2010 Ford Transit Connect
The 2010 Ford Transit Connect XLT is a unique, multi-purpose small van designed for small-business owners. It is perfect for small jobs and is great on fuel consumption, with a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine.
The Transit Connect is easy to maneuver and can be parked in tight quarters. The cargo space is ample for many businesses such as plumbers, handymen, florists and caterers.
Driving Experience
The Transit I drove as the cargo model with no side or rear windows. It handled well in both city and highway driving. The vehicle is agile and easy to maneuver.
Because of its size, the Transit Connect is easy to park. Driving the Transit Connect is like driving a front wheel drive car or a CUV. Steering is responsive and the turning radius is just 39 feet. Acceleration is good and the vehicle handles just like a car.
The Transit has a 15.4-gallon fuel tank, which provides you with a range of approximately 350 miles based on its EPA rating of 22 mpg city driving and 25 mpg highway driving.
Safety
The following are the safety features on the Transit Connect:
1. Driver air bag
2. Passenger air bag
3. Front anti-lock brakes
4. Safety belts w/pretensioners and energy-management retractors
5. Collapsible steering column
Under the Hood
The drive train is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and has 136HP, 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine. The Transit Connect is front-wheel drive.
Ford has introduced an electric version of the Transit with a range of 100 miles. Charge time will be 6 to 8 hours, with a maximum speed of 70 mph, using liquid-cooled Lithium-Ion batteries.
Inside
The cargo area is 59.1 inches tall from floor to ceiling with a payload of 1,600 pounds. There is more than six feet of cargo floor space, with 48 inches of flat space between the wheelwells.
Any small business can configure the cargo area with a variety of racks, bins and other storage equipment for their particular application.
The seats are well constructed and hold you firmly in place. The driver’s seat adjusts six ways, manually; the passenger seat adjusts four ways. The center armrests are positioned so you can drive in comfort for any distance.
The controls on the steering wheel are positioned well, and have tilt and telescope functions. Air conditioning is adequate and the radio controls are positioned for easy access. The front visibility is excellent due to the large front windows, and the sideview mirrors are large and adjust like a car.
The Transit Connect had the optional Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer with Garmin navigation, which allows small-business owners to run their business from the vehicle.
My Transit Connect was configured as a panel van without side or back windows and had the XLT trim package.
Outside
The styling of the Transit Connect looks like a miniature Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter, and has its own personality and dynamics when you first spot the vehicle on the road
The Transit Connect styling says work and can handle a variety of jobs for any small or large business. The sliding side cargo doors, and rear doors that open 180 degrees make it easy to get at cargo no matter where the vehicle is parked.
The Ford Transit Connect is the perfect solution for business owners who are looking for a vehicle for a variety of jobs. It’s designed for efficiency, requiring no special driving skills to operate. It can be custom designed for many purposes, and is inexpensive to maintain.
The 2009 Ford Flex is the most unusual and most miss-understood vehicle I have reviewed this year. The outside has a boxy body similar to the Scion xB and can have a two-tone roof /body paint scheme.