Ford Tourneo Connect first drive review

From the inside, absolutely massive. Ford makes big claims about legroom, headroom and storage space in the Tourneo Connect, with an overall luggage capacity of 1029 litres with all five seats in place, rising to 2410 litres with the back row of seats removed.

All of those litres aren't crammed into the boot, either, but rather dotted about in an assortment of cubby holes and storage lockers. Aside from the usual glovebox and door card locations, there's also an aircraft-style overhead storage locker.

The result is a cabin that feels airy and spacious, with that feeling enhanced by the addition of large all-round windows and optional panoramic sunroof on Titanium-spec models.

Passengers in the back won't struggle for space, while proportions in the front seem well judged. The driving position is high for this class, and provides a decent view of the road ahead from a seat that is both comfortable and supportive. Both the pedals and the steering wheel are off centre, however, which can take a while to get used to.

The 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi – sampled here in 94bhp form – is a capable and refined engine. Ford expects this to be the biggest seller in the range at launch, taking almost half of projected sales in the UK.

The engine is a good fit for the five-seat Tourneo Connect, releasing 170lb ft of torque cleanly while also returning a claimed 56.5mpg combined and emitting 130g/km of CO2.

The five-speed manual gearbox does a good job of managing the engine's power, though a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic is also available elsewhere in the range.

Steering is nicely weighted and provides precise inputs, while the Ford Tourneo Connect itself has a decent turning circle for its size.

Our main gripe is with the ride. Despite the adoption of a rear torsion beam configuration rather than the leaf spring arrangement of the old model, the Ford feels skittish with only two people on board. The Tourneo Connect gives a sense of unease during cornering and a disturbing primary ride on the motorway which will leave you in near constant motion.

First deliveries of both models are currently scheduled for the end of this year, and while there's already plenty of competition in the compact MPV sector from the likes of the Citroën Berlingo, Fiat Doblo, Peugeot Partner Tepee and Ford's own C-Max, there's definitely space for a more rugged, van-derived workhorse like the Tourneo, especially considering prices start at £14,245.

Those seeking more luxury and premium materials should probably look elsewhere, but if storage space is your overall concern and you regularly have need of all five seats, then the Tourneo Connect's flexible driving style makes it a worthy contender on your shopping list.

Ford Tourneo Connect 1.6 Duratorq TDCi Titanium

Price £17,395; 0-62mph 14.7secs; Top speed 99mph; Economy 56.5mpg; CO2 130g/km; Kerb weight 1458kg; Engine 4 cyls in line, 1560cc, turbodiesel; Power 94bhp at 3600rpm; Torque 170lb ft at 1500-2000rpm; Gearbox 5-speed manual