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By Jonathan Crouch

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

Ten Second Reviewword count: 80

Ford's second 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, this MK2 model is now far more sophisticated than its big Tourneo predecessor - and as well as the diesel powertrain there's a choice of 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 well worth a look.

Backgroundword count: 203

For decades, the Blue Oval brand has offered big car-like MPVs - like the S-MAX and the Galaxy. And since 2013 a big van-like MPV - the Tourneo Custom. That model was replaced in 2023 with this design, just as the S-MAX and the Galaxy finally ceased production. Since then, it alone has represented Ford in the large model part of the MPV sector, so needs to be a much less van-like proposition than its predecessor.Just as well then, that the second generation Transit Custom LCV it's based on is much easier to live with, borrowing much from its maker's passenger car engineering. These two Custom models were developed in collaboration with Volkswagen, which is why this Tourneo Custom's closest rival is its badge-engineered close cousin, the Transporter Shuttle. We've tried both vehicles in full-electric form, so here our focus is going to be on the combustion versions of this Tourneo Custom, a petrol PHEV and, specifically here, the 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel unit that most buyers still want. Whatever your drivetrain of choice, 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.

Driving Experienceword count: 490

If you've decided that your Tourneo Custom needs to be fitted with the conventional 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine we tried and carried over from this model's predecessor, there's a choice of three power outputs - 136PS, 150PS and 170PS. There are two transmission options, a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed auto, but you only get a choice if you go for the base 136PS version of this unit. The 150PS version's manual-only; the top 170PS variant's only offered with the auto. Diesel towing capacity is 2,500kgs (half a tonne more than the EV version). 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 late in the production run of the previous generation version of this model. The updates to that unit for this second generation Tourneo Custom see a 2.5-litre petrol engine replace the old 1.0-litre EcoBoost unit, though there's still a belt-driven CVT auto gearbox paired to it, which sees soaring revs when you stamp down your right foot. It's still not particularly suited to towing - with a braked trailer weight of 1,850kg. The PHEV system's electric motor is now powered by a larger 11.8kWh battery which, when fully charged, is expected to be able to take this MPV up to 35 miles without troubling fossil fuel. Compare that to the 202 mile figure possible from the 71kWh battery of the E-Tourneo Custom, a 218PS model with a rear-mounted motor we've covered in a separate film. But it's the diesel we tried. It benefits from mild hybrid tech in this guise, which doesn't do much expect run the stop/start system and add a negligible boost to mid-range acceleration. Otherwise, this is pretty much the same EcoBlue 2.0-litre unit that was fitted to the previous generation model - and its age becomes evident with the noise you get at tickover and the relative din generated under hard acceleration. The eight-speed auto it's paired with here is at least a relatively slick-shifting 'box. And even in this 136PS form, there's quite enough pulling power (360Nm of torque) to cope with an MPV-full of passengers. The Transit Custom this Tourneo model is based upon has long been the best medium-sized LCV in the class to drive and those exemplary drive dynamics translate well of course into this MPV. Obviously a vehicle this high-sided and relatively heavy doesn't take kindly to being thrown around, but there's more traction and steering feedback than you'd usually get in a big van-based MPV of this sort and refinement's reasonably for the kind of big People Carrier this is, with wind noise at speed well controlled. But this isn't one of those big MPVs that tries to hide its van-derived roots; in fact, when you power off, a 'trip summary' showing a Transit van appears on the instrument cluster screen.

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