Used 2011 Ford Transit Connect XL for sale 

The Ford Transit Connect is offered in just two trims with a single powertrain option. Though are options to choose from if you need a side and rear door glass which just marginally affects the prices. Considering it’s just a work van, there aren’t many expectations from it in terms of technology and creature comforts, but it does get a handful of them so as to make the van future-proof to a certain extent.

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The option of choosing for rear or side door glasses is a personal preference and since there also isn’t too much of a price difference between the two available trims, the option for the fully loaded XLT trim would be the smarter choice.

The Ford Transit Cargo is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which produces a meager 136 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. Although it is a small van, the engine output feels too low and the 13.2 seconds taken just to achieve 60 mph is an indication for that.

The quarter-mile takes ages as well and the towing and payload capacities are rather limited as well. The 4-speed transmission and front-wheel drive drivetrain have lackluster performance even when driving an empty cargo bed, loading it up just worsens it even further. 

Since there is no real compact van to compete with the Transit Connect, the large Chevrolet Express 1500 and the Savana 1500, both look way out its league, to begin with. They both cost only around $4,000 more than the Ford and offer superior tugging and hauling prowess, not to mention the superior acceleration as well.

The biggest selling point the largest difference between the Transit Connect and other large vans is in their efficiencies. The Transit Connect is rated by the EPA for 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, whereas the combined fuel economy is rated at 23 mpg. The higher efficiency means it can get away with a smaller gas tank which measures a 15.4-gallon capacity, and yet manage an impressive 400-mile range on the highways.

Both the Chevy and GMC twins are way behind the Ford in terms of frugality and hence feature a fuel tank double the size of what is offered in the Transit Connect. Thus, they both offer a much longer driving range of over 600 miles on the highway and are the more practical option if highway munching is your daily thing.

The Transit Connect offers an interior that resembles more like a car than a work van, and that’s a good thing. Although the overall look is pretty much utilitarian, there are subtle fine touches like the patterned fabric upholstery that enhances the otherwise basic appearance of the interior. The space on offer is great when compared to a car and the cargo capacity is pretty large at 129.6 cu-ft.

The larger Express 1500 and the GMC Savana 1500 vans offer much greater space for both the passengers and the cargo. The cargo capacity is more than twice when compared to the Transit Connect, whereas the seats are also wider and offer a lot more legroom for the driver and passenger. 

• 6-way manual driver-adjustable and 4-way manual passenger adjustable seats
• Cloth front bucket seats
• Remote keyless entry
• Electronic Passive Anti-Theft System (EPATS)
• Front/middle/rear dome lamps
• 12V power outlet in the cargo area
• Cargo area vinyl floor covering

How is the 2011 Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van’s infotainment system?

The work van nature of the Transit Connect Cargo Van translates to a pretty rudimentary approach in terms of technology. There is just a basic music system with AM/FM Radio, and a CD player available along with a basic 2-speaker audio system. There is an in-dash computer and a wireless keyboard available though, which makes things pretty interesting for the ones who spend their entire day on the field. 

• AM/FM radio 
• CD Player
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• Nokia Bluetooth System
• 2-speaker audio system
• In-dash Ford Work Solutions In-Dash Computer

Just like its interiors, the exterior of the 2011 Ford Transit Connect is more utilitarian than being aesthetically pleasing. It features a set of simple squarish headlamps with a slim front grille and the front windshield is pretty upright to maximize the usage of space. Overall, it has a pretty boxy shape and there is hardly any bling or fancy fitments, which is expected, considering the work nature of the vehicle. 

The Ford Transit Connect being a compact van is a much smaller van in terms of dimensions and is also substantially lighter. But it still does offer 6 feet-by-4 feet flat loading bay with almost 5 feet of ceiling height, which is impressive for a van of this size. The ground clearance is also on par with the Express 1500 and Savana 1500 which makes it easy to maneuver over broken patches of roads.

• 180 degree rear cargo doors
• Dual sliding cargo doors with or without privacy glass
• Flat-folding power mirrors
• Rear fog lamps
• 15-inch steel wheels w/6-spoke wheel covers

There are not many safety features on offer in the Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van, in order to keep the prices down. Also probably the reason why Ford did not get it crash-tested by either of the two government and private crash testing agencies, the NHTSA and the IIHS respectively. Nonetheless, it’s not the case that Ford has completely overlooked the safety section, there are few handy safety features that would definitely become a point of difference when things get out of hand.

• 4-wheel anti-lock (ABS) brakes
• Driver and passenger front and side airbags
• Passenger airbag occupancy sensor
• Safety belts w/pretensioners and energy management retractors
• Tire pressure monitoring system

The Ford Transit Connect Cargo Van may look really outshined by the other two vans that we compared it with, but one must understand the fact that they are from a different segment of vans altogether. Yes, the Transit Connect lacks power and has lackluster acceleration and hauling performance, but what it offers is a compact and efficient means for transporting cargo within the small city bylanes. So unless that is the primary role of your next van, buying a 2011 Transit Connect would not make much of a sense.