Igor Morzharetto: Ford Tourneo Custom is an exemplary family man with ambitions

Interestingly, with regard to the body of the combivan, high practicality, Ford suspension and a small, powerful diesel engine and a modern automatic transmission. And what? And everything goes far beyond diesel and automatic. Do you agree that this doesn't make sense? Ford Tourneo Connect 1.5 EcoBlue is a small SUV with a 120 hp diesel engine. and an eight-speed modern classic automatic – an excellent configuration. In theory, as much as possible.

Theory without full coverage in practice

The Ford Tourneo Connec is quite heavy, but the engine has 120 hp, with 270 Nm of torque available from 1,750 rpm, but still don't expect extraordinary dynamics, especially on the road. Ford accelerates to 100 km/h in less than 13 seconds, and this is a good result

Well, the Ford diesel, coupled with an automatic transmission, somehow managed the Focus - I had that deal on my first drives, and even though the drive in the mountains was fine. The Tourneo Connect simply suffers from excess weight. Because cars of this brand have recently weighed more than they should. But the recently tested Opel Combo, related to the Berlingo and Rifter/Partner, already weighs the same as a compact car - about 1,400 kg. Meanwhile, the Tourneo Connect is almost 300 kilograms heavier, but doesn't offer much better torque, for example. There the engine had 102 hp. and 250 Nm, here 120 hp, but 270 Nm. They're available from 1,750 rpm, but still don't expect extraordinary dynamics, especially on the road. Ford accelerates to 100 km/h in less than 13 seconds, and this is a good result. Worse, this power will be enough for him up to 100 - 110 km/h, and acceleration to higher speeds can be called maximum average.

There would be no objection to the dynamics of the car if the store had a car with a manual transmission

However, I wouldn't mind the car's performance if the shop had a manual transmission. It is also possible that other defects may disappear. Meanwhile, we have a classic car with eight available gears that behaves as if it were paying 17 rubles for each gear change. The slightest movement of your foot on the gas pedal causes the box to react. “This is probably good?” - you might think. Well, no, because sometimes, especially when driving at a constant speed around town, you would want to maintain a high or low gear ratio. Or any, so that the chest does not fly “wte and wte”, because it has nothing to do with a smooth ride, because each such change is a micro-jerk (or a little more). This gave me the impression that the gearbox "had a lot in the family" - although it doesn't display anywhere which gears we're driving, during the week of testing I got the impression that they were chosen a bit randomly.

During the week of testing, I got the impression that the programs were selected a little randomly

Where I (or a good box) will maintain a high gear, it will downshift two gears and then throw out the higher one, downshifting again in a second. And then again. While the route doesn't bother you that much because overtaking cuts are done quickly and intelligently enough, it's in urban conditions, where the automatic transmission should show the most benefits, that the Tourneo simply becomes unpleasant. It's also not very well soundproofed, but at 1.8 meters this shouldn't come as a surprise. It's pleasant to drive up to 120 km/h, and at highway speeds the airborne noise no longer makes you feel relaxed. We recently had to deal with a Grandland with a 1.5 diesel engine with similar parameters. The crossover spent as much as it wanted. Meanwhile, Ford is “eating” as if he had just conquered the desert. In the city, results vary from 8 to 11 l/100 km. On the highway at 100 km/h so far - about 6 liters per “hundred”, but if you intend to drive it on the highway using motorways, results at the level of 9-10 l/100 km will be the norm. This is more or less the 400 horsepower BMW X5 M50d.

Fuel consumption: Ford Tourneo Connect 1.5 EcoBlue:

• at 100 km/h: 5.9 l/100 km;
• at 120 km/h: 7.0 l/100 km;
• at 140 km/h: 9.6 l/100 km;
• in the city: 9.0 l / 100 km.

Almost everything is the same.

