Ford Grand Tourneo Connect 1.5 TDCi
A grand welcome to our new Ford MPV
The practical and no nonsense Grand Tourneo Connect will be with the HJ team for the next three months.
Date: 14 July 2016 | Current mileage: 1211 | Claimed economy: 61.4mpg | Actual economy: 42.5mpg
By David Ross
If you're looking for a practical, no nonsense vehicle, a van-derived MPV has lots of appeal. Don't expect sleek looks and handling prowess, but what you will get is huge amounts of space, a robust interior and the kind of vehicle that you can throw pretty much everything at. Step forward the Ford Grand Tourneo Connect - our new arrival for the next three months.
Of course this more utilitarian approach to motoring is nothing new. You only have to look back at the popularity of the Renault Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo Multispace, both launched in the 90s. And the Ford Tourneo Connect follows in these footsteps. This isn't a car that's likely to impress the neighbours , but you can bet it's ability to carry a family of six and most of their gear will mean you can have a smug grin as those next door try and squeeze everything into their crossover.
We've gone for the Grand Tourneo Connect over the standard version. The Grand bit means it's a seven seater as it has a longer wheelbase - the standard Tourneo Connect is a five-seater. But as this is a van the seats fold down easily - in fact it's one of the cleverest systems around and a doddle to do. There are lots of red straps and handles but it's not hard to work out what does what.
Drop all those seats flat onto the floor and the Grand Tourneo Connect is huge, like the van it's based on. We'll be testing this out in weeks to come with road bikes, furniture and anything else we can think of that needs to be moved. It will also serve as transport for when the HJ team is out on the road. Because the whole HJ team will be running the Ford over the next three months. It's already been dubbed the crew van.
Middle row of seats has loads of space and tray tables too. For that executive experience...
Our Grand Tourneo Connect comes with Ford's impressive 1.5 TDCi engine with a six-speed manual. It has 120PS but it's the 270Nm which means the Tourneo Connect is strong in-gear and surprisingly nippy. However what has really impressed initially is refinement. The diesel unit is very smooth and quiet, even if you really rev it, which there's no need to do.
We've gone for the top Titanium trim which does push the price up considerably. In fact it's £21,895 which seems a lot for a van-based MPV. Prices start at £17,995 for the Style model but this is pretty spartan with steel wheels and no air conditioning. Our car is in fact £24,025 in total with the options fitted. The most expensive of which is the DAB Navigation at £900. This does however come with a 6-inch touchscreen and a rearview camera.
So what else can you get for the money? Well if you want this size (and shape) MPV with seven seats then you're looking at things like Fiat Doblo or the Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life. It's the latter which is the more obvious rival and is close in price too - a diesel will cost you a minimum £22,339 but has less power than the Ford.
So over the next few months the Grand Tourneo Connect will be pressed into plenty of action at the hands of our team. And we'll be able to give you a flavour of how this van-derived MPV copes with the different demands - and expectations - of our team.
Is a van-based MPV better value?
The Tourneo Connect is cheaper than the alternative Grand C-MAX, but is it still good value?
Date: 28 July 2016 | Current mileage: 1311 | Claimed economy: 61.4mpg | Actual economy: 42.4mpg
By John Slavin
Ford has a selection of big, family-friendly MPV models in its range, most of which are called something-MAX. Designed from the outset to be MPVs, the B-MAX, C-MAX and S-MAX are all very capable and impressive. And the cheapest seven-seat model – the Grand C-MAX – is £20,915. That’s not a lot more than a Tourneo Connect… So what’s the difference?
The most obvious difference is size. The seven-seat Grand Tourneo Connect we have is significantly longer than a Grand C-MAX, which means there’s more room inside – particularly in the back row. That's useful for children until they're older as they're more leg room. In fact, the Grand Tourneo Connect is almost as big as an S-MAX, which costs from almost £26,000.
In other words, if you want seven seats and lots of space but you’re looking for good value, the Tourneo Connect is a bargain. But that low price is all down to the fact it is based on a van, so buyers should temper their expectations, if only slightly, before handing over their cash to a Ford dealer. This isn't as quiet or as nicely made as a car-based MPV.
The most notable difference between the Tourneo Connect and its MAX relatives is the choice of materials used in the cabin. The Connect uses hardwearing plastics which will stand up to lots of scrapes and kicking feet, but feel downmarket and less plush than the materials used in Ford’s other models.
Extremely handy in such a big car, but part of a £900 option
For many buyers, hardwearing and sturdy materials probably sound ideal, but for others they’ll be off-putting. It would be harsh to criticise the Tourneo Connect too much though. There may be some clues to its van origins in the cabin, but it’s surprisingly refined and comfortable – plus it has some car-like features that really impressed us when it arrived.
It’s a Titanium model, so it comes with cruise control, a speed limiter, rear parking sensors, auto lights and auto wipers. Our car also has an optional navigation system – Ford Sync 3. It’s very user-friendly, with voice control that works surprisingly well and a slick, responsive interface, plus there’s a reversing camera. It feels like a real premium system.
And that’s because it is a premium system. At £960 it’s a very pricey option on a vehicle many people will choose for its affordable price. There are lots of other options on our particular Tourneo Connect too, including mud and snow tyres, heated front seats and front parking sensors which, fortunately, are all more affordable.
Our particular car comes in at £24,025 with all its options included. That’s still cheaper than the alternative Grand C-MAX or S-MAX though with the same level of equipment, though - so if you can put up with a more utilitarian cabin you’ll get more for your money with the Tourneo Connect. Even so, it's probably better value if you keep it simple.
Space, the family car frontier
When it comes to storage space, the big and family-friendly Ford Grand Tourneo Connect is as practical as they come.
