At the end of last year, Ford announced the launch of a new generation of his compact van, the Tourneo Connect. A compact van with a long wheelbase version as an option, which to a moderately trained eye will not surprise too much: it is a Volkswagen Caddy with cosmetic modifications of little depth. It should be remembered that Ford and Volkswagen have an extensive agreement in the commercial vehicle segment, which not only reaches pick-ups. But what you may not have known is the tremendous savings you can achieve buying this private label Caddy.
Ford has developed the new Ranger, and also the second generation Volkswagen Amarok. In return, production of the Ford Tourneo Connect – and cargo Transit Connect – is carried out by Volkswagen, using the MQB platform and much of the hardware used in the Caddy. The truth is that both vans are practically identical: they change headlights, bumpers and radiator grilles, being identical at the frame level, technologies, passenger compartment and even engines. And yet you can buy the Ford Tourneo Connect for a price more than 4,000 euros lower.
They are two sides of the same coin, but the Ford is significantly more affordable.
The first thing you should know is that the range of engines available in the Ford Tourneo Connect is more varied than that available in the Caddy. At the moment the Caddy is only sold with 2.0 TDI diesel engines, in powers of 102 or 122 HP. However, on Ford Tourneo Connect you can also choose a 1.5 EcoBoost petrol option, with four cylinders and 114 CV – this mechanical 1.5 TSI was available in the Caddy, but right now it is absent. The cheapest Ford Tourneo Connect mounts this 114 hp engine and is sold in a Titanium finish.
It is a short Tourneo with five seats and 4.50 meters in length, but with everything, it has a spacious interior and a gigantic trunk with a volume of 1,213 liters. Its interior is not too flashy, but it has very long-lasting hard materials and correct ergonomics. In the standard equipment we have 16″ alloy wheels, a infotainment system with 8.25″ screen compatible with Apple CarPlay/Android Autoautomatic climate control or assistance such as lane departure warning or adaptive cruise control.
From its basic version, it has standard wheels or front and rear parking sensors. In return, its instrumentation is not digital.
If we opt for the most basic gasoline version of the Ford Tourneo Connect, we will have to pay for the van €25,315. To match its version to the Caddy, a version with a 102 CV 2.0 EcoBlue diesel engine will cost us in access finish €26,641. These prices have commercial discounts and require us to finance the purchase of the vehicle, with financial conditions not detailed on the Ford website. For its part, the Volkswagen Caddy 2.0 TDI of 102 CV in Origin finish is priced at 31,985 euros, equal equipment.
The price of the Volkswagen, however, can have additional commercial discounts: for professional clients the price can be reduced by an additional 1,585 euros. However, and in any case, it is a price clearly higher than that of the Ford Tourneo Connect – whose basic equipment is still more complete.
Photos of the Ford Tourneo Connect
