2010 Ford Transit Connect

Just like fashion, it seems that what starts in the old world is coming to the new - finally. In a land where it’s widely considered that if a little is good, more must be better, the Ford Transit Connect seems to stand alone. Cargo-oriented vehicles in North America usually mean a big V8, or diesel power. The Transit takes the more European approach, with a 138-hp, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (I4) engine mated to a four-speed automatic that transmits power to the front wheels.

This means an EPA-certified efficiency estimation of 20/25 mpg, numbers that represent a 40% increase over average full-size vans. Sound like a new concept? Actually, the Transit Connect has been sold in Europe for eight years, based on the Focus platform. Here, you’ll get the choice of Van or Wagon, in XL or XLT trim. Wagons seat five and sport side windows, while the Van instead provides 135 cubic feet of cargo room, more than Ford’s flagship SUV, the Expedition. This means cargo space that’s 77 inches deep and 60 wide. While the Wagon comes standard with stability control, it’s merely an option for the Van. Choosing the XLT trim will get you power windows and locks, a CD player, and slight visual differences, like color-matching bumpers. Other small visual changes have been made that distinguish American from Euro models, namely to the front grille and bumper, as well as a refresh of the interior, previously a stickaround from 2002.

In keeping with its European heritage, the Transit Connect is only 180.7 inches long and sports a 39-foot turning diameter. This means easy parking for city deliveries. When you get where you’re going, the rear barn door opens with a standard 180-degree hinge, and if that’s not enough, there’s an optional 255-degree hinge as well. Ford is targeting the small-business owner with the Transit Connect, the first vehicle imported to the U.S. from Ford’s plant in Kocaeli, Turkey. We have yet to see if it’s the kind of thinking that can turn Ford around here in the U.S.

By Michael Perkins