• Choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power
• PHEV offers a lengthy electric driving range
• Handling and ride comfort are neat and tidy

Ford Tourneo Connect petrol engine

The Tourneo Connect is offered with three engines. The least powerful of the bunch is a 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine that produces 115hp and 220Nm of torque. It’s the least accelerative, taking 12.4 seconds to go 0-62mph from zero, which is pretty slow by the low end of modern standards.

It does, however, come with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard, making life in traffic very easy going.

You can see full details of every version on our Ford Tourneo Connect specs pages.

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Ford Tourneo Connect diesel engine

Next up is a 2.0-litre diesel, also paired to the seven-speed automatic gearbox. Diesel Tourneo Connects cost roughly £1,200 hike more than the base-spec petrol and produce 122hp. Slightly more potent than the petrol but only by a faction. It can reach 62mph from zero in 11.8 seconds. Again, only fractionally better than petrol.

But with plenty of low-down torque (pulling power) and great efficiency on longer journeys, this is probably the best choice for drivers who regularly cover extensive distances.

Ford Tourneo Connect plug-in hybrid

The top Tourneo Connect engine is the plug-in hybrid petrol. It’s the most powerful option, producing a total system output of 150hp and 350Nm of torque, and also the quickest, with 0-62mph taking 10.5 seconds. Having tested this PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) model over considerable distance we enjoyed its quiet and self-effacing character on the road. It’s no rocket but with the help of the electric motor, it can get away from a standstill with urgency when required. 

Combined with a six-speed automatic transmission, this powertrain dealt with the handover between electric and combustion drive smoothly, though seemingly all the while with an extra kick of torque in reserve. For what this vehicle is, a people-lugging MPV with a few practicality tricks up its sleeve, it felt as powerful as we could’ve wanted with passengers onboard. A great choice, then, if you regularly plan to travel fully loaded.  

What’s it like to drive?

• Car-based platform means good handling
• Steering and ride comfort is well judged
• Automatic transmission responds well

As it’s based on VW’s MQB architecture – the same platform that underpins various hatchbacks including the VW Golf and Audi A3 – the Tourneo Connect handles well for what it is. The ride is excellent, serving up a relaxing degree of float as it fends off intrusion from road imperfections through the cabin. 

The steering is also well-judged. Unlike the latest Ford Puma wheel which ironically appears plucked from a van, the steering wheel in the Tourneo Connect is small and round, and thus easy to manage. The steering is light but direct, allowing for effortless inputs. 

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Around bends you can sense the car-like underpinnings, and it’s a huge boon to the driving experience. Go flying into blind A road corners at your own peril, but you likely wont feel as though you’re hanging on for dear life in the Connect either. There’s a little bit of disconnected waft when taken at speed but body roll is generally well contained. 

The gearbox is pleasantly responsive, too. The Tourneo Connect refrains from hanging onto gears for too long when merging onto motorways, and it feels a little more astute. Too many modern automatic gearboxes will keep your engine at the red line until you adjust your pedal input, which not only sounds awful but also drinks fuel. The Tourneo Connect, meanwhile, offers up power when you need it but will also change up a gear to relax again just as swiftly.