FAMILY CONNECTION(some text hidden)

Ford's Tourneo Connect offers MPV motoring in compact form with a distinctly Germanic flavour. Jonathan Crouch reports. By Jonathan Crouch

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Most of us have squeezed children or pets into a car before, but Ford's rejuvenated Tourneo Connect compact MPV can comfortably take much more. From kite-surfing equipment to the school run, this is a car that aims to help families get a little more out of life. And in creating it, the Blue Oval brand has received more than a little help from Volkswagen.

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The Blue Oval brand has long ploughed its own furrow when it comes to its commercial vehicle range, but that's changed with a more recent partnership with Volkswagen that will see all future Blue Oval brand van models paired with their VW counterparts. Which means that the third generation Ford Transit Connect has been designed to share all its engineering with the current fifth generation Volkswagen Caddy. Which in turn also means that the People Carrier version of that Ford, this Tourneo Connect model, had to be a Blue Oval brand version of the MPV model that VW markets to family passenger car customers as the Caddy - or Caddy Life. If you followed all of that, it'll explain why the Ford Tourneo Connect model line we examine here looks so similar to its Wolfsburg competitor, especially in profile - and beneath the bonnet. Let's take a look.

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Ford hasn't just borrowed a Volkswagen chassis here but also engines too, though to disguise the fact, the Blue Oval's given the units concerned its own 'EcoBoost' and 'EcoBlue' branding. Ultimately, what it all boils down to is that you get the same powerplant choice that would be available to you with a comparable Volkswagen Caddy MPV. This means Tourneo Connect customers get to choose from either a 1.5 litre EcoBoost turbo petrol unit (with 114PS) or the alternative 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel, available in 112PS or 122PS outputs. All models feature six-speed manual transmission as standard, with the alternative of a seven-speed PowerShift dual-clutch automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles and a 'Sport' mode. Choose that auto and your car can also 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. Volkswagen isn't (currently) offering 4WD on Caddy MPVs but Ford has decided to make it available here - for the first time in a Tourneo Connect. The system automatically distributes torque between the wheels depending on driving conditions and surfaces, helping drivers maintain progress in more challenging conditions. All-wheel drive is available on models fitted with the 2.0-litre 122PS EcoBlue diesel engine and the six-speed manual gearbox and don't compromise interior space or loading height. Engine under-shield protection is available to support customers who frequently drive on rough surfaces.