The new Tourneo Connect, first drive impressions
Ford's People-Moving Van: Destined for Greatness
If you've ever been stuck in the cramped final row of seats en route to a far-off place, you probably recall nothing about the trip except for the pins and needles in your legs, and general discomfort. Well, in Ford's newly launched Grand Tourneo Connect, this won't be a problem anymore.
At the local launch in Johannesburg, Ford also had two other niche vehicles for us to sample : Ford's third member to its commercial line-up, the Ford Transit Connect (which is a panel van), and the five-seater version of the Grand Tourneo Connect, the short-wheelbase Ford Tourneo Connect. Ford clearly wanted to get away from the original, boxy MPV/mini-van shape and all three cars look chic and contemporary, as much as practical cars such as these would allow.
At the heart of the first car we drove, The five-seater Ford Tourneo Connect 1.0 EcoBoost Trend SWB (R279 900), is Ford's award-winning, turbocharged 1.0 litre engine with 74kW. The sheer size of the Tourneo means that it's no Ford Focus ST, but once it's in the optimal rev range it moves along quite nicely. Family wise, the modern interior looks like it was designed with two-legged little critters in mind, with the upmarket-looking seats covered in durable, dark material that looks like its been made to withstand chocolate ice cream and cheese curl fingers.
After lunch we were issued a Ford Grand Tourneo Connect 1.6 EcoBoost Titanium A/T LWB (R367 900 with 110kW), with an automatic transmission. Fitted with a long list of comfort and safety specifications and with seats that can be configured in any way imaginable, the Grand Tourneo is as comfortable, if not more, than any limo. Ford's team asked some of the taller gentlemen to take a seat in the third row to demonstrate just how much room there is, and since the rear seats can actually be moved backwards to create even more legroom, they looked surprisingly comfy. The seats can also be removed altogether - imagine chucking a mattress in there and taking a nice long road trip - one wouldn't require a tent! To make things even easier, there are sliding doors on both sides of all the Transit & Tourneo Connect derivates, which are light and easy to open and close. The nifty overhead shelving is also perfect for stashing items away from prying eyes.
Before the drive, I got into the back row of the Grand Tourneo Connect myself to see how easy it would be for me to tumble the seats of the second row forward, so I could get out again. One would need a firm grip and possibly some help from another passenger who already made their exit.
The 1.6 litre EcoBoost petrol engine works well in the Grand Tourneo Connect, and is extremely quiet. What struck me about both the Grand Tourneo Connect and shorter wheel base Tourneo Connect, is that it doesn't feel like you're driving a van of sorts, but a regular kind of crossover. The low dashboard and panoramic front windows create excellent visibility, and steering is light but accurate, perfect for the city and beyond. Ford's SYNC system made easy work of phone pairing and we were connected in no time.
For the ultimate soccer mom, camping afficionado or family guy, the über-practical Tourneo opens a whole host of possibilities.
Pricing:
| Ford Transit Connect 1.6 TDCi Ambiente LWB |
R272 900 |
| Ford Tourneo Connect 1.0 EcoBoost Ambiente SWB |
R269 000 |
| Ford Tourneo Connect 1.0 EcoBoost Trend SWB | R279 900 |
| Grand Tourneo Connect 1.6 EcoBoost Titanium A/T LWB | R359 900 |
| Grand Tourneo Connect 1.6 TDCi Titanium LWB | R367 900 |
The price includes a 4-year / 120 000 km warranty, 3-year / 60 000km service plan, 3-year / unlimited km roadside assistance and a 5-year / unlimited km corrosion warranty. Service intervals at 20 000km.