Igor Morzharetto: Ford Tourneo Custom is an exemplary family man with ambitions

… We got together one weekend with a cheerful group: two families, four adults and the same number of children (from 8 to 11 years old). And we decided to go on a trip during the New Year holidays. Where? Let's go to Lithuania, we have friends there... And in general, this is the real “abroad” closest to Moscow: Vilnius is only about 900 km away. And then we faced a problem - what for? It is clear that every family has a car, but maybe there is an option for everyone to go together? At the same time, we needed an 8-seater car of category B (“none of us had a bus license”), diesel, comfortable... There are similar offers on our market now: a French couple Citroen SpaceTourer / Peugeot Traveler, a German Volkswagen Caravelle minibus, a Korean Hyundai H1... And also the Ford Tourneo Custom, which has recently been assembled at the Ford Sollers plant in Tatarstan. The choice fell on him (which we never regretted; but more on that below).

In general, any minibus can hardly be called a beauty, but solving it is an almost impossible task, because the basic “cage” must be a regular elongated parallelepiped, in which up to 9 people must be comfortably accommodated! Imagine that you are a designer, and try to come up with something new and original! Ford Tourneo Custom, of course, has gone far from its predecessor - the model born in 2006, simple in both form and content. There are large block headlights that can “look around the corner”, and a signature trapezoidal radiator grille – like those of Ford passenger models.

In a word, the appearance is modern. Advanced... And in the cabin there are a lot of “references” to the Focus, Fiesta and Mondeo models: a center console with a scattering of buttons, a small display of the SYNC multimedia system, a leather steering wheel with control functions... If it were not for the wide passage between the front seats, you would feel like you are driving a commercial vehicle, it wouldn't happen at all.

FOR TRAVEL AND WORK

But still, this is a classic commercial vehicle. The driver's seat is high, like a bus, everything is visible from above. The current generation also has enough electronic assistants. Navigation, lane control systems and assistance when climbing uphill and downhill, monitoring the driver’s condition, cruise control, rear view camera, parking sensors front and rear... You can’t even list everything! In short, everything is for the driver.

Passengers are also happy - there are eight comfortable leather seats for them (and the driver!), and access to the cabin is through two large sliding doors on the right and left (already in the base). All seat backs are adjustable in angle, and all have comfortable armrests.

It is more convenient to climb into the third row through the right door - the right, single seat of the second row easily folds, freeing up the passage. There is plenty of room in any row for those who like to stretch their legs. The trunk is simply gigantic, almost two cubic meters of volume! Things needed for eight travelers for a week took up only a small part of it. By the way, the instructions say that there are more than 30 possible interior layout options.

For example, the seats in the middle and rear rows can be moved or folded so that they take up minimal space. If anything, the chairs can be used to form a huge bed or table; you can even remove one or both rows of seats from the cabin - the operation is simple, and it will take a couple of minutes. And then the minibus will become a delivery van, only with windows and separate air conditioning for the cargo. The only inconvenience is that the heavy rear door can only be opened manually: an electric drive is not included in any configuration.

DRIVE ME, CARRIER...

In a week we drove almost 3 thousand km along the roads of Russia, Belarus and Lithuania. We visited five cities. What can I say? Driving this minibus on city streets and country roads does not cause discomfort, but whatever, it brings pleasure to both the driver and passengers. One late evening I had to return along a fairly broken Lithuanian local road - and well, my passengers didn’t even wake up, my Tourneo Custom swallowed holes and potholes so neatly! And how well it holds the track - no track can throw a car off course. And it brakes wonderfully: already included in the database are ABS, exchange rate stability and brake force distribution systems. By the way, it is also easy to control, even in a large European city with narrow streets. And you don’t even feel that you are driving a “car” almost 5.5 m long!

All Russian Turneos are equipped with a 2.2-liter 125-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The power seems to be low, but the engine is distinguished by its torque, although in the city, I admit, I often have to use the manual lever: all gears are quite short. But on the highway it’s pure pleasure: I accelerated, engaged direct, sixth gear, cruise control... And the wheels only manage to cover hundreds of kilometers. Dream!

