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Ford brings us a Plug-In Hybrid version of its practical Tourneo Connect MPV. With up to 68 miles of electric range and the option of seven seats, it could be a better bet than the EV you might have been thinking of in the compact people carrying class.
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Driving experience
Like other current Tourneo Connects, this one borrows its chassis from Volkswagen - and its Plug-In Hybrid engine too, though Ford has badged it a 1.5-litre 'Ecoboost' unit. It uses a high voltage battery and electric motor to deliver a combined 150PS, with 350Nm of torque through the 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission you have to have. There are various drive modes you'll need to master: 'EV Now', which drives using only the electric motor; 'EV Auto', which balances electric and petrol power to best suit driving conditions; 'EV Later', which drives using only the petrol engine, saving all the battery energy for use later; and 'EV Reserve', which saves a driver-defined level of battery energy for later use.
As with other variants in the range, your car can be specified with Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centring, which provides assisted driving for accelerator, braking and steering functions to reduce stress on highways or in stop and start traffic. Unlike with the combustion model though, there's no all wheel drive option. You wouldn't expect engaging handling from a van-based MPV and you don't get it here. But the glassy body makes this people carrier easy to manoeuvre around town, as does the light steering.
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Design and build
As with an ordinary Tourneo Courier, there's a choice of two body lengths here, a short wheelbase L1 model with two seating rows and the long wheelbase L2 Grand Tourneo Courier variant that features three rows as standard and is reasonably well suited for the transport of seven folk thanks to its boxy shape. The previous version of this model looked very much like a van with windows, but this design has much more of a passenger car vibe, its more sculpted exterior offering a sportier, more lifestyle-orientated look. Particularly if you go for the crossover-style 'Active' version, which gets two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels, a silvered skid plate, a honeycomb-style front grille and body mouldings around the bumpers, wheel arches and door sills.
Inside, there's Ford's latest infotainment technology, with two 10-inch screens. Large sliding side doors on each side of the vehicle help children and elderly occupants move in and out in restricted spaces where conventional doors may not be able to open fully. Convenience is enhanced by plentiful cup holders, cubbies and charging ports, while the available panoramic glass roof and dualzone climate control help make the cabin airy and more comfortable on long road trips. The spacious and versatile cabin is unaffected by the PHEV drivetrain. With the second and third row seating removed, the Tourneo Connect offers up to 3.1m3 of load volume in the lengthier Grand Tourneo Courier model - and 2.6m3 in the shorter version. Carrying longer items or bulky leisure equipment is facilitated by maximum load lengths of 2,265mm behind the first row of seats, 1,452mm behind the second, and 629mm behind the third for 'Grand' variants (it's 1,913mm, 1100mm and 317mm for the five-seat variant).
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Market and model
There are three trim levels - base 'Trend', then 'Titanium' and top 'Active. Expect pricing to start from around £30,000 and you won't be far out. Most customers will want to stretch at least to 'Titanium' level, where you get satin chrome detailing, privacy glass and 16-inch alloy wheels. But the version you probably ideally want is the SUV-inspired 'Active', which gets crossover-style metallic-effect skid plates and additional body mouldings around the wheel arches, sills and bumpers, along with unique 17-inch wheels.
Inside, there are twin 10-inch displays and conductivity via the Ford SYNC infotainment system, compatible with wireless 'Android Auto' and 'Apple CarPlay' smartphone-mirroring. The central display features a FordPass connect modem to help you stay connected while on the road. And available Online Navigation, which uses cloud data to offer live traffic report updates and details on alternative routes, nearby fuel stations, online map updates and parking details along your journey. There's also a FordPass smartphone app so you can remotely interact with your car.
Safety kit includes an autonomous emergency braking system that can recognise both cyclists and people. Plus a 'Driver Alert system that will warn you if it thinks you're getting drowsy at the wheel. Ford also includes an automatic 'Post-Collision Braking' system which activates after an impact, automatically braking the vehicle to hopefully prevent it from going on and hitting something else. Plus the usual airbags - and an 'eCall' emergency system that will automatically alert the emergency services with your exact GPS location if they ever activate.
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Cost of ownership
We gave you the EV range figure - up to 68 miles - in our 'Driving' section. This should mean that owners should rarely have to visit their local fuel station. That's provided you keep the car regularly fully charged of course. The Tourneo Connect's Plug-In Hybrid battery can be fast charged at up to 50kW using public fast chargers - which isn't a particularly fast speed but is fine for a PHEV. You can recharge the car at home using AC charging up to 11kW, but most owners will be using a more conventional 7.4kW garage wall box. Expect a super-low CO2 return, which will enhance your Benefit-in-Kind taxation status.
This Tourneo Connect comes with the usual Ford three year/60,000 mile warranty and a year of roadside assistance. You could pay more to extend this cover to either five years and 100,000 miles or eight years and 100,000 miles. Most owners will want to take out the 'Ford Protect Service Plan Plus' programme, which allows customers to spread the cost of routine maintenance. Service intervals are spread quite far apart - every 18,600 miles or every two years, whichever comes first.
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Summary
Right at present, Ford seems to be as committed to PHEV technology as it is to EV. There's a message there - and it's one that family buyers would do well to consider as the momentum for electric vehicles falters. All the while that plug-in hybrids compromised luggage space and could go no further than 25 to 30 miles on a charge, most buyers could comfortably ignore them. But cars like this Tourneo Connect Plug-in Hybrid prove this is no longer the case.
Even if you were only to achieve, say, 70% of this car is claimed 68 mile EV range, it'd still be comfortably enough to mean that you'd rarely need to visit a fuel station with it, assuming use of this Ford was limited to suburban commuting duties. And for the times when you do have to go further afield, you're not limited by the inconsistencies of the UK EV public charging network. If you're buying a compact yet practical family car for sensible reasons, you'll find that an appealing proposition. And we wouldn't disagree.
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