely not like most of the machines it shares the road with.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER, RIDE QUALITY
The Transit Connect I tested featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that boasted 169 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque; On some models you can choose a turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine with 178 hp/184 lb.-ft. of torque.

Regardless of engine choice, you will be working with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The vehicle is responsive and will go quickly from a stop, but it’s clear that its power does have limitations compared to the more powerful engines on traditional minivans and crossovers.I had to accelerate very quickly a couple times and it was clear from the sound that I was pushing it a bit more than the engine liked.

This will be a key point for potential customers to consider; even if they like the design and other elements on the Transit Connect, is this enough power for their tastes?

Handling was very impressive and a highlight of the vehicle. I was always in full control of the vehicle and did not feel like I was driving a large vehicle at all due to how well it responded to my control.

MPG
A major selling point of this vehicle is how often you'll have to fill up the tank.
I got 23 mpg on average -- and the official listed numbers for the 2.5 liter engine are 20 city/28 highway/23 combined. The turbocharged engine comes in at 22/29/25.
These are strong numbers for this class of vehicle, without a doubt.

TECH, SAFETY FEATURES
The usual tech features that Ford offers are available on the Transit Connect. The Sync system (with 911 Connect in case of emergency) is an option, and you can also upgrade to the MyFordTouch system and its extensive voice commands (MyFordTouch w/ RearView Camera is an $840 option). You get USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity and more.

A front and rear sensing system ($495) was a helpful option that gives the driver a beeping alert if there is a pending danger in front or in the rear of the vehicle. Other safety features include multiple airbags; emergency brake assist and a tire pressure monitoring system.

PRICE
The base version of the 2014 Transit Connect (the XLT wagon) starts just over $24K, the XL wagon is $25K to start, and the Titanium wagon (like I tested) starts at $29K. With all the options my vehicle topped out at just over $33K. Compared the other minivans and crossovers that can quickly jump into the 40K to 50K range, that’s not a bad deal at all; just know you’ll be a little lower on power than the competition.

TARGET AUDIENCE
This vehicle targets those who want the ability to carry around lots of people and cargo for work and play but aren’t looking for a traditional minivan or crossover. It will be an uphill battle to get this new vehicle into the collective consciousness of the auto-buying public since it’s quite different and not the usual purpose of a Transit Connect vehicle, but it’s a ride you’ll quickly get used to and enjoy driving if you do pick it up.