Al Suttie spends a week in Ford’s VW Caddy-based seven-seater MPV to assess its merits for company car drivers.

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Ford Grand Tourneo Connect Active 2.0 EcoBlue Auto

List price (BiK): £32,696 (33%) CO2: 140g/km Economy: 52.9mpg Test efficiency: 45.4mpg

Monday

A break from the usual with the arrival of the Ford Grand Tourneo Connect Active. Not only one of the longest names for a car I’ve driven recently, but also one of the lengthiest cars on the drive in recent times. The long wheelbase version of the Tourneo Connect mixes van space with MPV seating for seven, which makes it a practical machine. Is it an appealing one, though, for company drivers?

Tuesday

Anyone worrying about foregoing their elevated SUV seating position if they were to choose this Ford can rest easy. You sit at the same height as in a Puma or Kia Sportage, and the Connect’s big glass area lends an airy feel to the cabin as well as excellent all-round vision for parking. This is further helped by the car’s square-shaped styling, so you can see all four corners. There’s also a decently tight turning circle.

Wednesday

One of my perennial bugbears is lane keep assist that’s a faff to turn off, and it’s something I didn’t expect to encounter in a Ford. Where most Fords have a simple button on the end of the indicator stalk to deal with this, the Connect’s Volkswagen origins show through with the fiddlier system operated by the small steering wheel-mounted button. Also, the VW-based system must be reset every time you get in the car. Grrr…

Thursday

As I spend a fair bit of time on rural roads, my irritation with the Connect’s lane keep assist has to be set aside today with various errands. As compensation, the supple ride of the Ford brushes aside potholes and there’s decent grip in tighter corners or in some of the faster sections to make the Connect more fun to drive than you might initially expect. Good brakes, too.

Friday

As I don my taxi hat for the kids, my daughter is insistent she sits in the third row chairs of the Connect. No bother as the middle row outer seats tilt and tumble out of the way and she jumps in. In the name of scientific rigour, I have a seat back here myself and find it roomy enough, though my knees are a bit higher than I’d like on a longer journey. More than fine for kids, however.

Saturday

With the third row of seats folded down and the parcel shelf left at home, there is a huge boot and still loads of room for five people to fit. Ideal for carting my son and mates to football. However, I’m less than keen on the sliding volume control on the dash for the infotainment. For a car with commercial roots, I would have thought something that is easy to use with gloves on would be a better solution.

Sunday

A late mention for the 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine and seven-speed auto ’box in this Connect. It’s a little noisy when cold but soon settles to a quiet hum, pulls hard even when the car is loaded up, and the transmission shifts cleanly. Economy is reasonable but I think I’d have the manual gearbox for its better fuel consumption and lower emissions. Overall, as a family car, the Tourneo Connect is great, but at £32,000 most drivers will prefer the style of an SUV such as Ford’s Puma or the Hyundai Tucson.