Date: 11 August 2016 | Current mileage: 1721 | Claimed economy: 61.4mpg | Actual economy: 44.1mpg
By Dan Powell
'Practical' and 'efficient family cars' dominate many of the questions that you guys Ask HJ. And why not? These topics are no brainers when it comes to buying a car for moving the kids, because you'll always need space. And lots of it. You also don't want to spend a fortune on fuel when it comes to visiting your Aunt Meg or heading to the supermarket at the weekends.
Thankfully, interior space and fuel economy are areas where the Ford Grand Tourneo Connect shines through, because it's like a Tardis when it comes to storage. Indeed, slide open one of those large doors, flatten the rear seats, and you'll find a colossal 2410 litres of space behind those front seats. That's more than enough to shift a sofa or a pair of mountain bikes, with room to spare.
Transforming the Grand Tourneo Connect from a seven-seater to a van takes seconds too. The third row of seats fold away entirely flat, providing a larger boot for a family of five, while the second row of seats tumble forward to provide a completely flat floor. Obviously, make sure your kids aren't in the seats before tumbling them...
Keeping the back tidy is easy. You see, the cloth on the back of the seats is made from the same material as the floor carpet. This abrasive, plastic wool is easy to brush clean, which means you can carry mountain bikes and sports equipment without fear of spoiling the interior. Simply wait for the mud to dry and brush it off with a wire brush. Bang and the dirt is gone, as Barry Scott would say.
All of the rear seats fold away to provide a completely flat floor with 2410 litres of storage space
The van-like interior also works in your favour when it comes to transporting children, because all of those hard and scratchy plastics - that so many people hate - are actually really easy to wipe clean. The same can't be said for many of the plush MPVs on the market, with their posh interiors and fancy seat fabrics. Far from it, many are easily damaged by a wayward can of cola or carton of orange juice.
After two weeks of munching the miles as a school bus, with varying levels of sports gear and children in the back, you'd expect the fuel economy to plummet. However, the Grand Tourneo Connect's 1.5 TDCi engine has actually started providing a marginal improvement and is now averaging at 44.1mpg, which is good news given that fuel prices are on the up again.
Admittedly, it's not as nice to drive as the excellent S-MAX – it is not as sharp in the corners and there is more wind and road noise - but it's not all bad. Like the Connect panel van, the Grand Tourneo is easy to drive and its soft and comfortable suspension makes it a great long distance cruiser. The 1.5 diesel engine is also extremely refined, with minimal diesel clatter breaking into the cabin.
The Connect will never win any fashion prizes though and it's a pity that some car snobs are quick to dismiss van-based MPVs. In our view, these large and practical family movers are the best hidden secrets in the world of family cars. In fact, when it comes to practicality, these no nonsense family movers are among the best.
The great crossover killer
The Tourneo sticks two sliding doors up to crossovers, then destroys them with its van-based brilliance...
Date: 22 August 2016 | Current mileage: 2013 | Claimed economy: 61.4mpg | Actual economy: 44.1mpg
By Mark Nichol
The irony of thinking you’re too cool for an MPV is that thinking you’re too cool for an MPV makes you a stereotype, which isn’t cool at all. Everybody thinks they’re too cool for an MPV. It’s the reason why we’re all buying MPVs with shallower sides, bigger wheel arches and less space these days; name your two-box family car a #crossover and, apparently, that’s ok.
The problem is, in my opinion (and this is certainly not the viewpoint of HonestJohn.co.uk), #crossovers – and especially the small ones – are usually proper #naff. We probably reached peak #crossover when Ford trotted out the EcoSport, an SUV-lite based on the most popular car on sale today, yet crushingly average in almost every way while being significantly more expensive.
It’s like a superhero movie in which a smart, trendy, capable lab assistant gets bitten by a bear, but then instead of becoming a big furry SUPERBEAR with crime-fighting powers, she just gets a bit hairier, a lot clumsier and loses the ability to talk.
Thankfully, Ford also has a car that’s the antidote to the bland #crossover, and it’s this, the Grand Tourneo. There’s something inexplicably amazing about turning a van into a passenger car, and this Ford is a fine example. It stands alongside the Hyundai i800 and the Peugeot Partner Tepee in a group of cars that can perform the great role reversal – turning the adults giddy and the kids docile on the road. Long journey ahoy.
Taking our favourite bit of old lino out. Standard Saturday night.
Why? Space, mainly. Squeezing kids into insufficient rear seat space over a long distance is akin to poking the aforementioned bear with a cattle prod. But, in my experience, giving kids enough room to stand up and run around has the opposite effect, inexplicably. It calms them down. I know not why. I guess it’s easier to soothe yourself when you’ve got room to swing your legs around.
The other great shackle-detaching quality of your family wagon being a massive, nondescript green van is that it assuages the pressure of actually caring about your car’s hygiene. If your family transport is, say, a Jaguar XF, the return trip from every party is a nerve-jangling travail of crumbs, cream, crisps and crusty shoes. You’re bothered about the mess. You’re not necessarily bothered about the gunk brought into a Tourneo, because the Tourneo looks good with gunk; the Tourneo is the fur-lined wellies you wear for walking the dog.
It’s not without flaw, though. The sat nav is rubbish because the screen and all the icons are too small, and Ford’s cabin designers still seem to think that squeezing as many shapes, angles and buttons as possible into a cockpit makes it interesting. It doesn’t. It makes it confusing.
But none of that stuff is enough to negate this car’s familial greatness. Over the course of six weeks or so it replaced our long-term Jaguar XF as primary transport while we moved house. During that time it went to the tip 13 times, and to one of Homebase, B&Q, Ikea and the MetroCentre pretty much daily. It was perfect. We loved it. The kids were sad when the Jaguar came back. It’s the coolest car they’ve ever had. And they’ve been in pretty much every #crossover there is.
