Loading up the Ford Tourneo for our family road trip from Johannesburg to eMdloti, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this vehicle was having an identity crisis. Is it a commercial van masquerading as a family vehicle, or a people carrier that’s not quite ready to shed its utilitarian roots? After 600 kilometers (and back) with kids, luggage, and enough snacks to feed a small army, I have some answers.
First Impressions: Commercial DNA, Family Ambitions
Hoisting yourself into the Tourneo’s driver’s seat immediately screams “commercial vehicle”. The high driving position gives you the same view as a taxi driver, which takes serious getting used to if you’re like me coming from a normal car or SUV. The cabin feels like it was built to take a beating rather than impress anyone – and that’s probably the point.
But here’s the strange bit – this utilitarian approach actually works brilliantly for family chaos. The eight-seat setup gives you proper flexibility. Whether you’re carting the neighbourhood kids to rugby practice or need to fold everything flat to shift a new fridge, the Tourneo just gets on with it.
Storage space is where the Ford absolutely nails it. Beyond the obvious eight seats, this thing has more hiding spots than a Makro store. I wasn’t joking about losing a toddler in the storage compartments – there are cubby holes everywhere you look.
Our weekend luggage, multiple cooler boxes, and enough beach kit to supply Durban North fit behind the third row without breaking a sweat. No Tetris skills required. When you drop those rear seats, you’ve basically got a small removal van.
For parents dealing with the daily kid chaos, the cup holders, door pockets, and overhead storage make sorting everyone’s junk manageable. Every passenger gets their own space for water bottles, tablets, and the inevitable collection of toys that multiply during long trips.
On the Road: Does the Job, Drinks Like a Fish
The 2.0-litre turbo diesel has enough grunt when you need it. It’s not going to win any drag races, but overtaking leisure drivers and trucks on the N3 never felt sketchy. The engine delivers power smoothly enough, though you’re always reminded you’re driving something the size of a small building.
Here’s where things get expensive – fuel consumption. Despite driving like a pensioner and avoiding the temptation to floor it past slow trucks, we still averaged 9.5 litres per 100km. That’s bakkie territory, not family car territory. This reality smacked us in the face at Montrose when the fuel light came on earlier than expected. That R1,300 fill-up was a proper kick in the gut for the holiday budget.
The ride quality does what it needs to. The suspension handles our shocking roads without bouncing you around like a ping-pong ball, but you’re never allowed to forget you’re piloting something built for work, not luxury.
Interior: Built to Last, Not to Impress
The Tourneo’s cabin puts function ahead of trying to look fancy. Those fabric seats might look basic next to the leather you get in posh SUVs, but they’re actually genius for families. Seventeen minutes into our trip – because kids are kids – something got spilled on the seats. A quick wipe with a damp cloth and wet wipes in some instances sorted it out. Try that with leather.
Comfort is adequate rather than brilliant. The driving position takes getting used to, but longer stretches don’t leave you feeling like you’ve been wrestling with a rhino. Passengers in rows two and three have enough space, too.
Everything feels like it could survive a nuclear war. The switches and controls are built to handle years of family abuse. One feature that genuinely impressed during our trip was the FordPass app integration. This isn’t just another gimmicky smartphone app – it actually adds proper convenience to living with the Tourneo.
Remote start proved brilliant on those scorching Durban mornings before loading the family. Getting the aircon running before everyone piled in made departure times much more bearable. The app also lets you lock and unlock the vehicle remotely, which came in handy when juggling beach bags and trying to wrangle kids at fuel stops.
Then there’s also the vehicle status monitoring gives you real-time info about fuel levels, tyre pressures, and maintenance schedules. The app even sends notifications if anything needs attention – though I wish it had warned me earlier about that fuel consumption reality.
The app’s service scheduling and dealer locator features work seamlessly with Ford’s local network, making maintenance planning straightforward. For families relying on their vehicle for daily chaos, this kind of digital integration removes a lot of admin hassle.
Tech: Actually Gets It Right
This is where the Tourneo properly surprised me. The big touchscreen works without making you want to throw it out the window, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connected instantly every time. No more wrestling with cables while trying to keep the kids from killing each other.
The parking sensors deserve a Bells – with something this size, parking could be terrifying, but the sensors and reversing camera make tight spaces manageable. These systems probably saved me from several expensive scrapes during our coastal holiday.
The sound system pumps out clear audio throughout the cabin, which matters when you’re trying to keep multiple passengers happy with music choices. Road noise stays reasonable at highway speeds, so you can have a normal conversation without shouting.
Living With It: The Unvarnished Truth
By the end of our weekend, the Ford Tourneo had grown on me despite my initial scepticism. Yes, it feels like a bakkie. Yes, the fuel consumption hurts the wallet. Yes, you’ll never mistake it for anything premium.
But it completed our family mission with minimal hassle, maximum space, and surprising competence. The kids were comfortable, the adults weren’t cramped, and everything we needed fitted without drama.
That fuel consumption remains a proper concern though. In today’s economy, averaging nearly 10 litres per 100km is hard to swallow, especially when you’re not exactly thrashing the thing.
Bottom Line
The Ford Tourneo sits in its own weird space in the SA market. It’s not trying to be the most refined people mover or the most efficient family hauler. Instead, it focuses on practical capability and honest value – though that value gets dented by the fuel bills.
For larger families who need space and functionality over kerb appeal, the Tourneo makes sense. The thirst remains a concern for anyone watching their budget, but the sheer versatility partially makes up for it.
If you can embrace its commercial character instead of wishing it was something else, the Ford Tourneo might surprise you with how well it handles family chaos. Sometimes the most practical solution isn’t the prettiest one – and there’s something refreshingly honest about a vehicle that doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is.
Our eMdloti road trip proved that while the Tourneo might not be the most sophisticated family vehicle, it’s definitely one of the most capable. Just budget extra for fuel.
Pricing for the Ford Tourneo Custom starts at R1 050 000.
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