Is it a car or is it a van ? In the case of Ford Tourneo Connect the answer is both. The Tourneo is a small van and the Connect derivative is what Ford calls a "people mover" as distinct to an MPV. By taking a commercial vehicle and turning into a practical five or seven-seat car, the company not only saves money but manages to slip in another offering below the price point of its more expensive and stylish MPVs. So the Tourneo Connect is probably aimed more at small businesses, such as hotels, as much as it is aimed at family drivers seeking a cheaper alternative to the Focus C-Max.
Apart from the identifiably Ford family front design, pretty much every other aspect of the Tourneo is van like – particularly the side profile. Truth be told, it is not exactly cutting-edge design, and its industrial origins are hard to disguise. It would be easy to therefore to dismiss the Tourneo as simply another exercise in passing off a sow’s ear for a silk purse – but the Tourneo does have honest and practical appeal.
It has lots of space, a large glass area for a bright interior, and the boffins have been busy making every nook and cranny a storage area. Even the roof and under-floor areas will take whatever it is you might have to stow. The five-seat version has a 60/40 split function to provide a fairly massive boot area, and the seven-seater’s third row of two seats slides as required. You can even take all of the rear seats out to maximise the rear space – though it is not the easiest of jobs.
Car-like characteristics
The other benefit the Tourneo has is that it has been given some fairly decent car-like characteristics– unlike some of its competitors. Driving or being driven in the car is not the harsh experience one might expect. Noise levels, for example, are surprisingly refined, and the ride is not half bad either.
Engines begin with the 1.0-litre Eco-Boost, which would be fine for shorter journeys but offers little more than fuel efficiency for anything beyond that. Next up is the 1.6 diesel for longer distances, and it is the best all-round engine. As all engines other than the Eco-Boost are diesel, the 1.0-litre is the only petrol option, which is a disadvantage.
I found the Tourneo grew on me, despite an initial disinclination prompted by the styling. The five- seater version tends to amplify the van-like profile of the seven-seater and is more pleasing to the eye. The interior, however, makes up for the exterior in many ways. Ford has plenty to offer in terms of interior finish from its other models, and while everything may be familiar, it is also practical and well-designed. Even the radio system is good.
Not bargain basement
The Tourneo Connect comes in at around €3,000 below the entry level C-Max, but its price is not exactly bargain basement. Given its looks it may be a hard sell and you can get an elegant Citroen C4 Picasso for just over €1,000 more than the entry level Tourneo price of €23,850. What will probably decide the Tourneo's level of appeal is its practicality and not its looks, but looks are very important to a lot of people.
Unless you are a small hotel owner ferrying the odd couple of guests or someone who sells their art work from the railings on Merrion Square, you may have a hard time forgiving the Tourneo its utilitarian profile.
ENGINE
1.0 litre Eco-Boost petrol engine producing 100bhp or 1.6 TDCi diesel producing 75bhp/ 95bhp and 110bhp
PERFORMANCE
0-100km/h in 12.5 secs
ECONOMY
4.8 litres per 100 km
EMISSIONS
(motor tax): 129 g/km (€270)
PRICE
€23,850
OUR VERDICT
The emphasis is on functionality, certainly not style. But sliding doors are a big bonus
OUR RATING
3/5
