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By Jonathan Crouch

Ford's Tourneo Custom MPV reinvents itself in this new generation form. Jonathan Crouch reports

Ten Second Reviewword count: 68

Ford's new generation Tourneo Custom is a smart-looking, well-equipped and economical super-large People Carrier that can seat eight or nine. Though still based on the Transit Custom van, it's now far more sophisticated and car-like - and there are both PHEV and EV options too. If you've progressed beyond the normal seven-seater MPV and need something uber-spacious for family or business, this contender's now well worth a look.

Backgroundword count: 192

Welcome to a new kind of Ford large People Carrier. For decades, the brand has offered big car-like MPVs - the S-MAX and the Galaxy. And a big van-like MPV - the Tourneo Custom. Going forward, it'll only be the Tourneo Custom that remains, which means it needs to be a very different proposition to its predecessor. It is. This model is based, as before, on the Transit Custom van, the latest version of which is Ford's take on the new generation Volkswagen Transporter LCV, Ford and Volkswagen now sharing commercial vehicle designs. Which also means that this Tourneo Custom shares its design with the MPV you'd think would be its most obvious rival, the Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle. Anyway, enough of that: what of the product itself? Well as we'll see, it's now more car-like, as you would expect. And to reflect the prevailing zeitgeist, there's a full-electric version too, selling alongside a Plug-in Hybrid petrol variant and a conventional diesel powerplant. Standard and long wheelbase versions are offered and you'll choose between eight and nine-seat cabin layouts. Which is more versatile than any Galaxy or S-MAX could ever manage. Sounds promising.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 254

The headlines here are all about the new full-electric E-Tourneo Custom model, but for the time being, most sales will still be of the conventional 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine carried over from this model's predecessor. There's a choice of three power outputs for the black pump-fuelled models - 136PS, 150PS and 170PS; and a choice of 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic gearboxes. Manual gearbox 136PS and 150PS can alternatively be ordered with a mechanical limited-slip differential for extra winter traction. Diesel towing capacity is 2,500kgs. Ford would also like combustion engine customers to consider the petrol Plug-in Hybrid option. Surprisingly, this PHEV powertrain isn't a borrowed Volkswagen unit but a development of the set-up that a handful of customers chose in the previous generation version of this model. This sees a 2.5-litre petrol engine replace the old 1.0-litre EcoBoost unit, with an electric motor powered by a larger 11.8kWh battery which, when fully charged, is expected to be able to take this MPV up to 31 miles without troubling fossil fuel. As for the aforementioned all-electric E-Tourneo Custom, well that gets a 218PS electric motor powered by a 65kWh battery offering a range of up to 230 miles. Unlike the other front-driven models in the range, the motor drives the rear wheels and there's a brake regeneration system that promises 'one pedal' driving so that you'll hardly ever need to use the brake when you come off the throttle. The E-Tourneo Custom can tow up to 2.0-tonnes as well, considerably more than direct rivals.

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