2025 Ford Tourneo review | PerthNow

Ford hasn’t offered a folks mover in Australia since 1990, however now it desires to get again into the sport with the Tourneo.

Not Supplied — Titanium X Credit score: CarExpert

We by no means obtained any of Ford North America’s numerous folks carriers, ending within the Freestar. Extra disappointingly, we by no means obtained any of Ford of Europe’s glorious MPVs, together with the modern S-Max and spacious Galaxy.

After Ford Australia dropped the Spectron in 1990, it merely didn’t hassle with the section.

Maybe it’s as a result of folks movers – or MPVs or minivans, no matter you wish to name them – by no means fairly reached the heights of recognition right here that they did in markets just like the US and Europe. And the section was often sewn up by one mannequin at a time – the Toyota Tarago within the Nineteen Nineties, the Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival thereafter.

Australian patrons proceed to purchase SUVs in droves, and Europe is more and more embracing them too.

That has seen the as soon as booming folks mover section in Europe quickly evolve, with car-based folks movers disappearing in favour of both new SUVs (see the Renault Espace’s transition from MPV to SUV) or van-based folks movers.

Often known as the Tourneo Customized in Europe, the brand new van is a part of a full line of van-based folks movers supplied on the continent – this additionally contains the smaller Tourneo Courier and Tourneo Join.

Like that outdated Mazda Bongo-based Spectron, the Tourneo is closely based mostly on a van – on this case, the Transit Customized. However that’s the place the similarities between these two Ford folks movers finish.

Vans have developed significantly over the previous few many years, with extra security expertise and refinement. Which means van-based folks movers have come alongside for the experience.

How a lot does the Ford Tourneo price?

The Tourneo vary in Australia is straightforward.

There are simply two variants, each of which use the shorter of the 2 wheelbase choices and are available normal with front-wheel drive. Ford is, nonetheless, weighing a single-motor rear-wheel drive electrical model.

For context, the Kia Carnival vary is priced between $50,150 earlier than on-roads for the bottom S V6, topping out at $76,210 earlier than on-roads for the GT-Line Hybrid.

That sees the Tourneo Lively slot in between the upper-mid-range Sport+ and GT-Line Lite diesels ($64,610 and $68,580), with the Tourneo Titanium X sitting slightly below the GT-Line diesel ($72,910).

Wouldn’t it be higher to match the Tourneo towards different van-based folks movers? Perhaps so, however the Carnival to the tip of Might is sitting at simply over 70 per cent of complete folks mover gross sales in Australia.

What’s the Ford Tourneo like on the within?

Whereas the Tourneos we drove had a nine-seat configuration, with three seating positions in each row, Australian-market fashions will characteristic solely two seats up entrance permitting for walk-through entry to the rear.

9-seat fashions have the identical dashboard because the Transit Customized, however eight-seat fashions are considerably totally different.

The centre stack juts out extra, which suggests it isn’t fairly as straightforward to slip throughout the entrance seats – you’ll wish to watch your knees if you happen to’re notably tall and gangly.

There’s a roll-top compartment concealing two cupholders, which suggests another place to place a drink, as nine-seat fashions have solely a single cupholder within the center which pops out.

All Tourneos, no matter configuration, have a cupholder on both finish of the dashboard.

The wi-fi charging pad can be repositioned barely on the centre stack, although it’s nonetheless tough to see whether or not your telephone is charging.

Other than the totally different centre stack in eight-seat fashions, the dashboard is in any other case pure Transit Customized. Which means onerous (if hard-wearing) plastic trim, although the delicate two-tone therapy of our tester improved the atmosphere.

The shut relation to the Transit Customized additionally means the Tourneo has the identical gear selector, which is mounted on the column and helpfully frees up some house, however is all too straightforward to mistake for the just about identically formed indicator/wiper stalk…

There’s a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13-inch touchscreen working the SYNC 4 infotainment system, and each shows are well-positioned for the motive force and boast neat, fashionable graphics.

The menu construction is logical and there are bodily shortcut buttons for key menus below the display screen, whereas the satellite tv for pc navigation is straightforward to make use of and there’s wi-fi connectivity for each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Tourneo helps over-the-air updates, and there’s an embedded 5G modem.

