Way back in the dark ages of my youth I spent some time working in a publishing warehouse. Often I would have the task of delivering law texts to lawyers in downtown Toronto. Of course the chariot of choice was a 1 ton CheForPar panel van. You know the kind, big and ugly and covered in dents because they are impossible to see out of and have the turning radius of an aircraft carrier. All that size for a box of books or two. Sure, the CheForPar monster van is a great tool when there is a big load, but most often it seems to be overkill for most businesses. The more recent euro style Sprinter is even bigger, not to mention uber expensive.
Thanks to their smaller roads, European manufacturers have never really built the gargantuan delivery van, instead focusing on smaller solutions. The Ford Transit has long been one of the primary tools. In the same vein, Ford has developed the Transit Connect for the North American market. What a bunch of smart cookies, these Ford folks!
The Transit Connect is a much smaller package that offers better thought out storage space combined with manueverability and far better fuel economy than the traditional V8 powered machines. In fact, the Transit Connect is powered by a 2.0l Duratec 4 cylinder that puts out 136 hp and 128 ft/lb of torque. That power reaches the front wheels via a 4 speed automatic transmission with overdrive as opposed to the rear wheels of the traditional CheForPar. The result is a peppy drive that could almost be called fun when empty. With a full load on, acceleration to highway speeds won’t win any contests but that isn’t really the point. Thanks to large mirrors and those massive side windows, the Transit Connect is actually very easy to see out of, making parking a breeze in tight spots.
The human area is sparse but nicely appointed for a work vehicle with some well thought out storage cubbies. The cloth covered seats are comfortable though a couple of front seat passengers wished for a center armrest on their seat like the one on the driver’s seat. Our tester didn’t have them, but the optional rear seats and side windows could add a whole new element of flexibility for the small business that needs to move crew and tools.
Access to the cargo area comes via large sliding doors on both sides and a pair of barn doors at the back. These barn doors have a quick release for the hinge stoppers that allow the doors to swing right out of the way when loading large objects. The cargo area floor is completely flat, making full use of the big box. The floor is covered with a non skid rubber mat that keeps your load stationary and is easy to sweep out.
Perhaps my only complaint with the Transit Connect may be considered a niggly one depending on your outlook. The center console contains a 12 volt power outlet and a cigarette lighter. Here in Ontario, smokers aren’t allowed to light up in the workplace and the nasty habit police have actually charged a truck driver for smoking at work. In a truck he owned, occupied by him alone. I understand that decontenting a vehicle for one market can actually increase the cost, but this seems like a strange equipment choice for our market.
Here in Canada, GM no longer sells their small cargo van so the commercial buyer would have to choose a full size van. The base vehicle starts at over $31,000 which is a hefty chunk when compared to the Transit Connect that begins at $26,799. Add in the extra fuel costs, body damage and the like and Ford’s little Euro van is a very smart choice.
About Gary Grant
