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AUTO REVIEW: 2019 Ford Transit Connect XLT Cargo Van

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The pitch to customers is that the Transit Connect can lower costs for personal and small business customers. And, as not to get it twisted, this was not a minivan.

Published

7 years ago

May 27, 2019

Frank S. Washington

By Frank S. Washington, AboutThatCar.com, NNPA Newswire Contributor

DETROIT – Trying to have a van for every need, Ford has significantly updated its Transit Connect cargo van.

To be clear, the Transit Connect comes in two configurations. One is for cargo and the other can carry passengers. I had the model that was specifically for cargo.

There is a bigger Ford Transit and it too comes in either the passenger or cargo configuration.

The pitch to customers is that the Transit Connect can lower costs for personal and small business customers. And, as not to get it twisted, this was not a minivan.

There are three trim levels of the Transit Connect: XL, XLT and Titanium. I had the XLT. It came with a 2.0-liter direct injected four-cylinder engine that was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The combination made 140 horsepower and 144 pound-feet of torque and got 24 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined.

There is also a 2.5-liter gasoline engine with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine comes with a CNG/LPG gaseous fuel prep package. A 1.5-liter turbo diesel that Ford has branded EcoBlue will be available this spring. It too has an eight-speed transmission.

There are two wheelbase choices that allow the passenger carrying Ford Transit Connect to accommodate five or seven passengers. As Ford said in its press material, “there’s a Transit Connect for everyone.”

The one I had was pretty good. It had all the creature comforts you’d expect in a typical car or crossover. There was pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, side wind stabilization and a rearview camera.

I’m not sure the side wind stabilization system is effective. One morning I had to fight the wheel a little because of the wind. The Ford Transit Connect van is compact but still rather tall and can easily be caught by the wind which is what happened. However, I have no way of knowing how the stabilization system works because I never experienced the vehicle in high winds without it.

Anyway, the test vehicle had voice controls, satellite radio, two USB jacks, a 12V socket and its own Wi-Fi hotspot. It also had a start/stop system that was pretty smooth. The automatic transmission could be manually shifted.

The seats were comfortable, they were manually adjustable. So was the tilt/telescoping steering wheel. There was a shelf just above the sun visor. The 2019 Ford Transit Connect was a really comfortable cargo van.

From there, it was all transport van. In the rear it had 104.8 cu. ft. of uninterrupted cargo space. Fold the front passenger seat and that expanded to 123.2 cu. ft. It could carry up to 1,570 lbs. and tow up 2,000 lbs. Lest I forget it was front wheel drive.

There were six tie downs on the textured floor. There were also accessories for the roof. An LED lit up the cargo compartment. There were double rear doors that opened 180 degrees. And both sides of the Ford Transit Connect had sliding doors. This vehicle was really meant to carry stuff.

There were no side windows — Just panels — which meant driving carefully and being acutely aware of what was around. For $31,755, the 2019 Ford Transit Connect cargo van would be a good investment for any small business owner.

Frank S. Washington is editor of AboutThatCar.com

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Frank S. Washington

Since 1988, Frank Washington has covered the automotive industry. He has been honored by the Detroit Press Foundation and he has received the International Wheel Award and the Golden Wheel Award. Frank was also a part of a team of reporters that won a National Magazine Award.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

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The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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