Ford Tourneo Courier review

Well, in some ways it’s kinda the new Ford Fiesta. Okay that’s a stretch (literally), but the new Ford Tourneo Courier does use plenty of bits from the Puma, and those bits originated in the now-dead Fiesta. Can you tell we still miss the dinky little hatch?

Anyway, the Tourneo Courier could also be described as the people-carrying version of the Transit Courier van. And if you get lost in the array of Transits available like we do, it’s worth remembering that the Courier is the smallest and cheapest. 

Tell me more about those looks…

Ford describes this thing as a “multi-activity vehicle” with “SUV-inspired styling”, but we’re delighted that it looks very much like a return to the proper boxy MPVs of old. Ford’s marketing manager for commercial vehicles Alan Ross tells TG that the target customer “likes outdoor activities” and there’s so much room for activities on the inside too.

Wait, how many people can I fit in it?

The Tourneo Courier is a strict five-seater. If you want seven, you’ll need to make the jump up to the Tourneo Connect, and if you need nine seats then there’s the Tourneo Custom. If you need any more seats than that then maybe you should consider how many kids is too many.

But Ford doesn’t judge, so there’s also the Transit Minibus that can come with 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 or 18 seats. And no, we don’t know why the full-sized one is still badged as a Transit rather than a Tourneo.

Anyway, for some further context the 1.5-tonne Tourneo Courier is just over 4.3m long, 1.8m wide and just over 1.8m tall, so it’s not a big car. And yet it still manages a massive 1,188 litres of boot space (from floor to ceiling) with all of the seats in place.

What powertrains can I have?

Great question. At the time of launch all Tourneo Courier’s come with a 123bhp version of Ford’s familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine. That can be combined with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, and in the future we’ll see an all-electric E-Tourneo Courier that should also share its 134bhp powertrain with a Puma EV. Heck, the two cars are built on exactly same line in the same factory in Romania.

How much will it cost me?

Another very valid question. You can find out more over on the Buying tab of this review, but the headline is that prices start at just under £26,000 for the entry-level Titanium spec. Almost sounds reasonable in today’s market, doesn’t it?

What are the rivals?

Sadly, there really aren’t that many proper people carriers left on the market these days, but the Tourneo Courier arrives wanting to pick a fight with the Citroen Berlingo. That’s the only Stellantis van-based car that still comes with an internal combustion engine, whereas the E-Tourneo Courier will go up against the e-Berlingo, the Peugeot e-Rifter and the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric when it does eventually arrive.

Still, the Courier should also nab some sales from small crossovers like the Puma that this thing is based on, and the world will be a better place with fewer crossovers.

It can’t just be us thinking that the Tourneo Courier is now a genuinely cool little car. Yes, it’s based on a van, but that bluff front end and the Active trim’s chunky styling makes it look like a proper rufty-tufty MPV. The little 3cyl engine and manual gearbox are a great combo too and make it fun to drive, but it still remains comfortable and refined enough to transport a family.

There are some missteps inside, but overall, it’s a clever family car that will make much more sense than a Puma for most people. Let’s see if the buying public can shake off that irrational love of crossovers…