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This is the all-new Tourneo Connect, Ford’s smallest van-based MPV and the first fruit of the company’s collaboration with Volkswagen on future commercial vehicles. If it looks faintly familiar, that’s because the Tourneo Connect is based on the VW Caddy Life, though with a comprehensive restyle of the front including a new bumper, grille and lights. Both the Tourneo and Caddy’s silhouettes are the same though, and the similarities continue inside where much of the switchgear comes courtesy of VW. Volkswagen too provides the motive power, with the company’s 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine under the bonnet as well as a 2.0-litre turbodiesel, though both have adopted the Ford EcoBoost and EcoBlue monikers for this particular application.
What will its rivals be?
The Ford’s most obvious rival is the Volkswagen Caddy Life. Aside from that though, this segment broadly seems to be going all-electric with the Opel Combo Life and Citroën Berlingo now electric-only and the Peugeot Rifter likely to soon follow. The Dacia Jogger, due later this year, will also provide a petrol-powered rival in the boxy, practical, seven-seater MPV mould.
Any tech info?
Again, a lot of the Ford’s tech comes from VW, including the 10.25-inch digital dials as well as the infotainment architecture, though the graphics are Ford’s own. An 8.25-inch touchscreen comes as standard in Trend models, while Titanium models and above feature a 10-inch display.
What will the range be like?
The Tourneo Connect will be available in two lengths, both of which can feature seven-seat layouts and both of which come equipped with sliding doors for rear-seat access on each side. The seats are endlessly configurable and, belying its van origins, when they’re all folded completely flat, there’s a massive 2.6 cubic metres of space in the shorter version and 3.1 cubic metres in the longer one.
Trend models offer the most basic spec in the Tourneo Connect, while those in Titanium trim are more luxuriously adorned. At the top of the line are the Sport and Active models, the former offering twin bonnet stripes, 17-inch alloys, sports seats and a reworked front bumper, while the latter offers SUV-like styling with black wheel arch extensions and a plusher interior.
Expectations?
The fact that this type of van-based MPV usually gets ignored in Ireland is quite a shame because cars such as the Tourneo Connect tend to offer a great deal of space and practicality to active families — far more than most SUVs, for example. The new Tourneo Connect’s high spec level, decent road manners, VW quality and sharp design look set to make it a strong contender in its small field.