At the New England International Auto Show this week we gave a lift to several Ford executives who were about to hail a taxi. Too bad they couldn't have grabbed the one sitting in the Ford exhibit the floor of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

It was the first Ford Transit Connect taxi to go into service in the United States.

The cab, belonging to Boston Cab Co., was on hand for a press preview. It was delivered through Sentry Ford in Medford.

Back in April, the Hackney Carriage Unit of the Boston Police Department approved the Transit Connect for taxi use, making Boston the first US city to do so. As part of the approval process the Transit Connect had to meet basic size requirements for passenger headroom, legroom, and cargo space.

"It fits the bill," said Mark Cohen, the unit's director. "The size, shape, and configuration of this unique vehicle make it comfortable for both driver and passengers."

In August 2009, a federal judge overturned a city regulation requiring all new cabs in Boston's 1,850-cab fleet to be hybrids, an expensive upgrade fought by the taxi industry.

In the interim, however, there are approximately 500 hybrids in the Boston fleet.

"The good part of all this was the industry realized the hybrids will hold up in taxi service," says Cohen. "Now this [Transit Connect] is the manufacturer's response. It's a good alternative."

The Transit Connect also is available with an engine preparation package for conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied propane gas (LPG).

We noted features such as the repositioned second-row seat to allow for extra legroom, the grab handles and rear HVAC vents with passenger controls, plus the vinyl floors and great cargo space.

With airline surcharges on baggage, many travelers are traveling lighter; however, for those big airport runs with lots of bags, the Transit Connect will be ideal. The driver's amenities include a rearview camera and back-up sensors.

While the Transit Connect won't equal the fuel economy of a hybrid, it should get in the 21-26 mpg range versus the Crown Vic's 15 mpg.