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2010 Ford Transit Connect Passenger

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Ford Transit Connect Passenger

Overview

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2010 Ford Transit Connect Passenger Review

By KBB.com Editors

To meet the needs of small businesses and practical-minded consumers, Ford is bringing the Transit Connect, formerly available in Europe and other spots around the globe, to the United States. Why bring a somewhat funky car/van/wagon to America? Because schlepping moderate amounts of goods around town in a traditional commercial cargo van is often inefficient, while small panel vans like the Chevy HHR can be just too small. In kind of a "just right" size, the Transit Connect offers a lower price, lower operating costs and more versatility than bigger vans, and it's been well-proven in some tough areas. There really is nothing quite like it on the American market.

You'll Like This Car If...

Whether it's household cargo or small-business goods, the Ford Transit Connect has a spacious and tall interior, and available 255-degree-opening rear doors, all of which offer more capability than the narrow and more limited space of the Chevy HHR.

You May Not Like This Car If...

One downside to the Transit Connect is that its overall compact size might not be able to deal with bulky objects that would be easy to haul in larger cargo vans.

What's Significant About This Car?

After years of great success in Europe and elsewhere, the Ford Transit Connect has been brought to the United States for those buyers looking for something big enough to carry moderately large cargo, small enough to easily navigate narrow roads and equipped with the necessary in-cabin technology capable of keeping their cargo, jobs and daily lives organized.

Driving the Transit Connect Passenger

Driving Impressions Driving the 2010 Ford Transit Connect is not unlike driving the average minivan. Although it may be tall, the Transit Connect is only three inches wider than the Ford Focus,...

making it easy to fit into small parking spaces and drive down narrow streets. The vehicle's 39-foot turning radius comes in handy, making for easy U-turns and parking, and the overall steering effort was light and responsive. While the four-cylinder engine is adequate for hauling duty and getting up to freeway speeds, we wish that Ford had brought over the diesel powerplant that's available in the European Transit Connect.

Favorite Features

255-Degree Swing-Open Rear Doors
The 255-degree angle folds the doors completely out of the way, allowing for much easier access to the cargo area.

In-Dash Computer System
This Microsoft Windows-based computer system can do just about everything a regular desktop computer can; it even comes with a keyboard and mouse.

2010 Ford Transit Connect Passenger Details

2010 Ford Transit Connect Passenger photo

Interior

On the inside, the 2010 Ford Transit Connect isn't much to look at. Hard plastics abound, as this interior boasts utility over comfort, but for those needing the extra space, the Transit Connect will suit them well. If rear seats aren't needed, there is over 135 cubic feet of space, and it can carry items up to six feet long and just under five feet wide and tall. And, for the average household family, this cargo hauler doubles as a handy people mover, with seating for up to five and ample head and legroom for front and rear passengers. For additional storage space, there is an overhead compartment above the front passenger area.

Exterior

Blend a Ford Fusion and an E-Series van and you get something like the Transit Connect. This car/van combination has vertically rectangular headlights, a front grille and fog lights that are similar to those found on the previous-generation Fusion, while its sliding side doors and hinged rear doors are just like those found on a cargo van. Aesthetics aside, the Transit Connect's exterior is functional as well. Small business owners looking for more advertising space will find that the optional metal door panels make a great canvas for company logos.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, four-speed automatic transmission, 15-inch covered steel wheels, rear 180-degree swing-open doors and an AM/FM radio with two speakers. The higher XLT trims come with more features, including side and rear-door privacy glass, a single-disc CD player, audio input jack, cruise control, dual front map lights, AdvanceTrac electronic stability control with RSC (Roll Stability Control) and the Power Equipment Group, which includes remote keyless entry and power windows, door locks and side mirrors.

Optional Equipment

Some notable options include the Nokia Bluetooth system, 255-degree-opening rear doors, reverse-sensing system, an in-dash Magnetti Marelli Windows CE computer with touch screen, Crew Chief – which allows fleet managers to track their fleet vehicles and staff – and Tool Link, which uses radio frequency identification tags that allow the user to keep track of items missing from the vehicle's cabin - such as power tools that might be left at a work site.

