Ford Tourneo Connect first drive

The Ford Tourneo Connect represents one-third of the Tourneo range, which also includes the Grand Tourneo Connect and the far larger Tourneo. But this is the first time the Tourneo nameplate has morphed into an MPV aimed at families.

Ford's five-seat Tourneo Connect and seven-seat Grand Tourneo Connect offer flexible storage, a clean range of engines and spacious cabins, which should help them appeal to families on the move.

They're well thought-out on the inside, too, with hard-wearing wipe-down plastics forming many of the interior surfaces. It features twin sliding rear doors and a passenger space which makes various best-in-class claims. The rear seats split 60/40 and tumble, fold or can be completely removed to grow space to 2410 litres.

In order to appeal more directly to passenger car buyers who may otherwise be put off by the commercial vehicle connotations of the Tourneo badge, the range includes the familiar Zetec and Titanium trim grades.

The middle-spec Zetec trim is expected to be the biggest seller, and comes with air conditioning, heated power mirrors and a trip computer with Eco-tracking functions. Ford's SYNC voice control system also comes as standard on all but base-spec models. 

From the inside, absolutely massive. Ford makes big claims about legroom, headroom and storage space in the Tourneo Connect, with an overall luggage capacity of 1029 litres with all five seats in place, rising to 2410 litres with the back row of seats removed.

All of those litres aren't crammed into the boot, either, but rather dotted about in an assortment of cubby holes and storage lockers. Aside from the usual glovebox and door card locations, there's also an aircraft-style overhead storage locker.

The result is a cabin that feels airy and spacious, with that feeling enhanced by the addition of large all-round windows and optional panoramic sunroof on Titanium-spec models.

Passengers in the back won't struggle for space, while proportions in the front seem well judged. The driving position is high for this class, and provides a decent view of the road ahead from a seat that is both comfortable and supportive. Both the pedals and the steering wheel are off centre, however, which can take a while to get used to.

The 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi – sampled here in 94bhp form – is a capable and refined engine. Ford expects this to be the biggest seller in the range at launch, taking almost half of projected sales in the UK.

The engine is a good fit for the five-seat Tourneo Connect, releasing 170lb ft of torque cleanly while also returning a claimed 56.5mpg combined and emitting 130g/km of CO2.

The five-speed manual gearbox does a good job of managing the engine's power, though a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic is also available elsewhere in the range.

Steering is nicely weighted and provides precise inputs, while the Ford Tourneo Connect itself has a decent turning circle for its size.

Our main gripe is with the ride. Despite the adoption of a rear torsion beam configuration rather than the leaf spring arrangement of the old model, the Ford feels skittish with only two people on board. The Tourneo Connect gives a sense of unease during cornering and a disturbing primary ride on the motorway which will leave you in near constant motion.