2016 Ford Transit Connect: Filling a Void

The Ford Transit Connect is a van that fits into a small space and works great as a light-duty cargo van to be a highly useful van for city companies that need to make deliveries and get things accomplished.  The Transit Connect can be configured in a variety of ways including offering room for seven passengers and comes in a length that is about the same as a midsize sedan which makes it easy to maneuver about on busy city streets.  For companies that have a lot of light duty work to accomplish this can be the van of choice to make the deliveries much easier and quicker than with a larger and more cumbersome vehicle.

This van does add some new features for 2016 which include a pair of captain’s chairs, blind spot monitoring and cross traffic alerts which are available on some models.  Another great feature of this van is the price which starts in the mid-$20,000 making it much less expensive than most delivery and commercial use vehicles.  With a fuel mileage that can reach up to 30 mpg this is truly a van that can actually add to the bottom line of any company that chooses to make use of it.

Because this is mostly a commercial use van there aren’t a lot of standard features, but there are enough to make it a choice some families will enjoy.  First of all there are two wheelbases, short and long.  The short offers seating for five, while the long will add room for two more, making this a van that can be great for a larger family to enjoy.  The standard equipment offered on the base XL model incudes air conditioning, rear seat climate control on the passenger models, an audio system with an auxiliary input, keyless entry, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, and a four way adjustable driver’s seat.  There are also dual sliding doors, a power second row and a 60/40 split folding second row.  Moving up the limited trim levels does bring in a 4.2-ich infotainment center display and power adjustable mirrors.

Even though this van can be configured and is mostly used for cargo, those looking to make it their people hauler will like the additional features as well.  These include the front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, swing out rear doors, Ford’s Sync infotainment system with navigation, a panoramic Vista Roof, blind spot warning, leather trimmed seats with heated front seats, dual zone climate controls and rain sensing windshield wipers.  Of course this versatile van is great as a cargo hauler and can be completely stripped down so you can add the shelves and boxes needed to haul all your tools and the materials needed for smaller jobs or for deliveries.

Because this van is smaller in size it feels light and quick even though it really isn’t.  This gives you a confident driving feeling and the size makes it easy to park and weave in and out of traffic as much as you need to.  This isn’t going to be the van your family says is the most comfortable ride, but it’s certainly not the worst ride in town either and makes this a van that can be used as a cab to haul a party wherever it needs to go to have a great time.

The fuel efficiency you can enjoy comes from the fact this van isn’t large and heavy and is only powered by a four-cylinder engine.  The base engine is a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder version and the upgraded engine is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder model.  The most power you will see is 178 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque with the best fuel mileage coming in on the highway at 30 mpg, making this a van that can easily help you keep money in your pocket.  Both engines are connected to a six-speed automatic transmission and come in front wheel drive only setups.  This little van can tow up to 2,000 pounds and carry as much as 1,620 pounds worth of stuff inside which makes it a great vehicle for a catering company to use for loading with food and hauling a small trailer of supplies behind.  Overall, the Ford Transit Connect can be a very versatile and efficient van to make it easier for you to do business and enjoy some awesome financial savings.