Under the Hood

The 2010 Ford Transit Connect is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Duratec engine that gives it a fair balance of fuel economy and power. Although a four-cylinder engine seems rather small for a vehicle that weighs over 3,000 pounds and is meant to haul large cargo, it's surprisingly spritely and supplies enough torque to get the Transit Connect everywhere it needs to go. And, it delivers decent fuel economy.

2.0-liter in-line four
136 horsepower @ 6300 rpm
128 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/25

To compare current market prices, check out KBB.com's car classifieds to view the new and used Ford Transit Connect Passenger vehicles for sale near you.

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2010 Ford Transit Connect Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

7.2

Out of 10

Based on 25 Ratings for the 2010 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

7.8/10

Quality

7.2/10
Reliability

7.7/10

Performance

7.6/10
Comfort

7.4/10

Styling

7.8/10

Not Great for Service

By John (RI) on Sunday, October 14, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 90,000

10 5.0

overall rating 5 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/10
Value: 5/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 5/10
Performance: 5/10
Styling: 4/10
Comfort: 2/10

Pros: "Cheap Original Cost"

Cons: "Too small and weak to perform"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"Currently a Service Manager for a Food and Beverage service company. We replaced three of our trucks in November of 2011, from E250 and Sprinters. The thought was better fuel rates and cheaper investment. However the Transit is extremely uncomfortable if you are taller then 5'7", no leg room at all. We have racked the trucks however we have found that there is not enough room for what we do. A large hill is the trucks enemy, no power to get out of its own way. The three trucks fuel consumption is about 20mpg average when stock with equipment. Tank is so small that techs are having refuel twice a day, decreasing billable time. At this point we have sold one, the other two are being sold. We will never purchase these again."

17 people out of 17 found this review helpful

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Came from a 10MPG Box truck

By Crestwood Mechanical (MA) on Friday, August 31, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 5,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "See above"

Cons: "See above"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Nice little van, No balls what soever!! I added helper springs to take out some sag. Over all I get 22 MPG This van will pay for itself in 18 months or less with gas savings. Its terribly overloaded but the reality is it didn't have great power with nothing in it!! I can still hit 80 or better on the highway, it just takes 15 miles to get there!. Overall a great truck and will upgrading my fleet one at a time with theses bad boys."

4 people out of 6 found this review helpful

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overall is good

By Eddie (GA) on Friday, August 24, 2012

I own this car

10 3.0

overall rating 3 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 3/10
Value: 6/10
Reliability: 7/10
Quality: 4/10
Performance: 4/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 4/10

Pros: "Great design just like European model"

Cons: "needs diesel engine squeaky breaks,"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 3

"Its not that great on gas milege (for a small car) especial in city. Breaks start squeaking after 2000 miles and they still do.after 13.000 miles. The bed material in cargo area is really soft and poor quality and needs some heavy degreaser to wash it . Its very convenient easy to load unload. If this Transit had a diesel and work some little things I would keep it for a long time. I use it for business every day."

3 people out of 5 found this review helpful

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florist delivery van //on second one //do it again

By noah (MI) on Tuesday, August 21, 2012

I don't own this car

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 8/10
Quality: 8/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 8/10
Comfort: 7/10

Pros: "good for a small business that doesn't overload it"

Cons: "we all agree it could use a diesel//wake up ford!!"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"my boss traded in an old 350 van for this transit. we used this van daily for city and highway driving. can't say enough as to how much each driver that used this van enjoys it. we all agree that with the opines about blind spots with first transit:second one has windows all around."

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

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Service Techs Dream

By Dan C (TX) on Monday, February 20, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 25,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Price and economical operation"

Cons: "none if used for its purpose - a commercial van"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This van is used in connection with my radio engineering service. It is equipped with custom shelving and compartments for the many electronic gizmos that I must carry. The van serves as transportation, storage and my mobile office. Summertime MPG is approx. 20 and winter is 24. Never have had any problem; always can depend on the little van."

9 people out of 9 found this review helpful

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This is not a Ford car, please

By catm (International) on Saturday, February 18, 2012

I don't own this car

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 3/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 1/10
Comfort: 1/10

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"They only put Ford name to an european poor vehicle, only two months on the street, most time on the dealer, please if you are looking a car for work, this is not an option."

4 people out of 21 found this review helpful

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See all 25 reviews