There are twin glove compartments, as Ford has freed up house for a second one by transferring the passenger airbag to the roof. There’s extra storage atop the dashboard, in addition to cavernous bottle holders within the doorways.

All of it sounds moderately purposeful, doesn’t it? Properly it actually appears to be like purposeful, too, with fashion clearly not a precedence.

There are lashings of gloss black trim, together with across the display screen and centre stack, in an try to enhance the atmosphere. Vaguely metal-like trim additionally runs throughout the sprint for distinction, however that is basically a van inside.

The place the Tourneo actually impresses is behind the primary row.

Open the sliding doorways and the very first thing you’ll discover are the sliding seat tracks. These help you simply slide the second and third rows, and likewise place the second row to face rearward.

Once we weren’t driving the Tourneo in Germany, we have been being shuttled in them and 6 adults might sit again right here in consolation.

It’s all very versatile – for instance, you may fold the centre second-row seat to make a desk, and slide it into the center of the cabin; this additionally permits front-row occupants to simply entry the rear of the Tourneo.

Nearly each seat within the rear (two of the third-row seats are conjoined) will be individually adjusted, so if you wish to liberate a bit shoulder room you may slide the seat you’re in ahead or backwards. Happily, all seats are snug, so that you’re not sacrificing consolation for performance.

Eradicating a seat is straightforward: pull a strap to fold it, pull one other strap to raise it out of the tracks, and unplug the heated seat cable. They’re a bit heavy for some folks, so bend together with your knees, however it’s all fairly idiot-proof.

The large mounted glass roof, which will probably be normal on the top-spec Titanium X in Australia, is an absolute delight. Your youngsters may even put down their tablets to stare up via it.

There’s no shade, although it’s tinted. We did discover the cabin get a bit sizzling on a really gentle day in Frankfurt with the air-conditioning off, which does make us marvel how a lot you’ll must pump up the A/C to maintain the cabin cool throughout a sizzling Australian summer time.

Fashions with tri-zone local weather management have a management panel above the second row that’s straightforward to make use of. There are two USB-C shops on both facet of the cabin, located simply subsequent to the sliding doorways.

Unusually, there aren’t any seize handles again right here.

We’re sadly not getting the moderately modern-looking gray inside in Australia, with all local-spec Tourneos to as a substitute have black upholstery that’s maybe a bit extra kid-friendly.

Ford says it’s aiming the Tourneo at personal patrons, however we might warn dad and mom that these sliding seat tracks are virtually actually going to turn out to be encrusted with filth. You understand how soiled youngsters will be! Hold your crevice device helpful.

There’s no distinction in inside house other than a 30cm shorter cargo bay, which might nonetheless accommodate a pair of suitcases even with the third row way back to doable.

You possibly can nonetheless comfortably accommodate a full complement of passengers and an honest quantity of baggage with some sliding.

The pivoting down lights within the tailgate are a intelligent contact.

For reference, Kia quotes VDA measurements of 627L (all seats up) and 2827L (third row folded).

What’s below the bonnet?

Only one engine will probably be out there at launch in Australia.

Ford Australia has but to verify native gas economic system figures, however the associated Transit Customized with the identical engine makes use of 8.0L/100km on the mixed cycle.

Whereas it’s down on energy and torque in comparison with the Carnival diesel, which has 148kW and 440Nm, it trumps it in braked towing capability (2500kg v 2000kg).

How does the Ford Tourneo drive?

The Tourneo drives like a van, however not less than it’s a largely nice van.

We drove solely long-wheelbase variations of the Tourneo, however with the extra highly effective 125kW turbo-diesel engine that will probably be supplied right here.

There appears to be little distinction in sound deadening from the Transit Customized, so that you do hear a good quantity of wind noise over the massive exterior mirrors at freeway speeds, whereas a rattly diesel engine observe is omnipresent.

We’d wish to see (or hear?) some extra sound deadening used within the Tourneo, not less than up entrance. Sitting within the rear, we might stick with it a dialog with out having to shout.

Trip consolation is generally good, although the caveat right here is that we have been driving on German roads that are historically of a a lot greater normal than the donkey tracks many Australians must drive on.

It may well really feel a bit fidgety, however throughout our drive we discovered we have been extra more likely to hear a bump than actually really feel the automotive upset by it.

