Electric car Ford E-Tourneo: First driving impression
Initial driving impressions of the clearly mature-looking electric minibus show how Ford is targeting affluent customers with the Tourneo Custom.
(Image: Ford)
- Stefan Grundhoff
Ford wants to electrify its entire model range in the coming years. But anyone thinking of the Fiesta or Focus is mistaken. Together with the Tourneo, the Transit is one of the most successful commercial vehicles in Europe, and hardly any other model is more important for Ford. The Cologne-based company also wants to play a leading role with the battery-electric versions of its vans and light commercial vehicles and offers them alongside the popular diesel engines. The brand is advertising them with up to 40 percent lower operating costs. A pre-production model was available to us for a short test drive. The Tourneo is primarily aimed at customers looking for a large passenger car. Commercial vehicle ambience is therefore scrupulously avoided as much as possible. And it does. Ford was just as successful in tuning the chassis, which no longer evokes a van feel.
Comfort like in a car
The interior of the Tourneo produced in Turkey is on a par with that of a mid-size saloon or compact SUV. Displays behind the wheel and in the center of the dashboard (13 -inch diagonal) replace conventional instruments, provide information on all important details and serve as the control center for Ford's "Sync4" infotainment system and the standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Electrically adjustable leatherette seats, heated seats and separate climate control for the passengers behind the front row, a fixed panoramic roof and electric sliding doors are available as options. However, the mighty tailgate still opens without a motor.
Ford E-Tourneo (8 Bilder)
(Bild: Ford)
After pressing the start button, the direction of travel can be selected using the steering column lever – unfortunately unlit. The Tourneo accelerates quickly and almost silently, its electric motor in the rear delivers 160 kW and offers 415 Nm of maximum torque. Jumping into a gap or driving up a long climb without losing speed feels almost light-footed when the vehicle is empty. The option of single-pedal driving with powerful recuperation when the accelerator pedal is released is a pleasant feature. The brakes only need to be applied at traffic lights, on steep downhill gradients or sometimes when other road users make inconsiderate maneuvers.
Smooth, but with feeling
The 82.5 kWh battery between the axles keeps the electric Tourneo firmly planted on the road, to which its independent rear suspension also makes a noticeable contribution. Thanks to the additional weight, the unladen chassis comfort is better than that of the conventionally motorized versions. Although the steering is very smooth, it offers a better feel for the road without drive forces on the front axle. This is something you would wish for in some electric cars, which have to live with the handicap of front-wheel drive. Incidentally, the electric version of the Tourneo is unique; the other engine versions still have front-wheel drive.
Ford E-Tourneo (6 Bilder)
(Bild: Ford)
Not only the 5.45 m long XL version offers more than enough space in the three rows of seats. The standard version with a length of 5.05 m also offers plenty of living space and a seating system that can be adapted to the wishes of the maximum eight occupants or the specific use in just a few simple steps. The luggage volume in the E-Tourneo Bus is large in every configuration, with between 672 and 5908 liters depending on the seat occupancy. The many storage compartments in the dashboard, in the doors and on the seats are practical, but unfortunately not lined and therefore allow small objects to rattle around. In addition to numerous USB charging ports and inductive smartphone charging, the Ford offers sockets for home electrical devices with up to 2.3 kW.
Two tons towing capacity
With a gross vehicle weight of 3400 kg, the maximum payload is limited to 700 kilograms due to the weighty battery. The towing capacity is still two tons. If you take it easy and don't constantly drive with a heavy load, you have a chance of achieving the promised range of 300 km, which is possible with a standard consumption of between 24.7 and 41.4 kWh/100 km. The diesels, which are also available as all-wheel-drive models, are much better suited to eating up kilometers on long journeys. The Tourneo with plug-in hybrid drive, which offers 171 kW system power and should be able to cover up to 50 km purely electrically, offers a compromise.
Ford E-Tourneo (4 Bilder)
(Bild: Ford)
The Ford E-Tourneo charges with a maximum of 125 kW of direct current and is said to take a good 41 minutes at best from 15(!) to 80 percent, corresponding to a range of 38 km every five minutes. A heat pump fitted as standard increases the efficiency of the charging and discharging processes. With the built-in AC charger, Ford limits its range to a three-phase 11 kW charger, which only enables averagely fast AC charging processes. Ford offers a wallbox for this purpose and promises a charging time of less than eight hours. The charging plugs are located under the right-hand headlight.
The base price for the moderately equipped Ford E-Tourneo Trend is 66,818 euros (gross). The luxury version "Titanium X" with LED lights, electric sliding doors, 19-inch alloy wheels, three-zone automatic air conditioning, navigation and various driver assistance systems costs at least 75,624 euros, while Ford charges a surcharge of just under 1000 euros for the long version with 40 cm more wheelbase. The first deliveries are scheduled for July 2024.
(fpi)