The Ford Transit Connect is a compact (Compact MPV) panel van developed by Ford Europe (Ford of Europe) and manufactured by Ford Otosan (Otosan), designed by Peter Horbury and introduced in 2002 to replace the older Ford Escort (Ford Escort (Europe)#Ford Escort Mark VI (1995-2000)) and Fiesta (Ford Fiesta)-based Courier (Ford Courier#European Ford Courier Van (Ford Fiesta based : 1991-2002)) van ranges, which had ceased production in the same year.

The Ford Tourneo Connect, a leisure activity vehicle, is a Transit Connect with side windows and rear seats. All North American Transit Connects are imported as passenger vehicles to circumvent the 25% "Chicken Tax" (chicken tax) on imported light trucks.

The Transit Connect employs the front-wheel drive Ford C170 platform of the original international Ford Focus (Ford Focus (international)) — the same platform (Automobile platform) currently used with the North American Ford Focus (Ford Focus (North America)). Other than the name, it shares few components with the Transit (Ford Transit). The Connect is manufactured by Otosan in an all new production plant at G�lc�k, near Kocaeli (?zmit), Turkey, and in Romania by Automobile Craiova.

The Ford Transit Connect was awarded "Van of the Year 2004" by Professional Van and Light Truck Magazine. In its first year on the North American market, the Transit Connect was awarded "North American Truck of the Year 2010" at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).