THERE are times when you could really do with the extra room. This beats having to lug a trailer, arguing with your spouse about leaving in-laws behind, or the bun fight over which blow-up beach paraphernalia the kids want to take along. If you’re looking to sidestep all the familial drama, Ford’s Tourneo Custom could be just the ticket to a suitable solution for all.
The saving grace is in the Tourneo’s dimensions. At way over five metres long and in excess of two metres tall and wide, the long-wheelbase version of the Blue Oval’s new people carrier casts a hefty shadow. Despite this, the car is not one big four-wheeled box. Ford’s stylists have managed to construct a more angular front end that helps the big-boned MPV achieve a better aerodynamic figure than its predecessor. Whereas other manufacturers have opted for smaller overall packages, and have focused on maximising the interior room with multiple seat configurations to make their wares more practical, the big Ford doesn’t play small. It IS big. While the driver and front passenger are presented with a facia that is more car-like than most of the Tourneo’s contemporaries, the rear passengers have dollops of head- and leg-room from both the middle and rear bench.
The cabin itself is not exactly breathtaking, but a comfortable blend of form and function.
There’s an abundance of different kinds of plastic, but they feel substantial and the cloth upholstery is similarly pleasing to the eye and touch. If need be, both rows of rear pews can be removed completely – a nifty touch when faced with loading unusually shaped objects. Oh, and the Tourneo also features dual sliding doors for extra loading ease.
Unfortunately, the quality of the individual rear chairs also means that they are quite heavy, so considerable elbow grease is needed even before large items can be loaded. For everything else, the 1 000 dm3 of luggage room is ample. Needless to say, in a real world scenario, the Tourneo easily accommodated half a football team and all their gear on one particular Saturday morning.
Initially, the Tourneo’s 2,2-litre turbodiesel motor sounds a bit gruff, but will soon smooth out as it reaches peak operating temperature. With an extra 700 kg to contend with the already considerable 2 200 kg testing mass, the 350 N.m of maximum torque is most welcome. In-gear performance with the full load is not exactly pace-setting, but the Tourneo won’t be left behind at the traffic lights or on the freeway. At walking pace, however, the Tourneo does display a tendency to stall – especially when under 1 500 r/min.
That minor foible aside, the Tourneo fared well on the various excursions we took it on. Our CAR testers praised its comfortable ride and handling in everyday conditions, though most admitted to being extra vigilant when parking. The park sensors fitted to our test unit proved a boon during tricky manoeuvres at shopping centres and the like. The electric power steering was also a favourite, providing ease of use at lower speed and sufficient weight out of city bounds.
While some of its rivals make use of a five-speed gearbox, the Tourneo brings six ratios to the party – something that makes its presence felt at the pumps. Ford claims a combined fuel cycle consumption figure of 6,5 litres/100 km, but on our 150 km fuel route we managed a more realistic 8,7 litres/100 km – which is still impressive considering the Tourneo’s sheer mass. That mass was felt during our emergency braking procedures, with the Tourneo averaging 3,45 seconds to stop from 100 km/h – an average result for a vehicle of this size.
Pressing on, the experience became slightly less pleasant, as the Tourneo could easily consume more than 10 litres/100 km if provoked. There’s also fair amounts of body roll and lean, so caution should be exercised when travelling at highway speeds.
The standard features and safety specification list is generous. In addition to the likes of a stability control system that makes use of ABS, with EBD and EBA, there’s also a hill-hold function – perfect for a manual vehicle of this size. The rear seats are Isofix-friendly and there are also six-airbags for added peace of mind. Ford’s SYNC infotainment system with MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth functionality and voice control is a strong addition to the list, but the centrally located display is disappointingly small and some of the controls far to reach for smaller drivers. If the SYNC system fails to entertain your brood, there’s always the prospect of the view out of the very large windows all-round.
Test Summary
For those seeking an MPV with van origins, the Tourneo is a leading contender. Besides being endowed with a multitude of features that some of its rivals can’t hope to match as standard, the big Ford makes a strong case for itself in the price stakes. If all of that doesn’t impress then there’s always the tons of room, which is not only the Tourneo’s trump card, but also proof that sometimes bigger is, in fact, better.
