A COURIER THAT DELIVERS(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 43

Ford re-invents it's Tourneo Courier small van-based MPV for a new era. But still offers it with the more affordable option of mild hybrid petrol combustion power, as well as in full-EV form. Either way, it's practical, affordable to run and surprisingly stylish.

Background word count: 216

So what does the affordable end of Ford's passenger car range look like after the era of Fiesta and Focus? Well here's one initial answer to that question, the Tourneo Courier which, as its name suggests, is a passenger-carrying version of the current generation Transit Courier van. It's made in Craiova, Romania alongside the brand's other small car offering, the Puma small SUV. These two models now represent the first step on the rung of Ford ownership. The Tourneo Courier model line didn't use to be as important to Ford as this. Hardly anyone noticed the launch of the first generation model back in 2018, but seven years on, this second generation model's availability in EV as well as combustion form garnered it a few more headlines. Particularly when the EV version became one of the first two cars in the UK to gain the highest £3,750 level of government Electric Car Grant. Ford wants us to see this model line as 'fun and fuelled by a restless need for adventure'. You might merely see it as an alternative to the small van-based MPVs produced by Stellantis Group brands like Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot. Either way, this might be the second family car you actually need, particularly in the full-EV form we're going to try here.

Driving Experience word count: 208

Even though this Tourneo Courier is based on an all-electric platform, its sales prospects were going to be pretty limited if Ford had only offered it in full-EV form. If the car's intended outdoorsy lifestyle vibe is to be realised in ownership, customers are going to need to be able to travel decent distances. Potentially, longer than the ones they can comfortably travel using the current public charging infrastructure. Which is why the DNA of the Fiesta this model basically replaced lives on in the engine most initial Tourneo Courier customers will choose; the 1.0-litre EcoBoost mild hybrid petrol engine we've been familiar with in various Ford models since the beginning of this decade, here provided in 123bhp form. It's not a proper self-charging Hybrid (the tiny battery can never solely drive the car); but it can be had with either 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual clutch auto. Obviously you'll have to have an auto (the usual EV 1-speeder) if you choose the E-Tourneo Courier. This has a 134bhp electric motor mounted on the front axle. There's no dual motor AWD version. Expect a battery size around 54kWh and a range of up to 177 miles. Top speed is 90mph and there's 290Nm of pulling power.