2013 Ford Transit Connect

You need to step up to the XLT van to get amenities such as a heated rear window and side mirrors, body-colored bumpers, power windows, locks and mirrors and cruise control. The XLT wagon package includes a split-folding rear bench that brings passenger capacity up to 5, as well as foglights, four-speaker audio with AUX input and carpeted floor mats. The XLT Premium adds better exterior and interior trim as well as rear privacy glass and vent windows for rear passengers. A compressed natural gas (CNG) option is available on all trim levels.

It's hard to compare the Transit Connect to similar vehicles on the market. But the Ram Cargo Van is similarly priced, offers lots of room but is less agile around town. The Chevrolet Express van is also vast but cumbersome and guzzles fuel. A Nissan NV offers more power and slightly more efficiency than the Express, but can be very expensive. A Jeep Patriot is priced low for someone considering a Transit Connect Wagon and is offered with all-wheel drive, but isn't offered in a van trim.

The Transit Connect, therefore, occupies a unique place in the marketplace for both personal and business use. Passenger wagons offer lots of space for not much money, while commercial users in cities or who have small businesses can appreciate the nimbleness of the Transit Connect and the lower running costs than a full-size van or truck.