2025 Ford Tourneo Lively evaluation

That’s a weird-looking SUV!

Individuals movers have seemingly been forgotten by Australian households – round 6000 have been offered over the primary three months of 2025, in comparison with a whopping 73,140 massive SUVs – and I actually battle to grasp why.

In spite of everything, only a few seven-seat SUVs can match normal-sized kids within the again, and boot house is usually non-existent with all three rows in use.

Nonetheless, proudly owning a folks mover is mostly thought-about ‘uncool’, or an indication that you just’ve given up on driving enjoyment. However so far as practicality goes, there’s no contest: the folks mover wins each time.

Which brings us to this – the brand new Ford Tourneo. Primarily based on the Transit Customized business van, the eight-seat Tourneo represents the Blue Oval’s newest foray into the world of household buses, and it arrives in Australia to tackle the best-selling Kia Carnival.

Priced from $65,990 earlier than on-road prices, the Tourneo may be thought-about a substitute for the current-generation Ford Everest, which has captured the ute-based SUV market since debuting Down Below in 2022.

I’m not suggesting for a second that the boxy, function-over-form Tourneo has the identical kerb attraction as an Everest or any of its rivals. However possibly, simply possibly, vans like this show that what a car can do issues greater than the way it seems to be doing it.

How does the Ford Tourneo evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Ford Tourneo towards equally sized automobiles.

Ford

Tourneo

How a lot does the Ford Tourneo value?

The 2 Ford Tourneo variants are priced to compete with mid-spec variations of the Kia Carnival, in addition to the Hyundai Staria Highlander and LDV MIFA Luxe. On check right here is the bottom Tourneo Lively.

To see how the Ford Tourneo traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

What’s the Ford Tourneo like on the within?

When in comparison with folks mover rivals and equally priced seven-seat SUVs, the bottom Tourneo Lively isn’t particularly premium inside, however it affords extra practicality than most opponents might dream of.

The cabin is constructed of hard-wearing, workmanlike supplies for essentially the most half, with exceptions for prime visitors areas like the motive force controls.

Particularly, the steering wheel is trimmed in supple leather-based, whereas each entrance seats include twin padded armrests completed in the identical luxurious leather-based.

It’s unimaginable to disregard the encompassing surfaces, although, that are a combination of gray, black and blue onerous plastic – a reminder of the Tourneo’s business car roots. Goal-built folks movers together with the Carnival and LDV MIFA current higher, that’s for positive.

Regardless, the cabin feels nicely screwed collectively, with the resilience to face as much as years of kids wreaking havoc within the rear passenger space. And, importantly, Ford hasn’t uncared for a very powerful touchpoint – the seats.

Trimmed in a mix of fabric, leatherette and wetsuit-style materials, the entrance chairs are cozy and totally power-adjustable. Every options three-stage heating, too.

I have to admit, the van seating place isn’t significantly acquainted to me, particularly the position of the pedals. After utilising all of the adjustment accessible within the Tourneo, I’d conclude that it’s finest suited to drivers who take pleasure in sitting up excessive and near the steering wheel.

Except for some driving place quirks, the cabin format is uncomplicated and intuitive, with key capabilities all inside attain.

Ford’s SYNC infotainment system might be acquainted to those that’ve pushed a Ranger or Everest, though the packaging is barely totally different right here.

As an alternative of a tall, vertical infotainment show, you get a 13-inch display screen in panorama orientation, which sits proudly atop the sprint.

It presents in brilliant shades of white and blue, with a house display screen that’s simple to navigate. All icons and menus are clearly labelled, and the local weather management panel is pinned to the bottom of the display screen.

Contact icons pair with a bodily button bar beneath that features controls for the sliding doorways, park help, drive modes and local weather settings.

The display screen can be responsive to the touch inputs, though there’s a brief delay in transitions between menus.

Options embody an in depth native navigation system and wi-fi smartphone mirroring, so that you’re spoilt for alternative on the maps entrance.

Connectivity choices are additionally plentiful – USB-A, USB-C and 12V shops all occupy central positions, and there’s a bonus pair of USB-C factors hidden in a storage field constructed into the sprint. A wi-fi charging pad sits on the base of the centre stack.

Behind the steering wheel sits a sq. digital instrument show that’s additionally acquainted from different Ford fashions. It’s no nonsense, with an uncluttered format and customisable information readouts.

The Tourneo misses out on a head-up show, which may be had within the top-spec Kia Carnival GT-Line. 

