Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0SiT SWB Limited (2023) Long term test 1
There is an old joke about giving up one's man card once you get a van; we couldn't disagree more! The Ford Tourneo Custom has joined our long-term fleet and, in a short time, has become an indispensable part of our team!
Ford Tourneo Custom joins the AutoTrader long-term fleet
One of Ford's lesser-known vehicles is the Tourneo, a premium van that has a number of uses not limited to the suburban soccer mom. We are no strangers to the Tourneo, having tested one before and having been ferried along on various launches when it was used as a shuttle.
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With the latest iteration of the van joining our long-term fleet, it comes as no surprise that one suddenly finds all sorts of new and interesting things to do that would typically be outside the scope of the normal day-to-day drudgery. Much like when you own a bakkie and end up helping people move, when you have a van, your family and friends' circle gets rather large, and you become a designated driver. The Tourneo joined our team during the December break and really came in handy for a number of year-end activities, which really highlight just how versatile these vehicles can actually be.
Everything you need to know about the Ford Tourneo Custom
Style for days
The exterior of the latest incarnation of the Tourneo hasn't changed much. Keen-eyed observers will notice that the derivative we have in fleet is equipped with roof racks and a tow bar, items that are standard on the manual but optional on the auto variant. Spicing up the exterior are a set of 17" alloy wheels only available on the auto, dark privacy glass for the rear windows, and a set of extended side step sills.
The van is not unattractive, but it is big; in fact, it is so big that you will most likely have trouble getting this vehicle into a standard-height suburban garage. Despite its size, it is easily maneuverable in parking areas, as we found out on one of our first excursions to the mall with our charity outreach group to go and collect Christmas supplies for the local children's home.
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Tech Spec
Most of the updates found in the 2023 Tourneo can be found inside, with significant upgrades to the tech package. Perched atop the revised dash is the new 8” touchscreen with SYNC®3, voice control, and Bluetooth®. The screen is crystal clear, as can be seen when engaging reverse and seeing the video feedback from the new reverse camera. An electrochromatic rearview mirror keeps dazzling glare to a minimum at night.
You will now also find a 150W 220v outlet near the handbrake lever as well as a host of USB charging ports throughout the cabin front and rear. Climate zones are also separated front and back so the driver and passenger have a different air temp from passengers in the rear.
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Space for activities
The Tourneo's party piece is the seating arrangement. The six rear seats are all customizable in various positions, allowing you to have over 30 different seat setups. If you so desire, you can actually remove all the seats and turn this into a cargo van, as was the case when we helped a neighbour move some appliances. An outing with our social group for a year-end lunch saw us packing 4 couples into the Tourneo for a drive out to Rayton.
We had a group of teenagers packed in at one point and even had it loaded with gifts for an end-of-year fundraising event for a Benevolent fund. Boasting dimensions of 4.972m in length, 2.274m in width and a height of 2m, the Tourneo has more than enough space for just about anything you can think of. Even when all the seats are in place the boot area is massive and you can easily pack it with a suitcase for every person sitting inside.
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Power to move
Powering the Torneo is the 2.0 single turbo inline 4 diesel engine mated to a slick 6-speed auto transmission. Delivering 136kW and 415Nm the Torneo is no slouch. It has enough power to haul itself and the load inside with ease around town.
Ford claims 6.7l/100km, but in reality, you can expect closer to 10l/100km in day-to-day drives around town. The Tourneo is equipped with an 80l fuel tank and if you drive within reason, you can expect over 900km on a tank of diesel. We got very close to 1000km from a single tank as we had extreme mixed driving ranging from city stop-start to wide open freeways for hundreds of kilometres at a time which brought the consumption way down.
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Verdict
To say that the Tourneo is convenient as well as versatile and extremely comfortable is an an understatement. There are a lot of circumstances where a van starts to make much more sense than 7-seater SUV or double cab bakkie. With that said we fully intend to explore this line of investigation, especially when one takes into account what a top-spec Tourneo will cost you.
| Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0 SiT SWB Limited | R 843 900 |
All Tourneo's are sold with a 4-year / 120 000km warranty and a 6-year / 90 000km service plan
We will have more on this incredible vehicle in the weeks to come, so keep checking back to see what we get up to.
