Ford Tourneo Courier gets electric version, aims at SUV buyers

Ford is touting the useability of the passenger version of its upcoming Tourneo Courier compact minivan, which will be available in all-electric and gasoline variants.

The new model is pitched as an alternative to SUVs for buyers who value space.

Ford said the new vehicle will have 44 percent more trunk space than the previous version of the Tourneo Courier, which sold in very small numbers in Europe.

Last year just 1,005 sales were recorded by market analyst Dataforce.

The new Tourneo Courier will be built in Ford’s overhauled factory in Craiova, Romania, alongside a commercial version of the van.

Deliveries of the 1.0-liter gasoline version will begin this year with the electric version following in “late” 2024, Ford said.

Ford has previously said the commercial van would be available in 2024.

The battery-electric version has a 134-hp motor and 100-kilowatt speed charging capability, Ford said. No battery sizes or ranges were given for the model.

The model is 4337 mm long and has trunk size of 570 liters, up from 395 liters from the previous Tourneo Courier.

The Courier is Ford’s smallest van and slots in below the Connect and Transit Custom.

The Tourneo Connect is a version of the Volkswagen Caddy built as part of the Ford/VW partnership encompassing both commercials and electric vehicles. No announcement has been made on a VW version of the Courier.

Ford has gone for a more rugged approach to the design of the new Tourneo Courier, which was described as both “no-nonsense” and “SUV-inspired” by Ford’s European styling boss Amko Leenarts.

The EV version features an individual front end with a “coast-to-coast” light bar running across the leading edge of the hood as well as a “chrome diamond” pattern on the grille.

Standard versions of the van include an “Active” model that builds on the SUV appearance with contrasting roof color, wheel arch moldings, roof bars and different seat fabrics.

The electric model also comes with 44 liters of space in the so-called frunk, which is under the hood.

The car is equipped as standard with 10 assisted driving features including high beam assist, lane-keeping assist and a rear-view camera. A separate option package adds adaptive cruise control with lane-centering.

The dashboard comes with “digiboard” that incorporates a digital instrument screen as well as a 12-inch touchscreen that incorporates Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system.

The gasoline version uses the same 1.0-liter 123-hp EcoBoost engine offered in the Puma small SUV made in Craiova.

The gasoline model will be available with either a manual or dual-clutch transmission. Ford has previously said a diesel version will also be available but did not provide details.

The electric Tourneo Courier is one of 10 EVs Ford has said it will launch in Europe through 2024.

These include an electric version of the Puma, two electric SUVs based on the VW MEB electric platform, and both passenger and van versions of its new Transit Custom midsize van.