Test Drive Ford Tourneo since 2010 Minibus

All photos of Ford Tourneo since 2010

Ford Tourneo Connect.

Technically is a service car, designed to maintain the main technique in the healthy state performing the main task. In addition, service cars deliver shopping products, perform courier functions, other employment work, ensuring the functioning of the main services. Previously, it was used either cars or trucks. But over time, the market demands led to a significant expansion of this type of car and the emergence of their crossovers even in this segment.

The first from the traditional heel was departed by the French. The appearance of Renault Kangoo, and then Peugeot Partner has shown that it can be made from a simple passenger car. And the creators of the TRANSIT / Tourneo Connect family went even further. They crossed the passenger car and minibus. It turned out very interesting.

Externally, Tourneo Connect produces a rather pleasant impression. The fact is that the photos are somewhat reducing the idea of \u200b\u200bthe real sizes of the machine, and when you first see this car, it turns out to be unexpectedly large, especially since a modification with a high roof and a long base was provided to the test. Of course, you should not approach the design of Tourneo Connect with passenger standards, the task is still different, and therefore it looks like a cube, but the cube is pretty cute. Already with an external inspection, it is possible to note the features confirming that this is a kind of hybrid of the passenger car and a minibus. The back door opens very similar to the door of the usual transit, large two-section side mirrors are more inherent in minibuses. And if you look at the back under the car, then there you can see a completely cargo rear axle on the springs. At the same time, the front of the car more reminds the passenger capotic layout for minibuses is uncharacter.

All take

The planting process behind the wheel of the cube was quite comfortable. You sit like in a passenger car, only the head does not need to bend the roof, and with it and the doorway is quite high. Considering that Connect claims the role of a delivered car and the driver for the day will have to be more than a dozen times to go out of the steering wheel, the convenience of planting-disembarkation becomes a significant factor. The first impression that Connect is from the inside, space. Next, the landing behind the wheel is almost easy, places around as in the bus. Large windshield with sunscreen visors of huge sizes, a wide salon, doors, the panels of which are reminded by the width of the windows, in the passenger car you will not meet.

And when there is a stock of space, you feel more safe, especially since the thickness of the body racks inspires confidence in their strength. Combination of devices, steering wheel and central console are the same as Fiesta. The seat is comfortable, with good lateral support, moderately rigid and non-slip. However, the landing is slightly more vertical than in the same Fiesta, and as a result, press the pedals, especially for gas, it turned out uncomfortable. It is necessary to pull the sock too much, besides, the accelerator pedal is very light, and due to the constant voltage, the leg quickly gets up, and it is difficult to dose in such an uncomfortable position. Whether the gas pedal is slightly lowered and away, it would be much better. It should also be noted the small dimensions of the rest of the rest. Otherwise, there are no complaints about ergonomics.

The possibility of transformation of the cabin, taking into account the purpose of the car, can be recognized quite sufficient. The rear seats are in the proportion of 40/60, freeing the large truck. If necessary, you can order a folding closure with a floor of the front passenger seat, and then the length of the luggage compartment can reach 2714 mm for the long-pass version. In addition to the transformation of the cabin, various body options are possible, as is customary from minibuses.

The easiest van without side glasses with one side of the seats and one side door (such a cargo is called Transit Connect). And on the top step of the gamma is the option of Tourneo Connect with a glazed body, two rows of seats, two sliding doors, heat glass heating, an ABS with an electronic force distribution system, side airbags, rear opening door and other pleasant trifles. By the way, thanks to the large width of the salon in the backseat, three passengers can accommodate quite comfortable. And the second sliding door offered as an option is not so necessary: \u200b\u200bthanks to the high ceiling to climb the back seat easily and through the right door, at least in a long-tone machine with a high roof.

Everywhere you have time

Engines for Connect are offered two: 1.8-liter 115-strong gasoline ZETEC and 1.8-liter 90-strong diesel DuratorQ TDCI. Diesels are installed only on TRANSIT Connect T230 LWB with a lifting capacity of 900 kg. Gearbox Mechanical 5-speed with short main transmission (4.06), which improves traction characteristics.

