2010 Ford Transit Connect
Ford Motor Company is the only U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy. But they’re by no means assured of long term success. Part of their plan to prosper hinges on bringing their best overseas vehicles here. First to arrive is the Transit Connect van. Since 2003, some 600,000 Transit Connects have been sold in 58 countries. Its compact size appeals to small businesses. But will it connect with American entrepreneurs? Well, let’s load up and find out.
The 2010 Ford Transit Connect does indeed look narrow and quirky by American work van standards. But this Turkish-made front-wheel drive hauler is clearly a Ford truck- from the sharp-edged headlight stacks and understated three-bar grille to the F-150-style stepped front windows and side mirrors.
Even in top XLT trim, work-grey fender flares surround no-nonsense 15-inch steel wheels with plastic lug-nut covers. But, while styling won’t raise any pulses, the Transit Connect’s form follows its function to a ‘T.’
Indeed, the most striking feature is its short but tall proportions. With a wheelbase of 114.6 inches, it’s only 180.6 inches long overall. That’s three feet shorter than Ford’s E-Series full size van. But at 79.3 inches tall, it’s more than 10 inches taller than Ford’s last minivan, the Freestar.
That makes it ideal for small businesses that carry bulky items, like the tasty creations from our friends at Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes.
MARY ALICE YESKEY: We got the Ford Transit about six months ago, and the whole experience was really cool for us because it was truly custom made from start to finish. We couldn’t have designed a better vehicle to transport cakes. It’s awesome.
There are two body styles. The base cargo Van has no glass aft of the B-pillars, but windows can be added in the twin sliding side doors, the rear swing doors, or both. Optional are 255-degree split rear cargo doors with rubber bump stops.
In passenger Wagon form, windows are standard and seating is available for two, four, or five.
There’s an impressive 78.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind that second row. But fold it up, or don’t tick the option box, and that figure swells to 135.3 cubic feet. Payload capacity is a more than adequate 1,600 pounds.
The driver’s space is also work-focused: bland but roomy. There are echoes of Ford’s first-gen Focus here, with which the Transit Connect shares platform components.
Our XLT came with an in-dash computer featuring navigation, Internet access, Bluetooth, and wireless keyboard; perfect for staying in touch with the office. And above the windshield there is a useful storage shelf. Given the van’s limited rear visibility, the reverse-sensing system is another good choice.
While most Transit Connects abroad use diesel power, we’ll have to make do with a gasoline 2.0-liter I4 with 136 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. Our only transmission is a four-speed automatic. Still, Government Fuel Economy ratings are fine at 22 city, 25 highway. We managed 23.6 miles per regular gallon in mixed driving.
But the economy comes with a price. The Transit Connect strolls to 60 mph in 12.1 seconds, and covers the quarter-mile in 18.7 seconds at just 75 miles per hour. So, plan your merging and passing well in advance. On the other hand, 60 to 0 stops averaged an acceptable 129 feet, with a solid response.
Our van had optional Roll Stability Control. So, even with a simple torsion beam rear suspension, our Transit Connect felt light on its feet and never top-heavy through the slalom. Add in a tight 39-foot curb-to-curb turning diameter and the result is an easy-to-maneuver city hauler.
The base Transit Connect van starts at $21,475. The wagon begins at $21,830. Our well-equipped wagon ticketed for just under 25 grand. An electric-powered version will be coming to the States in 2010.
The 2010 Ford Transit Connect impressed us with its cargo space, efficiency, city-smart agility, and very useful, very cool job-site gadgets. And if the Transit Connect is a true indication of how other off-shore Fords will take to America, the company’s fortunes are bound to keep improving.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.0-Liter I4
- Horsepower: 136
- Torque: 128 Lb Feet
- 0-60 MPH: 12.1 Seconds
- 1/4 Mile: 18.7 Seconds @ 75 MPH
- 60-0 MPH: 129 Feet
- EPA: 22 MPG City/ 25 MPG Highway
- Mixed Loop: 23.6 MPG
2024 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35
Goldilocks Approved: It Does Everything Just Right
These days, you don’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to get some real-deal AMG performance from Mercedes-Benz, as they’ve spread their high-performance love throughout their lineup. So, let’s go for some high-speed bargain hunting in the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35.
