Louth Motoring: Family car nirvana?

Do a search for the meaning of the word Tourneo and you'll discover that there isn't such a word. So that means I can define it and my definition is "Family car Nirvana".

Super practical and ideal for ferrying passengers around. And that's any type of passenger across the age and agility spectrum.

I went on a drive with my parents, two aunts and my wife around the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Isn't the drive from Sally Gap to Lough Tay simply breathtaking? I wasn't alone in choosing that for a drive as the place was packed and allowed me marvel at how nimble and practical the Transit Tourneo is on those tight roads.

My charges are not the most agile but getting in and out of the Tourneo was effortless. Lots of space and grab handles and the ability to assist the passenger properly is a major benefit.

Especially with rear sliding doors that make gives you an expansive gap to get in and out through. There was a very handy step as well for added ease.

They were all in the rear, that had 6 seats, which were configured to be facing each other. I didn't draw their attention to this and they didn't seem to notice they were so busy nattering so it mustn't have spoiled their trip.

Being a van based mini-bus, the elevated seating position provides a commanding view. It really is a delightful experience when you can see everything and you are not in a hurry. The visibility from the Transit Tourneo is wonderful and being fitted with black privacy glass adds a level of VIP and specialness.

The van looks, when applied to a mini-bus, manages to lose its utilitarian and functional characteristics. With alloys wheels, that privacy glass and a cool Orange Glow colour it has decent appeal. When I checked the spec.

I was sent on the car it said the wheels were metal with covers damaging my reputation on being able to spot the difference. The buyers are obviously taxi drivers, VIP chauffeurs and those who must move a big family around. In fact as a family motor it is the sort of vehicle you could hold onto for a number of years and let your family grow up and into it.

The boot is spectacular at 1,200 and if you move or remove the rear seats you get what the car was originally designed to be, a van with the associated space that is enormous. This means you get a van and a people carrier all in one and the versatility is unbeatable.

The driving experience is as car like as you are used to and has all the accoutrements you'd find in a passenger car like heated seats in the front and cruise control. Safety and infotainment systems are not scrimped on making for a lovely cabin ambiance.

The Ford dash is an ergonomic masterclass and seems to have banished anything that is likely to cause frustration by being very intuitive to use.

The driving experience was fine for me. I'm a van-fan and love the way they are setup for people who are in them all day and must manoeuvre and park them all the time.

The driving bit was a cinch and with excellent mirrors and visibility you feel in total control that inspires confidence.

Make no mistake anyone could drive this Minibus. My passengers are all an age where the hearing is waning/waned but none of them were barking "what" or "say that again" because road, cabin and wind noise just didn't intrude.

Performance from my 2.0l diesel engine was fine with 130PS which is low considering our Citroen C4, with a 1.2litre petrol engine, produces the same power output.

The major difference was the torque which makes driving this 5.0m long beast that much easier. It was a manual and despite being a rarity in a test car for me, I revelled with it. It had a lovely change action that was super slick and smooth.

Ride comfort is fine too and little jolting when the surfaces deteriorate. Bumps were handled well and didn't have the rear crew grabbing any handles for additional support.

My test model costs €77,100 which is by no means cheap. The range starts at just under €47k but you wouldn't be happy with that wanting some of the goodies I mentioned earlier.

The Transit Tourneo is a bit of a sleeper and one that really should be on your radar if you need to move loads and people.

As I said it's a vehicle you could commit to for and watch you family grow into it. We had a Renault Grand Scenic when our Kids were small that did and carried everything.

The difference with the Transit Tourneo is that you could keep it for when they mature into young adults and that price would look a bit of a bargain if you kept it for a long time, especially when you consider the prices being asked for cars today that have a lot less functionality.