By the way, the loaded three-ton minibus showed a rather modest appetite: average fuel consumption was 9.4 liters per 100 km. On the highway it was even possible to achieve 7 liters! The 80-liter tank, filled in Belarus, was enough for 5 days of intensive travel in Lithuania, and still remained in order. For reference: in the Republic of Belarus fuel costs the same as in the Russian Federation, that is, about 40 rubles. per liter, and in Lithuania - almost twice as expensive: 1.1 euros.

FUN HAS A PRICE

Prices for the Ford Tourneo Custom in the “short” version in the initial Trend configuration start from 2 million rubles, in “my” Titanium configuration (long body) they start from 2,436,000 rubles. True, taking into account all the discounts, such a minibus can be found today for 2.1 - 2.3 million rubles. But only if you're lucky. Competing companies ask about the same for similar models. The French “couple” Citroen SpaceTourer / Peugeot Traveler and the Korean Hyundai H1 have prices starting from 2 million rubles. The German Volkswagen Caravelle is much more expensive – from 2.3 million rubles. Moreover, all four models have an important advantage over the “American” - they can also be ordered with an automatic transmission; everyone on the list also has a back door with an electric motor - as an additional option... But the key combination here is precisely “additional option”, because competitors, as a rule, offer basic cars in a very modest configuration; If you want to equip it with safety and comfort systems, please pay extra for it! And as a result, the real price of Peugeot is already 2.7 million rubles, while that of the Volkswagen Caravelle, for example, easily exceeds 3.7 million rubles!

And Ford immediately offers a minibus with rich equipment. So, already in the basic Trend configuration there are a pair of sliding side doors (which, you see, is very rare in this segment), air conditioning, heated front seats, a windshield, a SYNC multimedia system, a multifunction steering wheel and a huge set of security systems. In the Titanium package, the list of equipment is even longer and richer; You will have to pay extra (if desired) except for the pre-heater - only 9 thousand and 70 thousand - for “bourgeois” comfort (the driver’s seat is electrically adjustable, and all 8 are trimmed in leather).

Who is a car like the Ford Tourneo Custom suitable for? Most likely, the head of a large family who also has his own business. After all, with such a bus there is no shame either in the feast or in the world. For example, it can operate as a regular commercial delivery van five days a week, and then quickly transform into a comfortable family touring vehicle on the weekends. A small mobile headquarters is needed to conduct serious negotiations - and this can also be obtained in a few minutes. And in any case, this car guarantees not only driving pleasure, but also the safety of the driver and his passengers.

Ford Tourneo Custom

Car suspension

The engine and transmission aren't Ford's strong points, but the suspension is fine

While the engine and transmission aren't among Ford's strong points, traditionally the suspension is fine. Although it will also appeal to people who prefer stricter measures. However, the suppression of inequalities is an asset of most combos - this is due to the fact that often the freezes are almost the same as in versions adapted to heavy loads. In any case, the Tourneo Connect has a load capacity of 600kg, so not too little. Despite the nervousness of the “cross-challenge” surface, the car is quite stable and confidently moves along the road (it also has a standard system that prevents the influence of cross winds) – even on its own. Well, that's an exaggeration, but lane assist is on board, as is active cruise control (which can be replaced with just a few clicks in the usual manner that Ford has traditionally glorified). Getting back to the driving experience - as long as we don't overdo it, the Ford delivers a very decent ride for this body type.

Only the steering system can be a hindrance, which is a little too light and lacking feel in the first stage of a fast turn (or on motorway bends, for example). At a later stage everything is fine, with proper resistance and translation. This again leads us to the conclusion that the Tourneo Connect is a car for urban and suburban roads. Here you will appreciate the maneuverability and ease of driving. And also very good visibility in all directions. From the driver's seat I felt like I was in a huge aquarium - the windows are very high (heated in front and rear), the posts do not cover anything, and in addition to the kit I had large mirrors (with diodes for blind spots) and a rear view camera with sensors in front and behind. In other words, the city of Tourneo, despite its large size (although mostly “up”), comes out great. The brakes also work well, and in the evening there are optional xenon headlights. They don't shine very far, but they do provide a lot of light, so driving out of town at night won't be a problem.

