• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awards the 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in its New Car Assessment Program

• 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon offers owners comprehensive safety systems to help ensure occupant safety

• Transit Connect Wagon is available as a five- and seven-passenger people mover that offers the most flexible seating in its class

The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon has earned a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the government’s highest possible overall rating.

Last year, the European version of Transit Connect Wagon, known as Tourneo Connect, earned a five-star rating from the European New Car Assessment Program, the highest possible score from the consumer advocacy group. Transit Connect Wagon – available as a five-passenger or seven-passenger people mover in North America – went on sale here earlier this year.

“Transit Connect Wagon gives people on the go a unique-looking, fuel-efficient vehicle that also provides a high level of safety,” said Steve Kenner, director of Ford’s global automotive safety office. “The suite of safety and driver-assist features available on Transit Connect makes it a great choice for families and businesses.”

Safe and tough
Transit Connect Wagon’s driver and passengers are protected by its body structure – more than half of which is built with high-strength and ultrahigh-strength steels, including 16 percent boron steel. Transit Connect Wagon features driver and passenger side airbags for front-row occupants, as well as side curtain airbags for all seating rows.

Customers looking for a flexible people mover benefit from stringent testing conducted during the development of Transit Connect Wagon. The vehicle has been designed and engineered to meet rigorous global commercial vehicle durability standards – the equivalent of more than 3 million miles. This includes more than 250,000 miles of demanding on-road conditions.

Driver-assist and safety features
Transit Connect Wagon is available with a full complement of driver-assist and safety features, making it attractive to families and businesses alike.

Available driver-assist features include a rear view camera, and forward and rear-sensing systems. The rear view camera shows what is behind the vehicle on a screen located in the center dash panel. The display’s guidelines and zoom feature help the driver align the vehicle, which is especially beneficial when towing.

At low speeds, ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper alert the driver to objects behind the vehicle, while front sensors warn of objects at the front. The closer an object is to the vehicle, the faster the beeps sound, escalating to a constant tone.

Industry-exclusive Ford MyKey^® technology is also available for Transit Connect. MyKey can be programmed to limit top speed and audio volume, encourage safety belt use and restrict incoming calls and texts to a paired cell phone. MyKey encourages safe driving habits in new drivers and can also serve as a useful tool for business owners to help them manage their fleet.

The vehicle also features an electric windshield defroster – a series of heating filaments within the windshield that can be used to more quickly clear ice, snow and mist.