• Large amount of head and shoulder space
• But rear legroom is surprisingly limited
• Huge boot

How much space is there?

This is where the Ford Tourneo Connect really shines… in theory. Given its tall, van-like shape it should come as no surprise that headroom in the Tourneo Connect is excellent. It’s so good, in fact, that Ford left in the overhead storage cubbies up front, lest all that handy space go to waste. 

Shoulder room is also commendable, benefitting from the Connect’s wide 1,855mm stance, but the superlatives end at rear leg room. Surprisingly, for a vehicle of this length and size, space for your legs in the rear is rather poor. When sat behind our six-foot-plus road tester’s driving position, his other six-foot-plus friend struggled to fit his knees in comfortably, much to his dismay and chagrin before a long motorway drive. But owing to the large sliding doors, entry and exit out of the vehicle was particularly easy. A small silver lining at least.

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Ford Tourneo Connect boot space and storage

This is where the Ford Tourneo Connect Shines in theory and practice. Official boot capacity is 1,100 litres for the short-wheelbase car and 1,452 litres (with the rearmost seats folded up) for the long-wheelbase model. That’s around the capacity norm for an SUV with all its rear seats folded down, so the Tourneo Connect truly is in another league where luggage room is concerned. By fold all the rear seats flat, and this figure swells to 2,556 litres in the five-seater and 3,105 litres in the longer variant, basically returning this MPV to the status of a van.

What’s more, the enormous tailgate opens almost the entire rear end of the car up, and so the loading lip of the boot is exceptionally low. Slinging bags into the boot space of the Connect has never been easier, but the chunky rear seat folds may impede the stowage of longer items.

Storage in the cabin is plentiful, including the aforementioned cubbies beneath the roof lining, large door pockets and small receptacles for your keys on the centre console. The rear doors also contain two exceptionally large door pockets for rear-seat passengers. 

Is it easy to park?

It’s a long vehicle, and not one to trip the light fantastic around tight car parks. The large mirrors, parking sensors and parking cameras – all featured as standard – are a useful helping hand, but it takes care and concentration to park the Tourneo Connect safely.

Also worth nothing that the boot hatch is very long and heavy, with an an almost comically large opening arc. Something to keep in mind if you’re considering parking in tight spot that backs onto a solid wall.

Safety

• Decent safety tech included 
• Five-star Euro NCAP rating 
• Optional extras 

The Tourneo Connect wants you to test its dynamic abilities like a geriatric dog wants you checking its fetching skills – it’s really not that kind of car. Instead, it entices you to drive slowly and carefully, which in turn encourages you to drive safely.

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You feel in control at the wheel, with good all-round visibility despite its size. To make life easier, the Connect also comes with a suite of safety tech as standard, though a few key systems are available as options. See below for a selection of key features:

• Emergency brake assist 
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Driver impairment monitor 
• Post-collision braking 

An additional driver assistance pack that includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring and Driver State Assist is available for a small extra cost.

The latest Tourneo Connect was crash tested by the automotive safety standards organisation Euro NCAP in 2021, after which it was awarded a five-start safety rating. The Connect scored particularly well in its adult occupant and child occupant tests, with 84% and 82% ratings respectively. The testing has gotten tougher since, but there’s no reason to think that this isn’t still a fundamentally safe family vehicle.

Watch the Ford Tourneo Connect Euro NCAP crash test video: