2024 Ford E-Tourneo review: Can this all-electric people mover tempt families out of the Kia Carnival and Volkswagen Multivan?

June 29, 2024June 29, 2024 Toby Hagon 2700 Views E-Tourneo, ford, Ford E-Tourneo

Ford’s upcoming new Tourneo plans to carve itself a slice of the Aussie people mover market.

But it’s the all-electric E-Tourneo that could make more sense as Australia heads towards stricter emissions standards and more EVs.

While the diesel-powered Tourneo is due late in 2024, the Ford E-Tourneo is not yet confirmed for a local launch.

However, Ford told EVCentral it’s “a matter of timing” as to when the E-Tourneo makes its way Down Under.

Ford E-Tourneo Titanium X — Ford E-Tourneo: the all-electric people mover could be a game changer in Australia.

“We’ve got to work out when the timing is right (for the electric E-Tourneo), when we can get supply and when it’s right to bring it in,” said Anna Hercan, Ford Australia product and retail marketing manager for vans.

So we won’t wait for Ford’s official okay, we’ll tell you now wnat we think of the E-Tourneo.

2024 Ford E-Tourneo price and equipment

One big unknown currently for the Ford E-Tourneo is how much it will cost.

It will clearly cost more than the regular Tourneo, which in Australia kicks off at $65,990 plus on-road costs.

Best guesstimates are that the E-Tourneo could start at around $85,000.

That’s not cheap, but when compared with other EV ways of carrying a lot of people it starts to look more appealing. The Kia EV9, for example, starts at $97,000 plus on-roads.

If you’re looking at traditional ICE-powered people movers then they steat cheaper. The Kia Carnival dominates with pricing dstarting just over $50,000 before on-road costs. Others include the Toyota Granvia and Volkswagen Multivan.

Happily, expect an E-Tourneo to be generously equipped, as the regular Tourneo is.

The entry-level Active, for example, gets power sliding side doors, tri-zone ventilation, heated front seats, parking sensors front and rear, wireless phone charging, a digital instrument cluster and 13-inch central touchscreen incorporating wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

A Titanium X model – like the one we tested in Germany – adds powered front seats, 360-degree camera, artificial leather, panoramic sunroof and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

2024 Ford E-Tourneo: What we think

The diesel-powered Ford Tourneo is decent but nothing special.

Being based on a commercial van – the Transit Custom and E-Transit Custom – means it has compromises.

But the E-Tourneo answers plenty of them.

The 2.0-litre diesel-powered models make 125kW and 390Nm drive the front wheels driving through an eight-speed auto.

It gets the job done, albeit with some gruffness and the occasional chirp of the front wheels if you’re too heady on the throttle out of tight corners.

The E-Tourneo gets a single electric motor driving the rear wheels.

So straight away it gets its power to the ground more convincingly and it has plenty more grunt to play with: 160kW and 415Nm.

And rather than having to wait for a turbo to do its business, that 415Nm is available almost instantly.

So even though the E-Tourneo is heavier than the diesel models – at almost 2.6 tonnes it’s about 250kg up on the regular models – it still feels far nicer to drive.

Plus it’s more hushed inside, the smoothness of the electric motor adding to the decent cabin serenity.

One issue, though, is how far you can go between charges.

There’s a 64kWh battery that gives up to 298km of WLTP range.

While you should easily get upwards of 250km in everyday driving, expect to fall below that at freeway speeds.

So it’s not shaping up to be the sort of car you’ll be heading into the sunset in.

Think of it more as the suburban family truckster – and one that can carry up to eight people.

That’s where the E-Tourneo gets interesting.

That van DNA means loads of space inside. It’s identical to the diesel Tourneo in its layout.

That means the same rails in the floor that allow the second and third rows to be slid backwards and forwards, in turn trading off between luggage and occupant space.

You can also remove individual seats and flip the middle row to face backwards, for conference-style seating.

That gives families plenty of flexibility.

Plus, the E-Tourneo is rated to tow up to 2000kg.

There’s also decent tech. The digital screens are clear and crisp, although some of the plastics are old school grey and hard, lowering the otherwise decent ambience.

That’s perhaps a hangover from its commercial vehicle genes, although there are positives, including door pockets with three layers and multiple hidey holes as well as a sizeable binnacle atop the dash.

The power sliding side doors also have bins with cutouts for bottles. Higher up there are pockets to perfectly cradle a phone, another nod to the practicality and thoughtfulness.

USB ports are splayed throughout the front of the cabin and flow through to the rear.

Rear ventilation controls and a quartet of circular vents in the roof feed fresh air throughout.

2024 Ford E-Tourneo: Verdict

Rating the E-Tourneo to some extent depends on its price, something we don’t yet know – and won’t for some time.

If Ford can keep it sharp – even slotting it below $80K – then it starts to look appealing for families wanting a practical, spacious and good driving electric people mover.

Of course, the caveat is the relatively short driving range that limits its usefulness to the city and suburbs for most users.

Score: 4/5

2024 Ford E-Tourneo specifications
Price: From about $85,000 (estimated)
Basics: EV, 8 seats, 4 doors, people mover, RWD
Range: Up to 298km (WLTP)
Battery capacity: 64kWh
Battery warranty: TBA
Energy consumption: TBA
Motors: 1 rear 160kW/415Nm
AC charging: 11kW, Type 2 plug
DC charging: 125kW, CCS combo plug
0-100km/h: NA