Ford Tourneo Custom: a multifaceted “merchant” for family, business, travel

IT’S easy to get used to and very difficult to “get off” - you just don’t find objective reasons for yourself to refuse. The owners of THIS think in other categories - they have different concepts about comfort, functionality, prestige, and spaciousness. People around you don’t pay attention, but THIS can be very different and cost more than a three-year-old executive sedan, which a certain category of citizens loves to brag about. What it is? Just minibuses...

Owners of passenger cars - sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons - cannot even imagine how they are limiting themselves by choosing a “traditional” car! Hiding behind imaginary “handling”, but at the same time taking turns in a “whisper” and telling everyone about comfort on the highway, they don’t even look at more spacious and functional models. But in vain! Three days behind the wheel of a Ford Tourneo Custom - and you realize that in passenger cars you now begin to experience an attack of claustrophobia, and you perceive the inability to fully stretch your legs as a mockery...

Yes, most of the minibuses that we see on the roads are commercial “booths” with a maxi-base, high roof, and simple equipment. These are hard workers. But there is another caste of minibuses: almost no different in appearance (at first glance), inside they practically represent a luxury van and a modern passenger car in design, equipment, and level of comfort. And the Ford Tourneo Custom is just one of these - among its fellow hard workers it stands out precisely for its “passenger” capabilities.

Of course, this technique is by no means for “glamorous egoists” - buying a minibus is, first of all, a conscious step based on an analysis of the operation of your previous cars. Bicycles for yourself and your wife, a baby stroller, an old washing machine for the dacha, a mother-in-law with endless bags and seedlings - a family man does not need to explain how often he has to deal with something like this. And each of the tasks forces you to regularly invent some “combinations”. What for? A hundred troubles - one answer: a minibus!

Alexey Khvoshchinsky was the first to appreciate the advantages of this type of transport in the form of the Ford Tourneo Custom. And one weekend on a family vacation was enough for him to understand how much simpler and calmer life is when it doesn’t matter to you how many bags you need to place in the trunk - 3 or 30...

The “passenger capacity” of the Tourneo Custom is no less pleasing - with such a reserve of space between the rows of seats in the cabin you can even transport basketball players! True, most of them will be glad to be in the front - in the navigator's seat or in the middle row, because the distance between the second and third rows is slightly smaller. And this, by the way, raises the question: why couldn’t the third row be moved a little further back, since the long-wheelbase modification has a lot of space in the trunk?

It’s good at least that the backrest angle adjustment is provided in both the second and third rows - this allows passengers to slightly relax their backs on a long trip, and if all the passenger seats are filled, then also avoid contact with their shoulders. Although, given the width of the Tourneo Connect's cabin, this is unlikely.

However, a long wheelbase and seats with adjustable seat backs are not that uncommon among luxury modifications of passenger minibuses. And what exactly can Tourneo Connect “attract”? To find out about this, we gave the minibus a test drive to three different drivers - and each of them found its advantages!

Pavel Kozlovsky:

“Having a minibus for personal use (albeit, a little larger and not so “sophisticated”), I can say that Tourneo Connect is the “golden mean” that I would gladly “wave” my old lady for... Because All the disadvantages are taken into account here and there are additional advantages.

There are three things that don’t suit me about my car: the peculiar ergonomics, sound insulation and size control. How is Tourneo Connect doing with this? In terms of noise insulation, I was completely satisfied with it - apart from the rough “voice” of the engine, nothing in the cabin irritates my ears when accelerating. Suspension rattling? Wind noise? Sandblast? I don’t know - it’s all there somewhere, at a barely discernible level, and doesn’t draw attention to itself.

Ergonomics is a separate matter. Of course, having changed from a passenger car, you can be a little capricious that the steering wheel could have been adjusted a couple of centimeters further in terms of reach, but the driver of any minibus will immediately say: the ergonomics are ideal! The gearshift lever is at hand, an adjustable armrest on the right, audio system controls on the steering wheel - after 500 kilometers on the highway, thanks to all these little things and a comfortable seat, you don’t feel tired at all.

