Ford Tourneo Custom (2020) review: This is why you want a bus!

The recently-refreshed Ford Tourneo Custom will have your kids jumping up and down with excitement once they see all its fantastic features, while grown-ups will all appreciate the comfort, ease of use and the new six-speed automatic gearbox. We spent five days with the flagship Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0 SiT Limited 6AT and came to the conclusion that there are many good reasons to own one, and you don't need the most expensive model in the range either.

Styling

 

Rectangular in its design, the Ford Tourneo Custom is shaped this way to allow enough space for everyone aboard and their luggage. Viewed from the front, the Tourneo Custom has a friendly and instantly recognisable "face". Our test model was fitted with HID headlamps with LED daytime running lamps that make up part of the enhanced lighting package. All automatic models have stylish 17-inch alloy wheels. The designers added some character lines to break the flatness of the Tourneo's sides, but you don't buy a bus because of its looks. Mini-bus-buyers who shop in this price range want comfort and practicality above all else. 

Related: Hyundai H-1 vs. VW Kombi vs. Ford Tourneo Custom, which one has the lowest running costs?

Interior layout, space, and comfort features

 

If I want to make my kids' week, I must bring home a mini-bus They are past the point of being excited about coupés, but park a new people mover in the driveway and they will go nuts. I only have two kids and I don't even carpool, but the fact that they have all this space available brings them immeasurable joy.

Being much more tech-orientated than me, the first thing they look for are the USB ports. How many are there? Will they each have their own, or must they rely on one measly USB port in front?

Ford knows that today's kids care more about charged-up phones than a fresh frikkadel, and as a result, there are four USB ports for rear passengers and an additional two behind the front seats. Then there are another two for the driver and front passenger, bringing the total to eight. There's also a 3-point plug (optional) and enough 12V power sockets to charge every device in the house, should a bout of unannounced load-shedding hit you!

 

 

Up front, the new Tourneo Custom Limited Automatic (as tested) gets Ford's SYNC3 system for the first time. This means that sat-nav is embedded and there's voice control, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can hit the voice control button on the steering wheel and also have access to Siri when your phone is plugged into the system. (Trend Automatic models have a 4-inch screen with Ford's SYNC1.)

The comfortable front seats are placed quite high (they can be heated for a toasty backside in winter) and all-round visibility is excellent.  There are six separate seats in the back and they can be configured in a variety of ways, or tumbled to make space for your unique requirements. Fold them forward and you can use the surface as a writing table or as a place to store your soft drinks or coffee, as cupholders are integrated. You can even remove the seats completely if you'd like to gooi a mattress in there instead, and save yourself the schlepp of pitching a tent when you go camping.

 

There is so much space for loose items in the doors and so many storage cubbies dotted around the cabin, that you may actually misplace an item just because you have so many options. Both my kids also reported that the air-conditioning worked like a charm and Ford has actually enhanced it to be more effective in general.

 

For its considerable size and weight, the Tourneo has a remarkably small turning circle, and isn't at all cumbersome to drive. When I drove the Ford Tourneo when it first launched, I noticed the same thing; it's not difficult to park or to maneuver around town. With cameras and sensors everywhere, you would have to use a better excuse than "I didn't see you".

The Tourneo Custom limited and Trend auto are also fitted Ford's latest-generation, 2.0-litre single-turbodiesel engine with 136 kW and 415 Nm which sends power to its front wheels. With the help of AdBlue and a diesel particulate filter, this engine is super clean, and you will have to budget for the better 50 ppm diesel so only the good stuff goes in there. The downsized diesel engine is no heavy sipper, consuming around 8.7 litres per 100 km on the combined cycle.

There's even a Sport mode and you can set the SelectShift gearbox to manual, should you prefer to handle the gear changes yourself, which is useful when towing that bush trailer. In this specific model, you can safely tow up to 950kg (braked) and 750kg un-braked. (I was quite surprised to see that you can take the Tourneo for a swim; its wading depth is 600 mm - rather handy for those summer flash floods!)

Finding fault with the engine/transmission combination was impossible and the suspension is just right for the type of work this mini-bus is going to do. It's not the kind of car that lends itself to spirited driving, and I took my time on mountain passes and dirt roads, which the Tourneo handled with aplomb.

Safety

 

Trend and Limited models have a variety of optional safety features available, including front and rear parking sensors, a rear parking camera, Lane Keeping Aid and Lane Departure Warning, as well as the Blind Spot Detection System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert and trailer coverage. Our Limited model had all of the above, including adaptive cruise control and front collision warning. It's super easy to activate and to set the desired distance between you and the car in front. Now you can relax as the Tourneo steers itself around gentle bends for short periods of time and stays in its lane. You still need to have your hands on the steering wheel for most of the time, though.

All models in the range have front, side, and curtain airbags as well as ESP, hill-launch assist, roll-over mitigation, brake assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Price

 

The Ford Tourneo Custom is not an inexpensive vehicle, but you are basically travelling in a downsized luxury RV (recreational vehicle). It's just a pity that there are no leather seats as standard because children are messy, and of course they're going to be tucking into their road-trip snacks on the way. You also have to pay for quite a few of the luxury features and this is starting to sound a lot like the German manufacturers. The new Kombi and Caravelle have also just launched and it's a rule of thumb that most niceties cost extra. For the full range of optional extras, visit the Ford SA Tourneo Custom microsite here.

Here's what a new Ford Tourneo Custom will cost you in SA (pricing correct at the time this article was published). Bear in mind that there are both short- and long-wheelbase models with engines of different sizes and states of tune:

• Ford Tourneo Custom 2.2 TDCi LWB Ambiente 6MT, R640 200 (74 kW, 310 Nm)
• Ford Tourneo Custom 2.2 TDCi LWB Trend 6MT, R665 400 (92 kW, 350 Nm)
• Ford Tourneo Custom 2.2 TDCi SWB Limited 6MT, R716 500 (114 kW, 385 Nm)
• Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0 SiT LWB Trend 6AT, R721 300 (96 kW, 385 Nm)
• Ford Tourneo Custom 2.0 SiT SWB Limited 6AT, R763 200 (136 kW, 415 Nm) - tested

 

Verdict

 

If you have more than two kids and you like to travel, owning the Tourneo Custom will have you asking yourself how you managed to live without one for so long. But don't fret if you can't afford a brand-spanking-new one; wait a few months and buy used...or opt for an older model, even.

 

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