You may think of big cars and bigger horsepower when you hear AMG, but this updated 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4-door Coupe is certainly not a big car, yet there’s no doubt it packs a serious performance punch. The CLA is not the least expensive Mercedes you can currently buy in the U.S., but it is their lowest priced car, and it feels more right-size than small-size behind the wheel.
It’s a fun, enjoyable ride that lets you know what you’re in for right away with a nice raspy exhaust note at start up. Standard engine in the base CLA 250 is of course a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo, but it is ‘Benz’s latest with mild-hybrid assistance and a rating of 221-horsepower.
This CLA 35 is one of two AMG versions which cranks the turbo up to boost output to 302 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque; the CLA 45 S, goes even further with a full rebuild to crank it up to 416 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque. The CLA is front-wheel-drive based but is sending power to all four wheels by the time it leaves the AMG shop with performance-tuned AMG 4MATIC.
AMG has done serious suspension tuning as well, and the great feedback that it provides through the AMG Performance steering wheel is a big part of this car’s fun-factor. But our test car came equipped with winter tires, which did hold us back a little bit through the cones at our Mason Dixon test track. Still, it felt both agile and fun and body roll was minimal. Not until we pushed hard could we really feel the lack of dry pavement grip from those tires. On the other hand, a few days after track day, we actually did have some winter weather to drive through and then we were very appreciative of the grip those winter tires provided.
With some assistance from AMG’s sweet launch control, which not only allowed us to launch at 3500 RPM with no wheel slip at all, but made sure the turbos were feeding full power, as we felt no turbo lag whatsoever on our quick 4.5-second trip to 60. AMG’s Speedshift eight-speed DCT lived up to its name, delivering quick and hard hits throughout the 13.1-second, 104 mph quarter-mile.
It’s a fun, enjoyable ride that lets you know what you’re in for right away with a nice raspy exhaust note at start up.
When it came time to remove speed in a hurry in our panic runs from 60 mph, those winter tires again played a factor, as the brakes felt very strong and there was very little nosedive but stops took a longer than expected 125 feet.
Now this 2nd generation CLA arrived for 2020, and for ’24 gets a subtle restyling at both ends. At the front, the grille has been redesigned, AMGs getting their own unique version with big vertical slats, prominent Mercedes star and subtle AMG badge. LED headlights are new, now labeled as High-Performance headlights, joined by upgraded rear taillights and a very aggressive looking AMG diffuser with big exhaust outlets. The back-up camera is smoothly hidden in a flip-out Mercedes badge. Multiple new wheel designs are available with sizes up to 19-inches.
Inside the CLA’s cabin, additional standard content includes a leather steering wheel and 10-inch media display. Both of which were already part of the AMG transformation, though AMG Line buyers can now add some heat elements to their sport steering wheel.
As we’ve seen with most Mercedes updates, both the virtual gauge cluster and the central touchscreen reside in a single housing mounted on top of the dash, upgraded with the latest MBUX software.
Pricing for the CLA 35 starts at $56,100, with the more powerful 45 S coming in at $66,550.
Bottom line, the folks in Stuttgart have given us a 2024 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 that’s clearly better without messing it up. That’s certainly good news to us, as these days we seem to be getting less and paying more for just about everything. So, while you might not think the new CLA 35 sounds like a bargain, there is no better gateway into the amazing world of AMG performance.
Specifications
- Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo
- Horsepower: 416
- 0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds
- 60-0 Braking: 125 feet (avg)
- MW Fuel Economy: 28.2 MPG (Premium)
- Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
- Torque: 369 lb-ft.
- 1/4 Mile: 13.1 seconds at 104 mph
- EPA: 22 City / 29 Highway / 25 Combined