The new Ford Transit Connect is International Van of the Year 2014

Having bagged the International Van of the Year trophy in 2001 (Transit), 2003 (Transit Connect), 2007 (Transit) and 2013 (Transit Custom), Ford has made it five by winning the International Van of the Year 2014 award at the COMTRANS commercial vehicle exhibition in Moscow.

If the new Transit Connect is anything like as good as the Transit Custom — and we can safely assume it is — then the award isn’t really surprising.

Ford has consistently upped the ante with its small and medium vans over the last decade, and I have high expectations that next year’s full-size 2-tonne Transit model will take the fight to the Sprinter in the same way.

A few interesting statistics for van award followers; Ford is first single manufacturer to win the award for two years in a row, and its fifth award gives it the joint record for the most number of wins.

A jury of 24 journalists awards Transit Connect 130 points from a maximum possible 163, placing it ahead of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Renault Kangoo. The judges singled out the Transit Connect’s fuel economy, design, driveability, load-carrying and safety for praise, and Pieter Wieman, chairman of the “International Van of the Year” jury, said:

“Ford has succeeded in building a light van with a strong accent on economics – the vehicle is a good answer to the needs of small operators as well as big fleets to reduce the cost of transport of goods. The loading space offers several innovative aspects, such as load-through hatch in the bulkhead, fold-up front passenger seat and a sliding side door in the long-wheelbase model which enables a Europallet to be loaded.

The new Transit Connect is also the first van in its class to offer features such as Active City Stop, which helps to prevent rear-end shunts in heavy traffic conditions — a common type of collision.

The all-new Transit Connect is now available to order for delivery in late 2013.