2018 Ford Transit Connect Wagon - North American version Photos, engines & full specs

Ford refreshed the Transit Connect Wagon in 2018 and unveiled it at the Chicago Auto Show, a vehicle that combined the practicality of a minivan with the fuel efficiency of a mid-sized sedan.

The Transit was the most popular light utility vehicle around the world, and Ford took advantage of that and used the same nameplate for this smaller MPV. While it was also available as a delivery van, it was also offered for regular people as a family hauler. The refreshed version came on the North American shores with enough features and amenities to make it a good choice for fleets and families alike.

The North American version of the Transit Connect Wagon was slightly different than its European sibling. At the front, the automaker installed the badge on the broad black grille, while on the Old Continent, that was mounted on the hood. Also, the lower bumper featured a different design, with a distinct apron that incorporated a grille flanked by the fog lamps' scoops. From its profile, the ascending beltline started from the flared wheel arches and went towards the back of the vehicle, underlining the exposed rail for the sliding doors. Finally, at the back, the automaker offered either a fridge-door opening system or a wide tailgate.

Inside there was room for seven passengers, depending on the wheelbase option. The shortest version could accommodate just five occupants. It offered interesting features for its class, especially for the safety systems, such as the Automatic Emergency Braking that included the Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection. The technology offered by Ford in that MPV was also noticeable in the infotainment unit with the Sync3 system that featured a 6.5" touch-screen.

Under the hood, Ford installed either a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated, direct fuel-injected gasoline unit or a 1.5-liter turbocharged and paired both of them with an eight-speed automatic transmission that drove the front wheels.