Is the 2012 Ford Transit Connect a good car?
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2012 Ford Transit Connect and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2012 Transit Connect featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
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How do people like the 2012 Ford Transit Connect?
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2012 Ford Transit Connect and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2012 Transit Connect 3 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2012 Transit Connect.
Vehicle
Cargo Van XLT 4dr Minivan w/Side & Rear Glass (2.0L 4cyl 4A)
Review
Okay, so the Microsoft hands-free is laughably, pathetically clueless. Hope Ford got a freebie, since a Microsoft badge is glued to the dash. Of course, the new iPhone 7+ cannot connect, either. Cabin noise on California's crumbling roads has reached 109 dB on my meter, about as loud as standing behind a jet taking off. I buy earplugs by the case, but then I have for 40 years. Lots of positives, thanks to the designers. The standard door lock-unlock sequence protects me in crummy neighborhoods (unlocks the cargo doors while leaving the driver door locked, and vice versa). Interior lights go on for in-and-out, but if I leave the doors open in the garage for extended loading time, the lights go out after a few minutes. Very thoughtful. Power points are always on, so lately I unplug the dash cam if the truck won?t be used for several days. 1,600-pound payload includes me and gas ? my big pickup is only rated for 1,100 lbs. Don?t know how they did it. Not jittering on tippy-toes when empty, not wallowy when loaded to the limit. Many SUVs have a load limit of only 900 pounds -- so you're overloaded if you simply take three friends with you and top up the gas. Spec Continentals kept picking up nails: eight in 15,000 miles. ran two sets of Federal, an exact Taiwan copy of the Continental. Great tires, half the price. Michelin finally makes a Defender in this spec, so installed a set a couple of months ago. More expensive, still about as noisy. Don?t replace the wheels with style statements, as cheapie aftermarkets may not be rated for the payload. 22-24 mpg combined, 25 on occasion. Still so at 108, 713 Did okay in endurance racing back in the 70s, so I really appreciate the seats and view out front. This is the final English Ford design, I think, and shows off its performance heritage. The Limeys built the high-level 3rd brake light into one of the cargo doors, so it's a few inches from precise center -- naturally, the Twerp Patrol made them blank it out and pierce the roof for a separate unit. Thanks, guys. Don't drive much or own cars, do you? Progressive-rate steering centers well and allows flicking 90º to full lock. Low center of gravity, low cargo floor. Antilock brakes stop on a dime, straight and true. Traction control light comes on when I overdo it on off camber onramps, so I know it?s watching and helping. All controls within easy reach. A clear jump-in/jump-out path through the door to the driver?s seat make it the perfect setup for extended shifts of multiple stops. A few failures: Two batteries (maybe the dash cam drained them, since the outlets are not switched), front brake caliper (warranty), a tiny plastic tab in the interior light assembly broke ($78), high-level LED 3rd brake light assembly failed ($120), coolant reservoir cracked (warranty), one of the push-button keys failed (warranty), the visor is unraveling along one edge, a few small and, later, large cracks in the wheel covers -- replaced two at $53 each, then gave up and got half a dozen Mainland Chinese phonies on eBay for $120. They dig into the wheels, but they stay on. Wheels are down to bare metal -- paint and primer have vanished, although always garaged out of the 120º Sacramento sun. Local car wash chain snapped off 4 rear wiper arms, so I?ve yanked them and relying on Rain-X. Since they park vertically and most robot car washes use horizontal brushes, hit-and-miss company attempts to tape them down or tube them with big baggies fails much of the time. Styling department designed a snazzy cover over the rear wiper hinge that looks beefy, but under the cover it's the width of a pencil, and breaks a lot. On my 3rd windshield -- welcome to Pothole World. Following some nice storms, a pine branch swung over an Armco and I hit it at 70. New power driver side mirror: $450 installed, not bad at all. Is the engine gutless? Not really. Just set Cruise before the highway rises and let it rev it right out to 6,000. Transmission and engine smooth and reliable: My copier tech?s Focus with this motor only needed a water pump at 235,000. Another tech replaced his Focus with a Transit Connect a year after I did. When hardware gurus like them, I take their advice. Discovering that trade-in is astoundingly low -- at 108,713 miles, my spotless, maintained, pothole-avoided van is worth FOUR thousand bucks. Only 14% remains after less than five years. Mercedes claims a better resale value, but their new $33,000 Metris is Spanish, so who knows how far it'll fall from its current $21,000 trade-in with high miles? To be fair, many tradesman vans get driven by guys who don't own them. Would buy another, but the new Spanish-build version does not offer a high roof. The new motor is stronger, though -- drove one as a rental. Get the most doodads, even leather if you can find one. Dealer lead time for custom builds has been as high as 6 months, so you may have to take whatever is on the lot, like I did.
See all consumer reviews and retings for the 2012 Ford Transit Connect
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What options are available on the 2012 Ford Transit Connect?
Available Ford Transit Connect 2012 Submodel Types: Minivan
Available Trims: Cargo Van XL w/Rear 180 Degree Doors LWB, Cargo Van XLT w/Rear 180 Degree Doors LWB, Cargo Van XL w/Rear 180 Degree Doors SWB, Cargo Van XLT, Wagon XLT w/Rear Liftgate LWB, Cargo Van XL, Wagon Titanium LWB, Wagon XLT w/Rear 180 Degree Doors LWB, Cargo Van XL w/Rear Liftgate LWB, Cargo Van XLT w/Rear 180 Degree Doors SWB, Cargo Van XLT w/Rear Liftgate LWB, Wagon XL w/Rear 180 Degree Doors LWB, Wagon XLT w/Rear 180 Degree Doors SWB, Wagon XLT w/Rear Liftgate SWB, Wagon XLT Premium, Cargo Van XL w/Rear Liftgate SWB, Wagon XL w/Rear Liftgate LWB, Wagon XLT
Exterior Colors: Frozen White, Frozen White Clearcoat, Silver Metallic, Shadow Black, Magnetic Metallic, Dark Blue, Race Red, Deep Impact Blue Metallic, Panther Black Metallic, Tectonic Silver Metallic, Dark Blue Clearcoat, Guard Metallic, Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Torch Red, Burnished Glow, Panther Black Clearcoat Metallic, Solar Metallic, Winter Blue Metallic
Interior Colors: Pewter vinyl, Charcoal Black cloth, Dark Grey cloth, Medium Stone cloth, Medium Stone leather, Dark Grey vinyl
Popular Features: Aux Audio Inputs, Tire Pressure Warning, Stability Control, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Parking sensors, Trip Computer, Back-up camera, Bluetooth, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Rear Bench Seats, USB Inputs, Power Driver Seat, Upgraded Engine, Third-row seating, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Auto Climate Control, Alarm, Leather Seats, Electronic Folding Mirrors, Towing Hitch, Navigation, Heated seats, 2nd Row Bucket Seats, Sunroof/Moonroof, Blind Spot Monitoring, Remote Start
Engine/Mechanics: 4 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: regular unleaded, flex-fuel (unleaded/E85), premium unleaded (recommended)
Drivetrains: front wheel drive
