Review: 2010 Ford Transit Connect XLT Cargo Van

[Autosavant]

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of a new 2010 Ford Transit Connect XLT Cargo Van in my driveway for a weeklong stint. Though I didn't really need its cargo capacity and found it to be quite an adjustment to get used to having 180 degrees of blind spots behind me, the little van impressed me. Let me know what you think of the article and if you agree with my impressions of the van.

 

http://www.autosavant.com/2010/06/08/review-2010-ford-transit-connect-xlt-cargo-van/

 

Eventually, I managed to hone a parking technique that worked. Basically, I’d just back the van into every parking space I could. Backing into a space upon arrival ensured that I knew who and what was around me when I arrived at the lot, and avoided situations where my safety (and the van’s well-being) would be put in jeopardy by blindly backing out of a parking space into a street or aisle invisible to the driver. My test van had a lot of technology (which I’ll discuss in a moment), but did not have a backup camera. It did have bumper-mounted parking sonar sensors, which helped a bit.

 

Acceleration is surprisingly lively off the line from the 2.0 liter four cylinder. Though its power output is fairly meager at 136 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque, the right gearing for the application an perhaps an overly-aggressive throttle tip-in make the van feel like it has adequate acceleration. Begin loading up the cargo hold, though, and it stands to reason that acceleration would quickly begin to suffer. And even though it feels adequately powerful, we’re still talking about a vehicle that Car and Driver needed 11.1 seconds to get from zero to sixty miles per hour on a test track. Maximum payload is 1,600 pounds, by the way, and there is 135.3 cubic feet of cargo area in the Transit Connect cargo van.

[caeser4]

Good review. Thanks.

[T'Cal]

I wonder if the 2.5L I4 would fit under the TC's hood. I can see this vehicle as a modern day conversion van.

[Mackintire]

I wonder if the 2.5L I4 would fit under the TC's hood. I can see this vehicle as a modern day conversion van.

 

 

The next scheduled powertrain changes are the EB 1.6 liter engine and the 6 speed auto. The combination of both should raise the fuel economy by 2 MPG and lower the 0-60 by 3 seconds. The added cost to MSRP should be in the $500 range.