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Best Workhorse Vehicle: 2010 Ford Transit Connect 

By The Editors

Published in the Popular Mechanics December 2009 issue

For generations, the default vehicle for plumbers, contractors and delivery drivers has been the full-size van. The pressures of the economy, ever-increasing urban congestion and the fluctuating price of gasoline could move them to smaller rigs like the Transit Connect. The size is just right, with a low, flat floor that can be loaded through any of the three cargo doors.

Powered by a thrifty four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels, the van returns 22 mpg city and 25 on the highway, is low enough to slide into many garages and can handle a 1600-pound payload. There’s also Ford’s Tool Link, a system that builds RFID sensors into the van so that at the press of a button the driver can see an inventory of all the tools aboard.

The Transit Connect could also be a fun utility truck for the outdoor enthusiast—135 cubic feet can hold an awful lot of camping gear.

The Ford Transit Connect van brings more good news for small business owners.  The four cylinder/automatic combination has officially been certified by the EPA at 22/25 mpg city/highway, a 40 percent increase over typical full size vans.

The Ford Transit Connect was specifically manufactured by Ford for small business owners.  The Transit Connect van features low operating and ownership costs, a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter engine, 135.3 cubic feet of cargo space, a payload capacity up to 1,600 pounds, available Ford Work Solutions™ technologies and various cargo management systems make Transit Connect a smart solution.

Ford is the reigning Commercial Truck leader in the United States and the Ford Transit Connect will further grow their leadership to allow even more customers and business owners to experience the ‘Built Ford Tough’ difference. 

Consumers will also enjoy the Transit Van as an efficient vehicle to transport large groups of people and families.   As part of Ford’s aggressive new electric vehicle plan to bring pure battery-powered vehicles, hybrids and plug-in hybrids to market, a battery electric-powered Transit Connect will be offered later in 2010.

For more information on the Ford Transit Connect, visit www.fordtransitconnectvan.com

By James R. Healey, USA TODAY

Here’s one of the best ideas since sliced bread: a compact cargo van that, properly optioned, could just about serve as the family bus.

Ford Transit. Photo by Jack Gruber USA TODAY

If the 2010 Ford Transit Connect doesn’t evoke in spirit, if not appearance, the 1960s Volkswagen Bus, you’re too young, you were too stoned to remember or you have no imagination.

Ford says the official reason for modifying the Euro-market TC for the U.S. is to plug a hole in the market. It’s for business people who don’t want the cost or size of a big van but need something more utilitarian and robust than a minivan or hatchback.

But — wink, wink, nod, nod — there just might be a few surfers, artists, college students, vagabonds and unrehabilitated hippies to broaden TC’s appeal.

Read the whole Ford Transit Connect story…