The usage of impartial rear suspension has little question helped enhance experience consolation in contrast with the previous-generation mannequin not offered in Australia.

We took the Tourneo via some small cities and suburbs, and it didn’t really feel like a chore driving this huge bus round due to the sunshine steering.

Sadly, steering weight doesn’t actually construct up in corners, so coupled with a sometimes van-like serving to of physique roll this isn’t essentially the most confidence-inspiring automobile on a winding highway.

It’s a stunning steering wheel although, with thick leatherette wrapping and a flat backside. It’s straightforward to park this huge bus too as, along with the sunshine steering, there are high-resolution cameras.

Efficiency is satisfactory. There’s an honest quantity of grunt off the road, however it by no means feels notably highly effective, and that’s simply with one particular person aboard. We’d wish to see what it’s like with an entire household on board and their stuff.

The eight-speed 8F57 computerized transmission, additionally utilized in Fords such because the Explorer, isn’t the smoothest-shifting unit. Shifts will be pronounced, whereas we did discover on a few events a little bit of a clunk when slowing down.

Throughout a few 30-35km drive loops, consisting of suburban and freeway driving, we averaged between 10.7L/100km and 11.5L/100km – that was with only one particular person on board, too.

What do you get?

There are two members of the Australian Tourneo vary.

Tourneo Lively normal tools:

17-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights
LED daytime working lights
LED tail lights
Energy entrance home windows
Heated entrance seats
‘Observe-based’ second- and third-row seats
Tri-zone local weather management
8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
13-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto – wi-fi, wired
Satellite tv for pc navigation
5G embedded modem
Wi-fi telephone charger
FordPass app connectivity

Tourneo Titanium X provides:

Premium 17-inch alloy wheels
Panoramic glass roof
Sensico synthetic black leather-based trim
Energy-adjustable entrance seats
Bang and Olufsen sound system
360-degree digicam

19-inch wheels are a $1000 possibility on the Titanium X.

Is the Ford Tourneo secure?

The Ford Tourneo has but to be assessed, nonetheless sister authority Euro NCAP has given it three- and four-star scores relying on whether or not a security pack is supplied.

Given all fashions in Australia come outfitted with the options of the security pack, it seems extra doubtless ANCAP will award the upper of the 2 scores.

The four-star Euro NCAP score contains an grownup occupant safety score of 75 per cent, a baby occupant safety score of 86 per cent, a susceptible highway consumer safety score of 83 per cent, and a security help score of 62 per cent.

Commonplace security tools in Australia contains:

6 airbags – entrance, front-side, curtain
AEB with intersection help
Reverse AEB
Adaptive cruise management
Lane preserve help
Blind-spot help
Rear cross-traffic alert
Secure exit warning
Reversing digicam with 180-degree view

How a lot does the Ford Tourneo price to run?

All Fords offered in Australia are backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee and embrace capped-price servicing.

Upkeep is required each 12 months or 30,000km. That’s an extended distance interval than some rivals, just like the Carnival, which require servicing each 12 months or 15,000km.

Over 5 years, the Tourneo will price $3695 to service, whereas a Carnival will price $2851.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Ford Tourneo

Ford Australia has had hassle discovering patrons for its totally aggressive small and mid-sized crossovers, which occupy two of Australia’s highest-volume segments.

We critically marvel how profitable will probably be getting patrons into showrooms for a folks mover, contemplating it hasn’t offered one since earlier than I used to be born. The Kia Carnival additionally has this section sewn up, with everybody else kind of preventing for the scraps.

There’s actually no automobile sort extra maligned by Australian patrons than folks movers. It’s an uphill battle attempting to persuade Aussies to purchase them, until they’ve a big household they usually successfully don’t have a alternative.

Which means carmakers actually need to deliver their A-game. The Tourneo’s standout options are its sliding and reconfigurable second and third row, in addition to that big glass roof. It additionally has, as we’ve come to anticipate from Ford, totally fashionable in-car tech.

Towards a VW Multivan or a Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer, the Tourneo stacks up extraordinarily properly. However neither of these fashions are the massive fish on this section. That’s the Kia Carnival.

The Tourneo could have an edge in outright house and flexibility, however it’s neither as good inside nor as good to drive as a Carnival. With its intelligent inside format, nonetheless, it affords a motive for patrons to leap ship from the Kia.