Ford Tourneo Connect (2014 – 2023) Review

The Tourneo Connect is based on the awarding winning Transit Connect van and boasts an upmarket appearance and impressive range of engines. However, the key to its appeal lies in its durable and practical nature. Indeed, the five-seat Tourneo Connect offers a whopping 2410 litres of space behind the front seats, while the 60/40 split rear seats ensure that you’ll never be short of options when it comes to moving large items.

The seven-seat Grand Tourneo Connect breaks new ground by offering rear seating which folds quickly and easily into a flat, unobstructed luggage platform with up to 2620 litres of space. The third row seats also slide to allow owners the choice between extra legroom or increased luggage space. In total, there are 16 seating configurations, which makes it suitable for families or those who need a car that can double up as a van.

The five-seat Tourneo Connect can be specified with the 100PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which emits 129g/km CO2 and returns a claimed 50.4mpg. There’s also a diesel option, in the form of the 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engine with a choice of 95PS and 115PS power outputs, delivering a claimed 61.4mpg and 120g/km CO2 emissions.

In late 2015 Ford replaced the 1.6-litre diesel with a 1.5-litre TDCi engine with CO2 emissions of 101g/km and claimed fuel economy of 64.2mpg. Power outputs were also increased, with 75PS, 100PS and 120PS. However, the Grand Tourneo Connect lost its 1.6 EcoBoost option in the shake-up, making it diesel-only. 

All of the powerplants work well with the five or six-speed manual ‘boxes, depending on what unit you choose. There are three trims to choose from - Style, Zetec and Titanium – with standard kit impressive across the board. Indeed, even the entry level Style models get DAB radio, steering wheel controls and dual sliding doors.

Ford has struck a winning combination with the Tourneo Connect by combining the robust and durable nature of a small panel van with all of the practicalities and comfort you’d expect from a large MPV. What’s more, the large and likable Ford is excellent value for money, undercutting the competition on price, without compromising on quality.

Ford Grand Tourneo Connect 1.5 TDCi Long Term Test

The first thing that strikes you about the Tourneo Connect is its colossal size - the interior is huge with 2410 litres of space. Entry level models get five large seats, which are comfortable with plenty of support and adjustment. However, it should be noted that in five-door guise the Connect will not allow you to fold the seats completely flat, but they can be removed if you really want to utilise the space.

Move up to the seven-seat Grand Tourneo Connect and things get a lot more flexible with a third row of seats that slide to allow the choice between extra legroom or increased luggage space. The seats also fold flat to offer an unobstructed luggage platform with up to 2620 litres of space. For us the Grand Tourneo Connect is perfect for large families and the extra row of seats add an extra dimension to the appeal of the Ford. Admittedly, the third row will present a snug fit for adults, but the first and second rows are spacious enough with plenty of head and legroom.

Access to the rear of the Tourneo is easy, with a pair of sliding doors and a large tailgate. The load lip is low and the doors are wide, which makes getting kids in and out simple enough. Likewise, with the seats flat (or removed) the Ford can double up as a van and will easily swallow large items.

On the downside, the Tourneo’s commercial vehicle routes do become apparent with its fit and finish and there’s an abundance of hard plastics and gaps in its interior. Yet for families this will not be a problem, as everything feels sturdy and well made. There’s also no shortage of cubby holes or pockets either, which makes the Tourneo ideal for carrying books, iPads and anything else your kids need to keep themselves occupied on long trips. 

The dashboard is a direct carry over from the Connect van, which again has acres of hard plastics but good storage. Despite its no-frills nature, the layout is simple yet intelligent in its appearance. The radio and Bluetooth system are operated from the centre console, which is laid out like a large mobile phone, with the screen at the top and the buttons below. The large button design is a refreshing change from the small and fiddly approach taken by rival manufacturers and it took us less than five minutes to fathom the system and all of its fuctions. 

The Ford Tourneo Connect is based on same running gear as the C-MAX and handles well, with a firm but comfortable ride. One of the big improvements Ford has made with the new Connect is to eliminate the amount of play in the suspension, with its predecessor prone to bouncing along when not carrying a full load. Thankfully, the new Connect is much better and soaks up lumps and bumps without fuss.  

Ford has also worked hard to reduce the amount of body roll and the Tourneo navigates corners and tight bends with impressive finesse. Road holding is good, although the Tourneo does not hug the road with the same authority as the C-MAX. But in comparison to the Fiat Doblo and Peugeot Partner Tepee, the Ford has impressive road manners and nudges ahead of its van related rivals. 

All of the engines work well with the Tourneo Connect chassis, with our favourites being the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol and 1.6-litre TDCi engine with 115PS. Both units pull strongly through the gears, with a respective 240Nm and 270Nm of torque. The other units – the 100PS EcoBoost and 95PS TDCi – return decent economy and performance, but feel a little underpowered and will struggle with a full load of family and luggage.

In late 2015 Ford axed the 1.6-litre diesels and replaced them with 1.5 TDCIs, with 75PS, 100PS or 120PS. Torque levels also increased slightly, while official fuel economy was upgraded to 64.2mpg for the 100PS unit. The 1.6 EcoBoost was also discontinued, making the Grand Tourneo Connect diesel-only. 

However, the five and six-speed manual gearboxes are slick and smooth, with the 150PS EcoBoost unit working well with its six-speed auto. We were also impressed with the hushed levels of engine noise, with both the diesel and petrol units being refined and quiet. In fact, Ford has really upped its game when it comes to refinement and the Tourneo is a huge improvement over its predecessor, which rattled along and felt a little like a crew bus with posh seats.

We tested the Tourneo Connect on tight country roads and motorways, but found little wrong with its mannerisms. Indeed, the Tourneo Connect is a quiet and refined drive. The steering is also light and responsive, with just enough feedback to inform you of what’s going on between the wheels and the road. Admittedly, the van-derived Tourneo isn’t as accomplished in its road holding as the C-MAX or Mazda 5, but there’s still plenty to like here with good-all round performance and ride comfort.