In the beginning of the millennium, the car-buying rhythm of families followed a relatively simple pattern: the hatchback or the sedan was often replaced by a station wagon after the arrival of the first child, and if the family grew even larger, the MPV came into play.

MPVs were spacious and practical vehicles, but the rising trend of SUVs in the early 2000s which continues to thrive today turned the auto industry upside down in just a few years. The demand for large, powerful SUVs, packed with all sorts of premium extras, skyrocketed. City dwellers soon realized that this direction might not be the best, as today's two-door "city cars" are nearly twice as large as those in the 1990s. With the spread of SUVs, city streets and parking spaces became incredibly tight.

Those longing for a larger family car sadly noted that the once diverse market of MPVs had nearly vanished, with only a few exceptions. Thus, those needing to cram more than one child and loads of luggage into a vehicle either had to dig deep into their pockets for an SUV or strap a roof box onto the family station wagon, which quickly became a permanent fixture on the car, swallowing up strollers, bunny bikes, or even the weekly groceries.

Enter the scene, Ford’s newly developed family MPV from its commercial vehicle line, the Ford Tourneo Courier, which is likely to catch many eyes. The first generation of this type was developed for the 2014 model year, first appearing as a cargo van but soon followed by a five-seater, passenger-friendly variant. Ford hasn't forgotten the success the Ford Galaxy brought to the MPV segment.

The second generation of the Ford Tourneo Courier was unveiled last year and will likely be popular in the domestic market as a family version. Let's take a closer look!

AT FIRST UNEXPECTED, BUT A LOVABLE APPEARANCE

Probably one of the most unexpected cars of the year, at least in terms of appearance. However, we have become so unaccustomed to MPVs (Ford refers to them as vans in its factory nomenclature) that everyone will take notice in 2024. Though it may seem divisive at first, the more time spent with the Tourneo Courier, the more endearing its friendly and somewhat clumsy exterior becomes, marked by well-chosen curves and decisive edges, especially in the test car's "Bursting Green" paint.

Given its commercial vehicle origins, its proportions are slightly different than the soap-shaped MPVs of the early 2000s we might be used to. Yet, it's a great example of the versatility of today's automotive industry: measuring 4337mm in length, 1800mm in width, and 1817mm in height, the vehicle is built on the slightly smaller Ford Puma platform and is manufactured in Ford's Craiova plant, just like the mentioned passenger car.

It’s clear this vehicle was designed with practicality in mind: the passenger compartment doors slide open, akin to minibusses, which is handy for loading kids in the back at a shopping mall's parking garage. The robust roof rails, available only on Titanium and Active models, firmly indicate that if the generous boot space isn’t enough, one can load up everything from a small studio's entire furnishings to bicycles on the roof of the Tourneo Courier. The 2024 model is slightly longer than its predecessor, mainly to provide a larger cargo space in the commercial variant.

Ford offers the car in three versions Trend, Titanium, Active for the European market, with each equipment level building on the previous one. All come standard with "traditional" cruise control, a traffic sign recognition camera system, pre-collision assist with pedestrian and bicycle detection, lane-keeping system, an 8-inch multimedia display with SYNC 4, and a fully digital instrument panel. For those who want more, like an adaptive cruise control and parking cameras, the Active model will be the right choice.

STEP INSIDE!

It’s only upon sitting down that one can truly appreciate how spacious the Tourneo Courier is. The seats are comfortable certified by AGR (Aktion Gesunder Rücken), a German organization campaigning for back and spine health even for taller drivers and passengers. The legroom almost harks back to the premium category, but it’s the space above our heads that impresses the most. Even individuals around 190cm will have more than enough headroom, to the extent you could wear a top hat while driving, although the significant aspect of this spaciousness mainly benefits the cargo area.

Without exaggeration, the boot is huge: it’s 480 liters larger than the previous model. For comparison: a 475-liter boot size is already considered decent. However, folding down the rear seats transforms it into a massive, up to 2160 liters of cargo space, making even moving house a feasible task. The sizable boot is effortlessly accessible thanks to the low threshold and comes with clever solutions like hooks for securing various items and a pop-out storage box for muddy boots after a hike or excursion.

Returning to the interior, we're greeted by a practical, thought-through cabin free of unnecessary frills. The driver faces a clean, straightforward dashboard with sensible control layouts from Ford. Fewer physical buttons adorn the center console, as most settings are adjusted via the touchscreen. Fortunately, designers have now learned to incorporate center screens without them jutting out awkwardly from the dashboard. In the Tourneo Courier, it's housed in a joint enclosure with the instrument cluster, significantly enhancing the visual experience. Between the two displays, we find what may seem like an odd piece of plastic, which is actually a practical feature: a place to fix our phone holder, eliminating the need for unsightly suction cup marks on the window and avoiding the air vent becoming an unintended casualty of phone holder use.

The expansive interior also allows for the creation of numerous clever storage compartments. From the commercial vehicle world, we have cup holders on both ends of the dashboard, a large glove compartment, and a slim storage on the passenger side, perfect for hiding away a laptop or tablet.

SURPRISING DYNAMICS FROM A TINY ENGINE

In the past few years, Ford has demonstrated what it can achieve with three cylinders, like the adrenaline-pumping Fiesta ST. Now, with the Tourneo Courier, we see what the 1-liter, 125 horsepower EcoBoost engine can do.

Currently, this is the only engine option for the Tourneo Courier, but the manufacturer has already announced an all-electric variant for this year, likely attractive to families who do a lot of urban commuting.

The 1-liter petrol engine performs surprisingly well, accelerating the MPV with unexpected dynamism relative to its size and shape. This does not mean it's a champion in acceleration races, but that it won't get stuck at traffic lights or sweat over overtaking. Its consumption is economical content with 5 liters per 100 kilometers in mixed driving conditions and it’s good to know that even with half a ton of extra load, significant performance loss isn’t noticeable.

As for the prices, the Trend version starts at 9,906,550 Forint, the Titanium is slightly more at 10,541,550 Forint, and the base price of the Active version is 11,176,550 Forint. These are gross list prices, which currently include discounts as well, so now a Trend version without extras can be bought for as low as 8,290,000 Forint.

Overall, Ford has introduced an incredibly lovable, practical family car, and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of its electric variant this year.