Well, regarding the control of dimensions, there is only one remark - the front overhang. Out of habit, you maneuver with reserve, and when you get out, it turns out that there are still two meters to the obstacle! But in other directions, visibility is excellent: two-section mirrors allow you to simultaneously control both the lower and upper perimeters. Although, of course, I wouldn’t refuse parking sensors or a reversing video camera - in this case it’s better to be safe.

What I also liked was the fuel consumption - despite the weight and “cabinet-like” silhouette, on the highway at speeds up to “hundreds” you can drive normally with a consumption of less than 8 liters! Where does this expense come from? Hence: thanks to sixth gear, engine speeds in highway mode rarely rise above 2000 rpm, except when overtaking. And in normal mode, 85-95 kilometers per hour, the engine operates at the very beginning of the “turbo zone” - so with 90 liters of diesel fuel that fit in the tank, you can go very far!

It also handles well - I don’t recommend really “firing” it, of course, but there’s also no feeling that you’re about to roll over. The rolls are quite moderate, the steering wheel is surprisingly “transparent”, again there is no helpless drift of the front axle typical of minibuses - the behavior of the Tourneo Connect is rather neutral. But, I repeat, the car is clearly not for “annealing”, so we will consider such settings more important for safe driving, for the possibility of sudden maneuver in case of emergency.

What didn't you like? The sound of the engine is harsh - when accelerating, it makes more noise than you would expect from a car that you already liked with its almost car-like design and fairly high-quality finish. Also, if it were up to me, I would lower the driver’s seat a little lower. Well, it would also be nice to do something with the rear leaf spring suspension: my old minibus also has springs at the rear, but it rides a little softer on uneven surfaces, not shaking the “stern” so harshly. Well, in all other respects, the Ford Tourneo Custom is, of course, very good - beautiful, comfortable, pleasant to drive, economical...”

Natalia Zhuravlevich:

“I personally never had any doubts about the professional suitability of Ford commercial models. Look at the roads of Belarus and you will understand everything yourself. True, I couldn’t imagine myself in cars of this kind: it seemed that my legs wouldn’t reach the pedals, I wouldn’t have enough strength to turn the steering wheel, and with such dimensions of the body I would generally be an accident-hazardous object on the road. It turned out that everything is much simpler. The design of the "driver's area" is like a passenger car. The seat is adjustable by electric closers in three directions, and with a height of 159 centimeters, I didn’t even have to move forward to the maximum. Ha ha! Let's go! We are going well, but in the process I figure out that it’s not easy in Minsk on such a huge vehicle. Neither park nor turn around wherever you want. “I bet you can turn around in one movement here?” - says Pavel Kozlovsky, pointing to a place for a turn on a regular “two-lane”. “No way!” It turned out that it really turned around. This agility is perhaps the main thing that struck me about the Ford Transit. But the rest of the car didn’t scare me as I expected - it’s a normal car, you can easily drive every day!”

Yuri Gladchuk:

“During our very short first meeting, I didn’t really like him. The plastic in the interior of the new car creaked, the engine did not seem the fastest, and it was noisy, the scoundrel. And then they gave it to me for three days, and I somehow got used to it, even managed to fall in love with it. For what? For an almost car-like seating position, but with a good view: it is known that if you sit high, you can see far away. For handling, taking into account the weight and height of the car. For huge space in the cabin and luggage compartment. And, of course, for the design. To me, the bead looks very good. It’s as if my beloved Fiesta was taken and cheated. The only thing missing is a second armrest. Sorry, adherents of the correct landing, but in the Multivan, holding the steering wheel with the correct grip, I put my elbows on the armrests along the track and rested. This is not the case here - there is only one armrest. And the seats don't turn. Well, the car costs less than Multivan! To hell with plastic, it creaks just as much in a VW minibus. If only the sound from the engine would be quieter..."

