Road Test Review: Ford Grand Tourneo Connect Active
Independent review by John Murdoch
5-minute read
Highlights
- Great value for money
- Practical for large families
- Good to drive
- Packed with technology
Introduction
Ford's Grand Tourneo Connect is a van-based MPV that offers incredible space and practically, as well as good value and the latest tech.
It also drives very well and is available with a 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, and a more sensible 2.0-litre diesel version is also very economical and efficient with lots of grunts when needed.
Most buyers may have moved away to SUVs these days, but the Grand Tourneo Connect Active gives you a run for your money and is ideal for large families or those with an active lifestyle.
The Grand Tourneo Connect is the first vehicle to arrive from Ford and Volkswagen, and so it's a direct cousin of the Volkswagen Caddy, with which it shares almost everything.
Equipment and Technology
You get lots of equipment on this top-spec Active model, including a 10-inch infotainment screen with the latest smartphone connectivity and sat-nav.
The Active model comes with heated front seats and automatic air conditioning, keyless go, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
It's crammed with all the kit you would expect from a normal top of the range car, and it also boasts all the latest driver and safety aids.
Design and Practicality
Large sliding doors provide easy access to the spacious cabin, which offers a massive amount of head and legroom for all passengers. All rear seats can fold, and the all-round vision is impressive.
The large sliding rear doors and huge tailgate make it really practical, and it can take plenty of items up to around three metres long.
Even with all seven seats in use the luggage space is huge and in metallic Boundless Blue paint it's quite good-looking for an MPV.
Engines and Performance
The Grand Tourneo Connect comes with a 120bhp 2.0-litre TDI engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
It offers lots of smooth power and provides excellent performance.
John Murdoch
The diesel engine was refined and is a great choice for this model.
The steering offers lots of feedback, and the handling and comfort levels were up to scratch. For a car of this size, there's only a little body roll and the suspension coped well with all types of road surfaces.
For its size it's a sound performer, taking 13.3 seconds to reach 62mph with a top speed of 106mph.
It's very efficient with a combined 53.3mpg figure, and a real world figure of 60mpg can be achieved on longer runs.
Summary
If you're in the market for a large, spacious MPV for the active lifestyle, the Ford Grand Tourneo Connect Active is well worth a look.
Practicality is at the forefront with the Grand Tourneo Connect, however it still does well in the looks and technology department, with a modern, stylish design and a wide selection of gadgets to play with.
