We video test the 2018 Ford Tourneo Custom which offers excellent ride quality, refined and smooth powerful new engine, slick shifting transmission and many luxury features.
Like most manufacturers of medium sized vans, Ford doesn't just concentrate on the load hauling market - the people moving market also features strongly in its range. To that end, Ford offers the newly upgraded Transit Tourneo Custom in nine-seat form, with more creature comforts and even more refinement.
Called the Tourneo Custom, Ford offers a single specification in New Zealand, and only as a LWB automatic model. Like the van version, the Tourneo Custom scores Ford's all-new "EcoBlue" 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel turbo engine that produces 127kW of power and 405Nm of torque, while the automatic transmission is a six-speed unit.
The Tourneo Custom comes with all the same standard safety features as the van, namely hill hold assist, trailer sway assist, load adaptive control, a backing camera, front and rear parking sensors, roll mitigation control, cruise control with an adjustable speed limiter function and six airbags.
It also adds a number of exclusive luxury and convenience touches over the van, like rear seat air conditioning controls, privacy glass and a rear seat 12v power socket, along with the six extra seats.
The second two rows of seats can be arranged in a frankly massive range of ways, and even with the third row in place cargo space is a still-impressive 1.93 cubic metres, while with just the second row in places, this balloons up to 3.69 cubic metres. Of course, the seats are even removable altogether, if a proper van-like load space is required.
While the Transit Custom is impressively car-like for a van, thanks to its excellent ride quality and the refined and powerful new engine, the Tourneo Custom takes this to another level again. On the road, it is remarkably refined and smooth, with only the higher, more upright van-style driving position giving you any hints of its van origins.
The Tourneo's extra sound insulation, seats and carpet make it far quieter than the already decently quiet van, while the effortless power and slick shifting transmission make it a delightfully easy thing to live with both around town and out on the open road.
If you need to carry a load of people and have the flexibility to whip the seats out and carry a big load, without sacrificing anything in the way of comfort and refinement, then the Tourneo Custom is a hard one to go past.
