Small car manners and cabin
This van sits low to the ground-- meaning loading of occupants and gear is a cinch and handled with virtually no stepping up or down. There's a sliding door on each side, and the rear doors open a full 180 degrees to swallow up larger items.
The driving position is about the same as a family sedan, and forward visibility is great thanks to the extra-tall windshield. Lateral visibility is somewhat limited though, and the side windows don’t seem to stretch backwards far enough. Inching out of a parking lot may require a good lean out of the driver’s seat.
Navigating said parking lot is easier. Transit Connect has a manageable turning circle, and parking manoeuvres come easily once mirrors are adjusted to compensate for the lack of rear side windows. If your staff aren’t as mirror-savvy as you, the optional backup sensors may prevent accidental bumper-munching in tight quarters.
Driver and passenger benefit from a pair of cupholders, a storage pouch in each door, and a dash-mounted cubby that’s ideal for a clipboard. There’s cruise control, an armrest for the driver, and a CD player, too.
On the highway
The Transit Connect has its roots deeply set in European soil, and it shows. Sharp, eager and quick reflexes are exhibited from the steering, which has a very good overall feel. Ditto the brakes, which are relatively powerful, precise, and surprisingly responsive. In fact, the whole driving experience reminded this writer of the last-generation Ford Focus-- which is a good thing.
One note, though. Despite the typically car-like manners, Transit Connect’s narrow tires and tall, wind-catching body translate to a less-than-planted feeling during higher-speed highway driving-- especially in the rain. Keep your speed to 115 km/h or so, otherwise things can get dicey.
This van sits low to the ground-- meaning loading of occupants and gear is a cinch and handled with virtually no stepping up or down. There's a sliding door on each side, and the rear doors open a full 180 degrees to swallow up larger items.
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| There's a sliding door on each side. |
The driving position is about the same as a family sedan, and forward visibility is great thanks to the extra-tall windshield. Lateral visibility is somewhat limited though, and the side windows don’t seem to stretch backwards far enough. Inching out of a parking lot may require a good lean out of the driver’s seat.
Navigating said parking lot is easier. Transit Connect has a manageable turning circle, and parking manoeuvres come easily once mirrors are adjusted to compensate for the lack of rear side windows. If your staff aren’t as mirror-savvy as you, the optional backup sensors may prevent accidental bumper-munching in tight quarters.
Driver and passenger benefit from a pair of cupholders, a storage pouch in each door, and a dash-mounted cubby that’s ideal for a clipboard. There’s cruise control, an armrest for the driver, and a CD player, too.
On the highway
The Transit Connect has its roots deeply set in European soil, and it shows. Sharp, eager and quick reflexes are exhibited from the steering, which has a very good overall feel. Ditto the brakes, which are relatively powerful, precise, and surprisingly responsive. In fact, the whole driving experience reminded this writer of the last-generation Ford Focus-- which is a good thing.
One note, though. Despite the typically car-like manners, Transit Connect’s narrow tires and tall, wind-catching body translate to a less-than-planted feeling during higher-speed highway driving-- especially in the rain. Keep your speed to 115 km/h or so, otherwise things can get dicey.
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| There’s cruise control, an armrest for the driver, and a CD player, too. |