Thank heavens you’re here. That tap hasn’t stopped dripping all day.
Excuse me?
The tap. Dripping. You are the plumber I called, aren’t you?
Ah, I think I see where the confusion is coming from. No, I’m not a plumber, I’m just driving this…
This Ford Transit?
No. Not a Transit, and Ford is very specific about that. This is actually the Ford Tourneo Custom. And to be even more precise, it’s the Ford Tourneo Custom 320L Limited Shuttlebus.
*Squints* It looks like a Transit…
Well, in fairness it is really. Although this one has windows and lots of seats, it’s basically a Transit with a fancy badge. Ford has been ramping up its Tourneo range of vans-with-seats in recent years, offering them as big, useful, value-added family cars. Next year, we’re even going to get a compact electric one called the Tourneo Connect.
Is this one electric?
Ummmm… no. No, it’s really not. This one actually gets a 130hp 2.0-litre diesel, which is an almost comically low horsepower figure for a 2.0-litre diesel engine. Mind you, it does have 385Nm of torque which does at least give it enough shove to keep that big body on the move.
What’s it like to drive?
Actually, it’s kinda brilliant. Every Transit, since the 1965 original has been at least decent behind the wheel, and this Tourneo carries on the tradition.
OK, so it’s big and hefty and you need to do the Austin Powers back-and-forth shuffle to turn it in tight confines, but the steering is light, accurate, and really nice to use and although the cabin squeaks and rattles a bit, it rides smoothly over bumps.
Plus, you sit way, way up high, looking imperiously down on drivers of mere SUVs and crossovers. The view out is terrific.
What about the view inside?
If anything it’s even better. There is oodles of space — well, it is a van after all — and in this configuration there are enough seats for nine people (including the driver).
Even with all nine seats filled, there’s 1,200-litres of available luggage space in the back, and those seats can be lifted out if you need to carry anything bigger and bulkier than that. Ikea won’t know what’s hit it.
The view out is also unbeatable — SUVs take note of the big, square windows, please — and the sliding side doors make it easy to get in and out when you’re squeezed into a tight parking space.
Up front, you have to clamber up to get to the driver’s seat, and the plastics in the cabin look pretty cheap, but it’s comfortable and there’s loads of storage spaces. Plus, even if the central touchscreen is a little on the small side, the software it uses is simple and easy to understand.
There must be some drawbacks?
Oh sure there are. It can get noisy in there when you’re cruising on the motorway, and anyone sitting in the back is going to have to yell, school-tour-style, if you’re going to hear them. It’s also not the most economical thing around, although equally it’s not as bad as we thought it would be. We were expecting around 9.0-litres per 100km, and actually managed 7.0-litres per 100km. Oh, and then there’s the price tag…
Hang on, if it’s basically a Transit shouldn’t it be cheap?
Tsk, tsk — nothing’s cheap anymore. This one’s €77,100.
*sound of spitting coffee out*
Are you OK?
Sorry, I thought you said €77,100 for a van with windows.
I did, and before you spit your coffee out again, you can get cheaper versions. The Tourneo Custom range kicks off at €46,961, but that’s going to be a pretty bog-basic one.
Mind you, there is lots of choice — you can have mild-hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions, and there’s a new, fully-electric model on the horizon.
You still haven’t fixed that dripping tap…
Sorry. Hang on and I’ll fetch my toolbox from the Tran… Tourneo.
Key Facts:
How much? Starts at €46,961. The one we drove was €77,100
How fast? 0-100km/h in n/a
How thirsty? Official figure is 7.8-litres per 100km, but you might actually get a bit better than that if you’re careful.
What do you get? Our test car, in Limited spec, came with twin sliding side doors, 16-inch steel wheels, tinted rear glass, electric front windows, cruise control, and roll stability control with side wind mitigation.
How big? Massive inside and out. You’ll never want for luggage space no matter how many seats you’re using, and you can fit most of a football squad inside. The downside is that some of the cabin trim looks as if it will mark and break pretty easily, and because it’s big it’s not really made for tight car parks.
Plus: Huge, great view out, surprisingly fun to drive, all the seats
Minus: Expensive for what you get, newer version on the way, people will think you’re a plumber
Equals: Van life is good life, but at a price.
