Test Drive Review Ford Tourneo Custom PHEV: Saving with the Power of Two Hearts
Let's see the diesel engine try to match that: Motivated by the great success of the Kuga PHEV, Ford is also rolling out a Transit Custom with the identical plug-in hybrid at the start. And it's convincing right from the get-go. At least in urban and suburban areas, it recommends itself as a future-proof and environmentally-friendly alternative to diesel, at least for electric skeptics who don't want to switch completely – and occasionally have long-distance needs of over 700 kilometers at a stretch.
The first round in the dual-heart Custom certainly highlighted that there is indeed justification for the otherwise rather skeptically viewed plug-in hybrid in the van segment. Too often, it serves as a fig leaf in company car fleets, with the charging cable rotting away in the trunk and rarely being used. Entrepreneurs or urban shuttle services could still get their money's worth with the concept. Provided the model is not much more expensive than the diesel, and according to the list, it looks that way: Almost the same price as the front-wheel-drive top diesel with 125 kW and 8-speed automatic. 44,600 euros to 44,300 euros net for the van, meaning 300 euros more expensive than the diesel, and even 48,100 to 49,150 euros for the Tourneo, meaning 1,000 euros cheaper than the top diesel. The costly exhaust cleaning also adds up. Quite tempting ...
Electric Motor Plus Gasoline Engine
Finally, the model combines two engines like the Kuga PHEV, the plug-in hybrid market leader in Europe in 2021 and 2022: a synchronous electric motor with a substantial 97 kW and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 112 kW. The system output is then 171 kW (232 hp). Up to 54 kilometers of EV range from the 11.8-kWh lithium-ion battery should be possible, and they are realistically achievable, unlike the rather exotic range extender concept of the predecessor, which barely surpassed the 30-kilometer mark electrically and then made a lot of noise. The power is transmitted via a continuously variable CVT automatic transmission. Charging is relatively mild at 7 kW, but the small battery is fully recharged in 3.5 hours.
Anyway: At the end of the day, we realized a consumption of 2.5 l/100 km on a short 30-kilometer round trip with a half-full battery in the urban and surrounding areas of Frankfurt. From 100 percent battery over 60 kilometers, we recorded 4.2 l/100 km, which we achieved together with colleagues from the Van-of-the-Year jury who were sometimes driving a bit more briskly. No diesel comes close, as it tends to move towards 7 to 9 l/100 km in this terrain, not to mention the emissions issues in urban areas. Another PHEV advantage: Unlike the diesel engine, it can recuperate with a tap on the steering column lever, which, despite rather mild recuperation performance, preserves the brakes and relaxes the driver.
PHEV Challenge: Keeping the Combustion Engine Idle
The calculation works out especially well if you restrain your gas foot and avoid pressing the pedal too hard. Otherwise, the Atkinson gasoline engine kicks in and channels its combustion power to the front wheels. This isn’t particularly sporty with the continuously variable transmission (CVT), but if necessary, it moves forward quite swiftly. However, the PHEV trains its driver: to drive economically. One almost perceives it as a personal failure when the "ICE" does come on, which it does not too noisily and rather smoothly, but audibly.
For those who act a little attentively, they can hum along quietly, noiselessly, but always sufficiently swiftly through urban and suburban realms, watching the "needle" of the consumption gauge drifting towards zero. Admittedly, the WLTP figure of 0.9 l/100 km is only achievable in the cycle. But the values aren’t too bad for a fully grown 3.2-ton vehicle with nine seats.
Speaking of displays: With a full fuel tank and full batteries, one can reach up to about 750 kilometers. 1.85 tons of towing capacity can also be hitched. These are some arguments for why the bridge solution might suit some users, even though it isn’t a "pure" electric vehicle.
Translated automatically from German.
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