Prices and options

On the Belarusian market, the new Ford Tourneo Custom is currently offered from $38,900 in the Trend configuration and with a 2.2-liter turbodiesel. The list of equipment for the Trend package includes: special preparation to facilitate engine starting in countries of the northern climate zone at temperatures down to -20°C, high-power battery, ABS, electronic stabilization program (ESP), rollover anti-rollover system, emergency braking control system, device, holding the car on a slope when the clutch is disengaged, traction control, front airbags for the driver and front passenger, central locking with locking and remote control, two folding ignition keys, two-stage unlocking system, light tinted windows, dark tinted windows after the B pillar, power windows front with the function of lowering/raising the windows with a single press on the driver's side, adjustable window on the left and right of the 2nd row of seats, rear lift door, side sliding door with a step on the right in the passenger compartment, side sliding door with a step on the left in the passenger compartment, front painted bumper, electrically adjustable, heated exterior mirrors, built-in turn indicators, front fog lights, follow me home low beam function, steering column height and length adjustment, leather steering wheel, air conditioning + pollen air filter, additional passenger compartment heater, cruise control with speed limiter, leather-wrapped steering wheel, trip computer, leather-wrapped shift knob, 2 passenger compartment cargo tie-down loops, heated 4-way adjustable driver's seat with armrest, reclining cushion seats, with backrest adjustment, heated single folding passenger seat, four-way adjustable, with armrest, side curtain airbags, three-seater (2+1) seat in the second and third rows, ISOFIX mounting and additional child car seat anchorage in the second row, convertible rear seats, armrests in the rear seats, audio system with controls on the steering column, outside rear-view mirrors with electric adjustment, heating, built-in turn indicators, electric heated windshield, fluid level sensor in the washer reservoir.

Pavel KOZLOVSKY Photo by Olga-Anna KANASHITS ABW.BY

The editors express gratitude to the general importer of Ford in Belarus for providing the car for testing

The interior looks quite car-like, but the plastic is a bit harsh

The 2.2-liter engine is very economical, but the sound is harsh, and “turbo lag” in urban conditions can be annoying

A separate cabin heater is provided for passengers

Luggage compartment

The trunk is world championship, not only is the loading threshold very low, but also the capacity is 1029 liters without folding the seats

I've already driven a few kombivans, but the Tourneo was the one I enjoyed driving the aquarium on wheels the most. And not just through the aforementioned tall windows – the car itself is taller than the wider one. But it's surprisingly spacious inside. World Cup trunk. Not only is the loading threshold very low, but the capacity is 1029 liters without folding the seats. They can be presented in two ways. Or with a flat backrest, or even raise the seat and get not only more than 1,800 liters of luggage space, but also 1,394 mm of flat floor (890 mm in five places). The height of the luggage compartment is also large: 1,245 mm, and the width, depending on location, ranges from 1,192 to 1,477 mm. The bottom flap is a little smaller because there are two (actually one, but with two "doors"), there are air cabinets for lots of small items.

A similar shelf can also be found above the sun visors. There are also several storage compartments and additional shelves in the standard locations (one also has a wireless charger function). The space in the front and back fits well too. And I don't say this because I have so much roof (glass) room that he could sit on the sofa in a traditional top hat and cushions - and still it would happen. When it comes to legroom, it's like a compact car - adequate but not crazy. The same goes for rear seat comfort. It's shaped like a bench rather than a club sofa, and sits the same way. For short and medium distances - as much as possible, for long trips - not necessary.

There are a lot of plastics inside, and 90% are hard, like in “delivery” cars, but they fit firmly and do not squeak annoyingly

The front end is also quite good, although it lacks a few centimeters in seat length. But the driving position, firmness and profile of the seat are excellent. Moreover, the interior is quite ergonomically thought out. Even the "stand" of the multimedia system is at hand, and you don't have to go far. And it's great that SYNC3 handles all the entertainment and navigation. This system is really fast and easy to use. While not everyone has to match their graphics and colors, this is one of the nicer tactile systems in non-premium brands. In terms of quality, Ford represents a solid level of class. There are a lot of plastics, and 90% are hard, like in “delivery” cars, but they fit firmly and do not irritate with squeaks, crackles and other unwanted sounds.