A large eight-seater van is not the sort of vehicle most people fantasise about. Yet Getaway South Africa's Ryan Vrede, halfway through a three-month loan of the Ford Tourneo Custom Sport, admits he keeps finding excuses to reach for its keys — even when something else is parked alongside.
The case for the Tourneo is less about driving thrills and more about what the space allows. For Vrede, that means hauling cricket, football and padel gear, shuttling a squad of teammates to matches, and — most importantly — bringing Roxy, his American Bully, everywhere. She has claimed the gap between the front seats as her napping spot, and for anyone whose trips start with the question 'is the accommodation dog-friendly?', a vehicle that makes pet travel easy can be the difference between going and staying home.
The surprise, he writes, is how civilised it is behind the wheel. The 2.0-litre turbodiesel pushes 125kW and 390Nm through an eight-speed automatic to the front wheels, and Ford's knack for making big vehicles feel manageable shows up on long road trips and in Cape Town's famously trying CBD commute alike. It drives more like a luxury sedan than a people-carrier, which is exactly what you want when the holiday drive is six hours long.
The Sport trim adds personality to the bulk: bonnet stripes, dark detailing and alloy wheels, plus practical touches inside — three-zone climate control, charging points for rear passengers, powered sliding doors and a 13-inch touchscreen running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
This is an early verdict rather than a final one. Vrede flags the questions still to be answered over the remaining months: fuel costs, parking a van this size, and how well seats and luggage coexist on a proper trip. But the core insight already lands, and it's one holiday planners will recognise. A vehicle isn't just about where it takes you — it's about who and what you can bring. Room for another friend, the boards you'd normally leave behind, or a sleeping dog at your feet can quietly reshape what a weekend away looks like.
Why it matters: if you're eyeing a road trip around South Africa's Cape with family, friends or a dog in tow, the Tourneo Custom range is worth a look as a capable alternative to the usual SUV. Just weigh the everyday realities — parking in town, fuel bills — against the carry-everything appeal before you sign.
