When asked which vehicle I wanted, I chose the smallest one in the fleet and the tech driving it before was moved to a full size van.
Introduction: Ford Transit Connect
Some pictures:
EPA rating is 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymo..._Connect.shtml
Fueled up today to see a huge improvement after months of winter blues. I don't pay for fuel, but I'm feeling inspired to further improve the fuel economy in my work van.
I filled up today to get... wait for it... 23.9mpg. I was thrilled; my last tank was barely over 20. It's mostly hanging out in the 40's F right now with lots of rain, and there is both a conduit and populated ladder rack on the roof. I want to say the tech driving it before was getting ballpark 14-16 in good weather, so 24 is phenomenal by comparison, even if I'm only barely making EPA for mixed driving.
Relevant specs:
-4 cylinder Mazda 2.5L engine
-6 speed auto with the following gears:
* 1st - 4.58
* 2nd - 2.96
* 3rd - 1.91
* 4th - 1.45
* 5th - 1.00
* 6th - 0.75
* Final drive - 3.21
-215/55r16 wheels
-Estimated 0.32 Cd before racks and accessories
-Estimated 3400lbs empty
Here it is graphed next to the Insight's (very tall) transmission:
Insight Blue | Connect Green
I haven't yet fully figured out the transmission logic. It will very occasionally shift into 6th as low as 40mph (around 1300rpm) but is really reluctant to go into 6th below ~50mph. It's generally not possible to speed up to force a shift, then slow back down, as the transmission will go back into the gear it wanted to be in. Downhills don't seem to encourage it, so I'm thinking it may look for a certain period of driving at steady load.
Fun fact: The Connect is built in Europe and shipped to the US with a rear seat and window so as to avoid the Chicken Tax. The seat is then removed and it's sold as a cargo van.