What is it?

The 2014 Ford Tourneo Connect is a life-style oriented, van-based MPV – and the van is the Ford Transit Connect. 

There. Doesn’t sound the most appealing company car for our business does it? But don’t leave us yet.

We think it will be worth your while.

Both the Ford Tourneo Connect, and the cavernous and rather ungainly-looking 7-seater Grand Tourneo Connect, have dual sliding rear doors and flexible seating configurations.

Both are available to order now, for delivery later this year.

Manufactured at Ford’s Valencia plant, the Ford Tourneo Connect represents Ford’s belated entry to the budget MPV market, currently dominated by the Citroen Berlingo Multispace, its DNA counterpart the Peugeot Partner Tepee, and Volkswagen’s Caddy Life.

Ford’s marketing chaps point out that ‘whether tackling the school run or taking the family mountain biking, the Ford Tourneo Connect MPVs are great for today’s busy lifestyles’.

While there’s no real argument with that, you have to wonder where in that demographic Ford is going to find the 24% growth in the sector that’s it’s anticipating.

So we reckon that on top of all those energetic families, Ford is going to need some business car users to hit its targets.

With engine and transmission options that make attractive business car numbers, coupled with flexible seating and practical, cavernous space for a wide variety of human and luggage cargoes, it makes a genuine case as a company car, the private taxi and car hire sector, and Motability leasing.