2019 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van Packs A Diesel Option And Lots Of Tech

The Transit Connect may be a small van, but it’s big business for Ford. The automaker has sold more than 300,000 of them since launching it in America in 2009, and now it’s rolling out a new version.

Following the debut of the passenger Transit Connect Wagon, the new 2019 Ford Transit Connect cargo van marks its debut at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis – just as the second press day of the Geneva Motor Show gets going.

Like the passenger version, the little cargo van features two new drivetrain options that include the only diesel in its class, along with a full slate of safety systems, and cargo capacity that punches far above its weight.

For 2019, the Transit Connect cargo van comes with a 2.0-liter inline four with stop/start ignition and E85 ethanol flexibility. The bigger news for the small van is the arrival of the 1.5-liter EcoBlue engine that represents the only diesel in its segment. Final specifications for both have yet to be announced, but they each come paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. (There’s a 2.5-liter inline-four with a six-speed automatic as well, ready to run on compressed natural gas or propane, but that’s only available for fleet customers.)

The engines slot in behind a revised front-end treatment to separate the updated model from the existing one, but there’s more to it than that. Ford has also managed to fit in such technologies as 4G LTE wireless connectivity and automatic emergency braking, along a slew of other driver-assistance systems. Crosswind stabilization comes standard, as does the rearview camera, and buyers can opt for additional features like blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control.

It can even be specced with a 6.5-inch touchscreen running Sync 3, wifi for up to ten devices, and inductive phone charging. And just like before, it’s capable, too. The Transit Connect cargo van can tow 2,000 pounds and swallow a 48-inch pallet right off the forklift (thanks to 180-degree opening cargo doors), yet turn around in just 38.3 feet of space.

Those and other features ought to help Ford fend off advances from competitors like the Ram ProMaster City, Nissan NV200, and Chevy City Express. The Transit Connect far outsells them all, with a 46-percent market share that nearly matches the combined sales of all its rivals combined.