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 1855mm 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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Cubby holes are 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. 

Boot space and storage

This is where the Ford Tourneo Connect Shines in theory and practice. Official capacity is 1100 litres for the short-wheelbase car and 1452 (with the rearmost seats folded up) for the long-wheelbase model. That’s around the capacity norm for an SUV with its rear seats folded down, so the Tourneo Connect truly is in another league where luggage room is concerned. By folding the rear seats down, this figure swells to 2,556 litres in the five-seater and 3,105 litres in the longer variant. 

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

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 £540 extra. 

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. 

Watch the Euro NCAP crash test video