On the road Connect frankly pleased. He drives, like most Ford cars of the last generation, with pleasure. Of course, the controllability of a high cargo-passenger van with the rear axis on the springs is not so honed, like Focus with a multi-dimensional suspension, but we did not notice any flaws. In the city, ride on Connect is very convenient. Landing is high, the glazing area is large, large two-section side mirrors with a spherical surface almost do not leave the dead zones around the car. True, on the country road, the lower part of the side glasses in the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear view mirrors splashes, and it makes it a bit more difficult, but not so much to affect safety. Our car was not equipped with a refrigerated glass wiper, and therefore it was quite natural, almost immediately became opaque. As an option, the installation of the rear wiper is provided, but due to the side mirrors it is not so necessary, and it can be safely saved on it. A large area of \u200b\u200bglazing has, of course, and its cons: in a 10-degree frost, the heater needs quite a long time to melt the fans on the side windows, and with short trips, the rear side windows will almost always be frozen. For the same reason, heated windshield seemed not at all over the sizes, it is also rather big.

The possibilities of the gasoline motor and the city, and the city is enough with a margin. Of course, with a full load, and for the long-pass version it is 700 kg, Connect will not be so fast, with three passengers the machine easily holds in the transport stream, while the city easily accelerates to 120 km / h. We have not tried more thanksco anymore, and nothing. I really liked the work of the PPC: switching light and clear, movement of the lever small. The switching mechanism is so good that I want to switch even without much need. Such a box is undoubtedly plus, because the loaded machine will have to switch transmissions often, especially since such cars work mainly in the city and for shifting the driver has to make thousands of switchings. The transfer relations are selected in such a way as to ensure normal dynamics of the loaded machine, so that without loading can easily switch the transmissions through one of any difficulties it does not cause any driver, no car.

The steering and the suspension also left a pleasant impression: the car behaves stably in any modes of movement, except that is sensitive to the impulse winds, but with such a side area it is not surprising. With respect to acoustic comfort, everything is not bad for a car of a similar class. Even 120 km / h aerodynamic noise is practically not heard, which speaks of a good elaboration of the front of the body. But the noise from the work of the rear suspension is given in the Big Salon quite noticeable. It is impossible to say that it hurts, and there is nothing to affect this, in the end, Connect is not a luxury sedan, but a cargo-passenger worker. At first we feared that the rear passengers would be cold, because the volume of the cabin is big and warm it is not so simple. Indeed, at first, until the motor warmed up, it was not very comfortable from behind. But as soon as the cooling fluid in the radiator warmed enough, the rear passengers stopped feeling uncomfortable: warm air was carried out in the center of the box in the central tunnel.

Make a budget

So what is the CONNECT family and what is it necessary for? Previously, when there were no service parks, and the service of combat vehicles could not be carried out almost anywhere, in addition to heavy maintenance cars, the role of which trucks and large minibuses were performed. Usually there were no other cars in this capacity. It was them that was broken between the specialists, intercepting the crews on the distillation, bringing fuel to refuel, tires, spare parts and helping bringing the fighting vehicles in full readiness to start the next dope. On the role of a light technique Connect is suitable.

In it and the team of mechanics there is where to accommodate, and canisters, a set of wheels, a power plant, a compressor, tool, spare parts where to put. At the same time, the speed of the Connect passenger car does not yield, and with full load, perhaps it will be even faster. True, with the introduction of service parks and the strict regulation of the order of service on the rally, the need for light technicians has almost disappeared. But there are still enough work like machines. Connect is really very good as a service machine. Lit small batch of goods shopping, pick up employees or guests with a bunch of booting from the airport, just somewhere to go for all this connection is quite suitable.

At the same time, due to its relatively small dimensions there will be fewer problems with parking in the downtown vehicles, and a relatively small fuel consumption will not make trips too overhead. In the editorial office, Connect would be not bad as accompaniment machines during tests. Again, there is where to put the equipment, due to the presence of a side sliding and wide rear doors, it is quite convenient to take pictures of cars in motion, and a test team on it is convenient to go for the car or return to the editor after the end of work. It is still very gratifying that two options are offered in size and loading capacity. The one that is smaller, in the SWB version, a carrying capacity of 625 kg, is close to Renault Kangoo and Peugeot Partner, and if this seems not enough, you can pay attention to the increased version of the LWB, the difference in price between them is not so great. Basic version Transit Connect SWB costs 13770 euros, LWB 14750 euros, Tourneo Connect, respectively, 14750 and 15590 euros.

Leonid Klimanovich