FAMILIES on a budget are being targeted by Ford with a new MPV that's based on a van.

The Tourneo Connect is ideal for adventure, the school run and everyday trips, long or short.

It's also something of a bargain, priced from £14,250 which is significantly cheaper than Ford's other compact MPV, the C-MAX - and most of the alternatives.

Available either in five or seven seat configurations the Tourneo Connect will be arriving in December to sit alongside Ford's other leisure oriented vehicles.

With plenty of room inside and fold-down seats it can handle virtually anything the action family demands - and that includes slotting in a couple of mountain bikes.

Maximum capacity of the seven seat Tourneo Grand Connect is a van-sized 2,600 litres - some 10 times bigger than a Fiesta - and it can handle objects up to three metres long.

The huge tailgate opens high and a low lip makes loading easy.

The Tourneo Connect may have its roots on the commercial side of motoring but it drives like a car and is finished to impress.

The layout of the dash is akin to that of any Ford passenger car and that includes digital displays on the instrument panel and the facia.

There is Bluetooth connectivity, voice control and Ford's SYNC system which includes an emergency assist function to call for help if necessary.

Stability controls are standard and so are a full complement of airbags as well as the Ford City Stop anti-collision device which is designed to prevent low speed shunts.

Handling is helped by torque vectoring control which first appeared on the latest Focus and for such a large vehicle the Tourneo Connect is incredibly agile and responsive.

The line up features three versions fitted with Ford's 1.6-litre diesel engine with a variety of power outputs of 75, 95 and 115ps and a 100ps, one-litre EcoBoost petrol turbo model.

There is also a 1.6-litre petrol automatic but that is available only on the high specification Titanium trim five door version priced from £18,895.

Emissions range from 120g/km for the 1.6 95ps diesel to 184g/km for the automatic. The one-litre EcoBoost is rated at 129g/km.

The Grand Tourneo, which costs from £16,985, is diesel only and comes with the two higher powered engines.

Ford claims the 1.6-litre 95ps diesel to be the most economical at 61.4mpg but we found the one-lire EcoBoost surprisingly frugal - and £500 cheaper.

We managed to average 47.8mpg with the EcoBoost and only got 44.1 out of the diesel. The more powerful 115ps diesel returned 40.3mpg which was the same as the petrol automatic.

All were driven over similar routes which took in a variety of road and traffic conditions and none of the engines were lacking in pulling power. Wind and road noise was acceptably low and there was no suggestion of booming, despite the height of the cabin.

There are some van-like traits such as large, double lens door mirrors and an overhead shelf above the dash but they are more of a benefit than a hindrance and do nothing to detract from the practicality of Tourneo Connect.

The cabin is festooned with storage spaces with large door pockets, fold-down picnic trays and a sizeable, lockable glovebox.

There are plenty of power outlets throughout including one in an unusual bin housed under a flip up lid on the instrument binnacle. The interior finishes look hard wearing and durable which is essential in a vehicle like this.

The Grand Tourneo Connect Titanium is the range topper costing £20,235 and unlike most other full size MPVs all seven seats suit adults.

It is a large vehicle - only four inches shorter than the Tourneo Custom minibus - yet despite the size it is still easy to manoeuvre thanks to the flat sides, large mirrors and parking sensors front and rear.

The five seater, which is slightly bigger than a C-MAX, is well proportioned and both look rugged and functional.

There is nothing new about the concept of van-based people movers - Fiat, Ford, Peugeot and Citroen to name but a few are in on the act - but Ford is taking standards up a notch and in every department the Tourneo Connect hits the mark for families on the go.