Whoever christened it the ‘Cape Doctor’ must have had a rather bent sense of humour, so the prospect of driving a 5-metre long slab-sided people mover from Gordon’s Bay to the Nampo Show in Bredasdorp in a 50km/h plus wind had about as much appeal as a rabid cat.
However, the surprise in the trip in the new Ford Tourneo 8-seater, came with its almost uncanny stability on the road in that wind that changed direction as often as the winding road through Betty’s Bay and Caledon followed the hilly contours of the Cape.
Naturally, there was some steering compensation for the wind, but there was no ‘rock ‘n roll’ in the gusts and the Torneo simply blew through the breeze, keeping the occupants comfortable, relaxed and able to enjoy the stunning vista of bright yellow Canola fields in full bloom – which is rather what the vehicle is designed for.
Dubbing it a multi-activity vehicle (MAV), the new Ford Tourneo, is built on a fresh platform and designed to cater to both personal and business needs, offering spacious seating for up to eight passengers.
Initially available in the Trend trim and a long-wheelbase version, it is powered by a 2.0-litre single turbo-diesel engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Ford South African, however, has confirmed additional models will be introduced to the lineup at a later stage, including the likelihood of a Titanium version.
The engine, designed to minimise environmental impact through the use of AdBlue technology offers 100kW of power and 360Nm of torque and selectable drive modes, including Eco and Tow/Haul. The Tourneo also has a towing capacity of up to 2,500 kg.
“Whether it’s a family adventure at the weekend or transporting executives in style, the Tourneo’s modern connectivity, cutting-edge design, and premium features make it a standout in the MAV category,” says Doreen Mashinini, Ford South Africa's General Manager for Marketing.
With the huge buyer swing to SUV vehicles, the question as to why private buyers would look at the MAV market was answered by Bogosi Matsheki, Product Manager for the Tourneo, who said: “Our research has identified a number of buyers who want more than a SUV can offer in terms of space and flexibility, which is exactly what the Torneo can do. At the same time, they still want the raised driver’s seat position and convenience of the greater forward vision. Again, exactly what the Torneo is providing.”
The Tourneo’s interior has three rows of seats with flexible configurations to maximise space for passengers and luggage alike. A track-mounted seating system allows second and third-row seats to slide forward or back or be removed entirely.
The seats are also lighter than those in the previous model, making it easier to reconfigure the cabin. For those needing extra cargo space, removing the rear seats opens up a 6.8 m³ of load volume, enough to fit three Euro pallets. ISOFIX points are included across the second-row and two outer seats in the third row, enhancing child seat safety.
Premium features such as dual-zone automatic climate control, rear seat climate control and heated front seats ensure maximum comfort for all occupants.
Inside, is a 13-inch central touchscreen powered by Ford’s SYNC4 infotainment system. This system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard, with wireless charging also included.
In terms of storage, the Tourneo’s redesigned dashboard features a roof-mounted crash bag for the front passenger, allowing for more space to store items such as laptops. Numerous charging points are also provided, with USB and 12V sockets strategically placed for both front and rear passengers.
The Tourneo’s new platform also introduces a lower floor height and integrated sidestep, making it easier to enter and exit the vehicle or load items. The reduced overall height, under two metres, means it can easily access multi-storey car parks and garages. The streamlined design also enhances aerodynamics, improving efficiency and refinement.
We have already alluded to its stability on the road in the wind but, the other part of that equation comes from a redesigned suspension set-up with the rear now independent and this helps to confirm that stability as well as providing an overall improvement in the ride quality, while endowing it with more precise handling at both slow and higher speeds.
In our launch trip – sticking carefully to the various speed change advisories and dealing with several stop-and-go situations through roadworks, the overall consumption by the time we arrived at Cape Town Airport at the end of the day was 9.2 l/100 km.
There is a case for more power - overtaking acceleration felt just a bit slower than it could be.
The new Tourneo is packed with the latest in driver assistance technology including Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Aid, Evasive Steering Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Reverse Brake Assist and Adaptive Front Lighting System.
In terms of security, the Tourneo features shielded power door deadlocks, keyless entry and a Thatcham Category 1-specification alarm system as standard. Six crash bags—front, side, and curtain—ensure the highest levels of safety for all passengers.
As to pricing - Ford still must reveal this as the current improvement in the Rand versus the US Dollar means it might still be able to gain some improvement ahead of the cars moving onto the dealer floor.