There’s ample storage up entrance, as you’d count on from a business van-based folks mover. All of the vital facilities have seemingly been multiplied, as you get 4 cupholders, two gloveboxes and tiered door bins that maximise the house accessible.

Transferring again, the Tourneo prioritises passenger house over storage of stuff.

It’s a really accessible car – electrical sliding doorways make getting out and in simple, and a easy sliding rail system controls the positioning of second and third row seats.

Relying in your passenger depend, you’ll be able to slide the second row again to maximise legroom or carry it ahead to seat as much as eight in consolation. Strive reaching that in a three-row SUV.

The rear benches can even rotate 180 levels to face one another, selling dialog amongst your loved ones and in-laws.

Headroom is unlikely to ever pose a difficulty, except you’re transporting the nationwide basketball crew.

Whereas house is ample, rear cabin storage is sorely missing. Each the map pockets are door bins are shallow, and different cubbies are onerous to come back by. When folded down, the center seat doubles as a bench with cupholders.

At least six USB-C shops serve the second and third rows, discovered within the base of the entrance passenger seat and in each C-pillars. Rear local weather controls are positioned within the ceiling.

When the time involves cram right into a seven-seat SUV, the ‘again again’ is mostly thought-about a booby prize, however that’s not the case with the Tourneo. The third row is snug and spacious, though storage is missing.

As for boot house, nicely that’s contingent on how you utilize the Tourneo. Not solely are the rear seats extremely adjusted, however they’re all detachable. As such, the Tourneo can play the function of each a eight-seat folks mover and cavernous business van.

Even with all seats in place, there’s 672L of cargo capability – sufficient house for just a few small suitcases or smooth luggage stacked up. For reference, Kia quotes VDA measurements of 627L (all seats up) and 2827L (third row folded).

Nevertheless, one benefit that the Carnival has over the Tourneo is its recessed boot ground, which may swallow the third row of seating utterly.

Accessing the boot within the Tourneo additionally isn’t as simple accurately – the tailgate is sort of heavy and requires handbook operation.

To see how the Ford Tourneo traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

What’s underneath the bonnet?

Only one engine is accessible for the Australian-market Tourneo – a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder shared with the Transit Customized.

To see how the Ford Tourneo traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

How does the Ford Tourneo drive?

A car-like driving expertise appears to be the very best reward you’ll be able to heap upon a folks mover, however the Tourneo proves {that a} van can impress with out having to masquerade as one thing else.

From the motive force’s seat, there’s no mistaking the Tourneo for a run-of-the-mill massive SUV. You sit up excessive and proper over the entrance axle, whereas the pedals stick out in such a manner that you just prolong your proper leg downwards slightly than forwards.

I struggled to get snug initially, and that’s more likely to be the case for potential patrons who’re experiencing a van for the primary time. Nevertheless, it’s one thing you alter to over time, and there are plain advantages hooked up.

For one, the elevated driving place gives a commanding view of the street and a transparent sense of the place the Tourneo’s entrance corners are, which is good for manoeuvring in tight city environments.

The Tourneo affords each full frontal visibility and a transparent view out the edges and rear, courtesy of enormous home windows across the cabin. Nevertheless, the B-pillars are fairly thick. In my driving place, that created a pair of blind spots when wanting left and proper at a cease signal or intersection.

On the flip aspect, the Tourneo options intelligent break up aspect mirrors that concurrently show a large view and a decrease angle of the street – helpful when parking near jutting kerbs.

Certainly, it’s additionally a reasonably simple car to manoeuvre round city. All Australian variations of the Tourneo are based mostly on the quick wheelbase Transit Customized, so it’s surprisingly nimble in tight areas.

Navigating parking tons is comparatively simple, though 90-degree turns ask that you just take a large arc with a purpose to shield the rear corners of the van.

Manoeuvrability advantages from the van’s sq. form, which makes it simple to line up in parking areas. The Tourneo is fitted with a reversing digital camera as customary, though there’s no surround-view digital camera within the Lively – a disappointing omission.

The steering is properly weighted, but gentle sufficient to not require a lot effort, and really direct.

At city speeds, the four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is greater than serviceable. There’s a well-recognized clatter on startup, however the motor is quiet and refined as soon as heat.

There’s ample low-end torque to get you transferring easily from a standstill, and the automated transmission does a stable job of choosing the suitable gear.

