Review of Ford’s Tourneo Custom Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)

A sponsored campaign.

We’ve been working with Ford UK for the past 6 months as they have kindly loaned us this 9 seater car-cum minibus, the Tourneo Custom Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) for 8 months so we can get a real feel for what this family car could offer us.  Half a year in, I thought it was time to share our findings.

So, here comes its credentials (Top Gear, if you want me, you know where to find me ;))!

Firstly, the PHEV cleverly utilises two separate power sources making it better for the environment and easier on your wallet to boot.

A battery powered electric motor drives the vehicle while its 1.0L Ford EcoBoost petrol engine works to recharge the hybrid battery, extending the vehicle’s range especially on longer journeys.

You can of course choose between each power source as you wish, so in my case, I use the battery-powered engine for shorter journeys such as the school-runs and general chores and opt for the petrol power source for motorway trips/ longer distances.

The PHEV boasts 4 different EV modes including EV Now which allows you to drive with zero emissions on electric-only power taking you to a targeted range of around 33 miles/55 kilometres (using the electric motor alone). The range may vary depending on the vehicle, weather conditions and driving behaviour but how wonderful is that for the environment?!

It’s never been easier to charge up as you can use most AC network charging points, of which there are now 21, 107 public charging devices in the UK and 36, 738 connectors (i.e. cables) i.e. on-street and in supermarket carparks, and our charging point is literally around the corner from where we live.

The vehicle takes 4.3 hours to charge using a domestic power supply or a shorter 2.7 hours using a commercial vehicle charger (I take my laptop with me and crack on with some undisturbed work or me-time).

Using a hybrid has been a game-changer for us as we’ve saved money on fuel, something we’ve found tricky in the past particularly with larger cars, which unlike this, can so often be notoriously bad for the environment. Yes to the PHEV!

We also love that the PHEV is a MASSIVE car with ample space for luggage (when we could travel), scooters, bikes, books and toys (Xander’s collection of teddies come everywhere with him and they each get their own seatbelt here). The flexible rear seats offer many possible seat/luggage configurations and can seat 9 passengers comfortably and if you choose the L2 long wheelbase version, you’ll get even more luggage space with it.

Our PHEV will sure come in handy when we move house soon and now that many of us are planning staycations when guidelines allow, this will make roadtrips around the UK a piece of cake.

The Phev doesn’t compromise on style either.

We also love that the PHEV is a MASSIVE car with ample space for luggage (when we could travel), scooters, bikes, books and toys (Xander’s collection of teddies come everywhere with him and they each get their own seatbelt here). The flexible rear seats offer many possible seat/luggage configurations and can seat 9 passengers comfortably and if you choose the L2 long wheelbase version, you’ll get even more luggage space with it.

Vitally, it’s a smooth drive (again unusual with vehicles this size) and its sensor cameras make parking easy (something I initially feared). The mammoth side mirrors also provide super visibility and I’ve never felt more comfortable or safe driving on dual carriageways and the motorway.

Most impressively of all, the Pre-Collision Assist feature detects pedestrians, slower vehicles in the road ahead and cars that could cross your path, immediately warning you of their presence. If you don’t respond for any reason, the system automatically applies the brakes on your behalf, keeping you and others safe. This smart technology is designed to help reduce the severity of accidents or ideally avoid them altogether and functions effectively at speeds of up to 50 mph / 80 km/h (assuming normal road and vehicle conditions). Clever huh?

What-a-car.

Thank you Ford UK!