The Tourneo will grow on you
HUGE: NEAR BUS-SIZED, IT COMFORTABLY SEATS EIGHT
Plenty of power and torque although the bit of turbo lag is made worse by its bulk.
Every now and again, life gives you a slap upside the head to remind you that you don’t know everything. That doesn’t often happen with me when it comes to vehicles – because I love them I pay excessive attention to any news about them.
So when Ford’s fleet minder Jacques Wilken said he had a Ford Tourneo Custom on test and asked whether we were interested, I said, why not, thinking the medium-sized family hauler would be good to compare against our similarly van-based VW Caddy.
Yet, when I went to sign the papers for the car, I discovered that I had a full – read near-bus dimensions – size Tourneo.
The other smaller model, called the Connect by Ford, is no longer sold here.
Although I have driven a few VW Microbus and Hyundai H1 vehicles, these vast “airport shuttle” vehicles are not my cup of tea.
And that’s probably because I don’t run a tour company or an operation which ferries kids to school.
When my colleague Charl Bosch saw the behemoth parked downstairs, he let out his own shameful secret: “Actually, this is one of my favourite cars…”
He does have something of a fetish for vans but even so the only appropriate response from me to that confession had to be: “Boet, you have to get out more…”
The following day, though, I called him over to admit that the huge box has a strange way of growing on you and getting under your skin.
That’s probably because, despite its size, it is easy to drive.
There is, obviously, a commanding, high-up driving position and although the gear lever is oddly positioned in the dashboard (to allow a “walk through” front section), it also works well.
Helping to reduce the stress about parking this aircraft carrier is the fact that it has a reverse camera (although the screen, in the rear-view mirror is a bit small) and parking sensors.
A problem is the height. Ford’s delivery driver had to remove the roof-mounted radio aerial so it would clear the roof of our undercover parking garage.
I couldn’t be bothered to screw the thing on and off every day for a week, so I’ve been putting up with scratchy radio reception.
With a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, it has plenty of power and torque, although there is a bit of turbo lag, made worse by its bulk.
You learn, though, to give it revs before easing out the clutch and you start looking forward to the noticeable shove in the back when the turbo kicks in.
The Tourneo will seat eight passengers in comfort with a fair amount of space for baggage in the back. With the third row of seats folded forwards there is a cavernous boot.
On the road, it doesn’t seem as bothered by crosswinds as others in this segment and the ride is comfortable for both driver and passengers.
Yet again, I was struck, as I have been frequently with Ford products in the recent past, about how well built they all are.
At R637 000, the top-of-therange limited edition we drove is not cheap.
But you can feel that it will last.
I estimated the fuel consumption at 8.5l/100km-ish!
Its interior is plush and the infotainment system with navigation was simple to use.
All in all, the new Ranger is a great way to lasso the far horizon and reel it in!