July 29th, 2010 
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Do you want an unusual experience? Test drive a new Ford Transit Connect. It is that funny looking, sort-of-a-mini-van. It normally has a standard gasoline internal combustion engine.
Recently, my wife and I attended the Alternative Fuels Conference in Las Vegas. One of the available test vehicles was a new Ford Transit Connect, except that this one was 100% compressed natural gas. Neither one of us could tell the difference in handling, noise, or any other aspect. The gasoline model performed great and so did the natural gas model.
The Transit Connect looks different and certainly attracts attention. It has a narrow body, a high roof, and a low floor. Sitting side-by-side with a standard van, it is not much taller, but the low floor makes the difference. It has a car-like front end, although it has been referred to as a droop-lip front bumper. It is very utilitarian.
Much of the promotion of the Transit Connect appears to be as a taxi-cab. In fact, the test drive model at the Alternative Fuels Conference was painted a bright yellow-orange and outfitted down to the plastic window separating the driver and passenger areas. The second row seat in the Transit Connect is a 40-60 split bench seat, but seats three adults easily. The rear area holds an abundance of cargo or luggage. It can even be fitted with small shelving. The back doors open outwards from the middle. The side doors slide open. All egress and ingress is easy and low to the ground.
Although it is named Transit Connect, this mini-van-like-vehicle is perfect for a small business needing a delivery van, such as a mobile dog grooming businesses, a florist, or a small gourmet catering service. A family wanting a special van for weekend outings might find it fits their wants and wishes. It would have been perfect for me when I was publisher of the Red Oak and Italy newspapers. I drove the Transit Connect during the week as if it was a daily work truck or a family van. It performed great, although some of the more comfort features are lacking.
The interior is mostly painted sheet metal or hard plastic. The floor is durable rubber. The bucket front seats are fairly comfortable, but are not ideal for long distances. The center console is functional but not as complete as most.
The Transit Connect corners extremely well and did not have any lean going around sharp turns. It has plenty of power to move down a highway at competitive speeds. It uses the same engine as the Ford Focus – a 2.0 liter Duratec Inline 4 cylinder. It is matched with a four speed transmission that provided no jerk and even a slight hint of gear changes. If the Transit Connect was fully loaded, it might be pushing the limits, but I did not try this during the test drive.
An oddity for the Transit Connect that is different from what we normally expect is the hood opening. The latch and lock are not found inside the driver’s area, but are outside, almost hidden under the familiar Blue Oval Ford logo. You have to turn off the van, get out, use the key to unlock the hood, and hope you do not drop the key down into the engine area.
My test model had a base MSRP of just $22,350, including a host of standard items. An in-dash computer, complete with a keyboard, had been added for $1395. With delivery charges and such, the bottom sticker price was $24,975. Mileage figures by the EPA are 22 city and 25 highway, although I got slightly higher. The CNG, compressed natural gas, model gets slightly better, but the primary benefits of natural gas is it is cheaper than refined gas, it is more abundant, and it is found here in our own country. The natural gas models are only available in fleets and not yet available to the average consumer, although I believe natural gas vehicles will be very common in just a few years.
Bottom line – I like the Transit Connect. It obviously will not be for everyone, but certainly will fit the needs for many consumers, especially small business owners. It is a small van that looks large with a host of utilitarian uses. Check it out yourself at a Ford dealership.
ALAN GELL, Lh.D.
Member, Texas Press Association
Member, Texas Auto Writers Association
http://www.CarColumns.Net
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