2010 Ford Transit Connect
It may seem odd to put a commercial van on this list, but we think bringing the 2010 Ford Transit Connect to America is one of Ford's better decisions in recent years. After all, businesses-especially delivery services-are likely to rack up huge vehicle costs, which hurts even more in today's economic climate. The Transit Connect seems to be a good solution to that problem: with 143 cubic feet of cargo room, it's got plenty of space for all of Joe the Plumber's tools, and with an estimated 19/24 mpg city/highway, it won't break his budget (or tax bracket) at the pump.
With hard plastics facing the driver and bare sheetmetal in the cargo area, there's no pretending this isn't a cargo van - but there's a chance it'll catch on with consumers, too. Ford's already shown some tricked-out Transits at SEMA, and we think the combination of capacity, maneuverability, and efficiency may attract those who pine for their long-lost Aerostar.