Review of the Ford Tourneo Connect

The Ford Tourneo Connect is an MPV that combines the practicality of a van with the comfort of a car. Perfect for large families or sole traders, it has up to seven seats, plenty of storage, and a large boot. 

Rivals to the Tourneo Connect include the Citroen Berlingo, Dacia Jogger, Vauxhall Combo Life, Peugeot Rifter, and Volkswagen Multivan. 

Our Ford Tourneo Connect review covers:

• Van-like styling 
• Pleasant cabin and space for up to seven people 
• 1,029-litre boot in standard five-seater version
• Petrol or diesel engine 
• Two trim levels 

Pros:

• Loads of boot space 
• Space for up to seven people 
• Good on long drives 

Cons:

• Not much fun to drive
• Ride quality is poor at lower speeds 
• The cabin is a bit boring 

It's a tough job to make MPVs look decent, but Ford has done a pretty good job with the Tourneo Connect. At the front, there's a large oval-shaped front grille, creases down the side of the body, and roof rails on top. 

The Tourneo Connects forte is practicality. Although space in the front won't blow you away (it's more than good enough), space in the rear is superb. There's ample leg and headroom for a trio of six-footers, and if you opt for seven seats, the trend continues with the rear two seats. You also get plenty of storage, such as an overhead panel in the cabin, which is perfect for paperwork. 

Further bolstering its claim as one of the most practical MPVs is its boot: a whopping 1,029 litres in the five-seater version. If you opt for the Grand Tourneo, which is longer, boot space increases to 1,529 litres, more than enough space for a wheelchair or a couple of sets of golf clubs. With all seven seats in place, boot space still comes in at a respectable 322 litres.

The cabin of the Tourneo Connect is classic Ford: well-built, pleasant, and featuring some good technology. The dashboard is neat and well organised, but most importantly it's durable. There's no doubt an MPV will be put through its paces, so rest assured the cabin wont falter. 

The Tourneo Connect is actually based on the Volkswagen Caddy, so it shares its infotainment system. You'll get a 10-inch touchscreen display on the dashboard with a DAB radio and navigation and a 10.25-inch screen behind the steering wheel with navigation integration. 

Two trim levels are available for the Tourneo Connect: Titanium and Active. 

Titanium has heated front seats, a front seat tray table, a media hub, six speakers, rear dark tinted glass, dual power fold heated mirrors, and a front bumper with chrome insert. 

Active adds LED lights, a panorama roof, a wireless charging pad, and premium alloy wheels. 

The Tourneo Connect is available in either a petrol or diesel engine. 

The petrol is a 1.5-litre turbocharged unit that produces 114hp while the diesel is a 2.0-litre unit returning 122hp. 

Both are good to drive in a range of settings, but we'd recommend the diesel if you plan on racking up the miles. It boosts fuel economy to just under 70mpg, which is really impressive.

On the road, the Tourneo Connect is a capable long-distance cruiser, but it can be slightly uncomfortable to drive around town. This is because the comfort-based suspension setup is jolty over potholes, which can (sometimes) cause a bit of a racket in the cabin. 

Apart from that, the steering is light and well-weighted around town, and the range of assistance systems makes tight turns and manoeuvres relatively easy. 

On the motorway, the Tourneo Connect can breeze along without a care in the world. Although acceleration up to cruising speed might take a bit longer than expected, once there, it is easy to cruise along. 

If you fancy a bit of country lane fun, the Tourneo Connect probably won't meet your expectations. It's focused on safety rather than performance, so we'd recommend tootling along with smooth radio rather than hardcore rock and roll. 

Prices for the new Ford Tourneo Connect start from £31,099.00 OTR* or to lease from Price On Request per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Ford Tourneo Connect? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.