When stopped at a set of visitors lights, the engine will reduce out to save lots of gas and subsequently {dollars} on the pump. Nevertheless, the shortage of an auto-hold perform is noticeable in stop-start visitors, as you’re compelled to maintain stress on the brake pedal when caught in a logjam.

Probably the most spectacular points of the Tourneo is how secure it feels on the street. The physique feels inflexible with minimal flex, and little of the physique roll you’d count on from an enormous, heavy van.

The Tourneo turns willingly into sharp corners and stays balanced round longer, high-speed bends.

It rides nicely, too. Ford hasn’t engineered an excessive amount of vertical journey into the suspension setup, so the Tourneo doesn’t float or bounce like many different massive automobiles.

As an alternative, this large household hauler feels planted whereas retaining a snug trip, absorbing bumps and imperfections with out transmitting extreme vibrations into the cabin.

That applies to each metropolis and nation driving, because the Tourneo doesn’t disintegrate on the open street.

As an alternative, it stays composed on the freeway… when you stand up to hurry. With simply 125kW, the Tourneo lacks the fast response and vast energy band you’d get in a hybrid or electrical folks mover, and it exhibits.

While you plant your proper foot, not a complete lot occurs. The small displacement diesel engine makes a little bit of a racket, earlier than gradual and regular acceleration ensues. It’s the least refined facet of the Tourneo, and an space during which the likes of the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Staria have the Ford coated.

With that mentioned, the Tourneo is comparatively comfortable cruising at triple-figure speeds. The engine quietens down, whereas street and wind noise are stored to acceptable ranges.

Ford’s semi-autonomous driver help suite makes for carefree long-distance cruising. The lane-keep help function doesn’t proactively centre the Tourneo in a lane, however it does nudge the car again in line in the event you drift towards the traces.

Adaptive cruise management works nicely, sustaining a constant pace and hole to the car forward. It’s simple to regulate the next distance and set pace through a simple set of steering wheel controls.

On a unfavourable word, the motive force monitoring system is just too delicate by default. That may be remedied by altering ADAS settings within the infotainment menus.

Over the course of our multi-day check, common gas consumption sat at 8.3L/100km, falling in need of Ford’s declare. Nonetheless, it’s a reasonably aggressive quantity for a diesel-powered folks mover.

To see how the Ford Tourneo traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

What do you get?

There are two members of the Australian Tourneo vary.

To see how the Ford Tourneo traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

Is the Ford Tourneo protected?

The Ford Tourneo has but to be assessed, nevertheless, sister authority Euro NCAP has given it three- and four-star rankings relying on whether or not a security pack is provided.

Given all fashions in Australia come geared up with the options of the security pack, it seems extra possible ANCAP will award the upper of the 2 rankings.

Commonplace security gear consists of:

• 9 airbags
• AEB with intersection help
• Reverse AEB
• Adaptive cruise management
• Lane-keep help
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Secure exit warning
• Reversing digital camera with 180-degree view
• Rear occupant alert
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Evasive steering help
• Ahead collision warning

To see how the Ford Tourneo traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

How a lot does the Ford Tourneo value to run?

All Fords offered in Australia are backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee and embody capped-price servicing.

Upkeep is required each 12 months or 30,000km. That’s an extended distance interval than some rivals, just like the Carnival (non-hybrid), which require servicing each 12 months or 15,000km.

To see how the Ford Tourneo traces up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument

CarExpert’s Tackle the Ford Tourneo

The Ford Tourneo is a main instance of an honest car that’s overshadowed by a section heavyweight.

It’s extremely spacious and drives like a dream, however the Tourneo doesn’t have the polish to be thought-about a compelling various to, you guessed it, the Kia Carnival.

For Tourneo Lively cash you will get behind the wheel of a Carnival Sport+, which affords superior inside high quality, extra grunt, higher gas effectivity, and a seven-year guarantee.

To high it off, the Carnival is a purpose-built folks mover slightly than an tailored supply van and that exhibits within the packaging of each automobiles.

Positive, the Tourneo is a little bit roomier in its customary type and much more so with some seats eliminated, however the Carnival higher meets the wants of the motive force and passengers alike.

And that’s earlier than we even contemplate different rivals together with the Hyundai Staria and LDV Mifa, which each have their very own distinctive promoting factors.

So, whereas you can also make a case for the Tourneo as a left-field SUV substitute, it’s not one of the best car in its class.

If you happen to’re set on the Ford, it’s price paying up for the flagship Titanium X, with its worthwhile collection of upmarket upgrades.

Fascinated with shopping for a Ford Tourneo? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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