Having put the new Ford Tourneo Connect through its battery of crash tests, the independent crash test authority Euro NCAP awarded it the maximum five-star safety rating — a first in the compact people mover vehicle category.
The Tourneo Connect, essentially the passenger version of the Transit Connect and sold as the Transit Connect Wagon in North America, achieved a score of 94 percent for adult occupant protection, 85 percent for child occupant protection, and 83 percent overall. The maximum five-star rating earned by the Tourneo Connect follows a similar first-in-class five-star safety rating for the larger Tourneo Custom (Transit Custom) van, which continues to be the only vehicle in its class to earn five stars.
The Tourneo Connect was engineered for outstanding occupant and pedestrian protection in all accident situations, according to a Ford news release. The van is based on the same global compact vehicle architecture shared with the best-selling Ford Focus (which also received a maximum 5-star rating), C-MAX, Escape/Kuga, as well as the 2015 Lincoln MKC. The Toureno Connect was subjected to over 100 full-vehicle crash tests and over 10,000 computer simulated tests. the popular Focus also received a maximum 5-star rating from Euro NCAP.
The Tourneo (Transit) Connect features a strong steel body to protect the driver and passengers, with 53 percent of the structure being built from high-strength and ultra-high strength steels, including 16 percent ultra-high strength boron steel. The vehicle also features a standard comprehensive restraint system, including driver, passenger and side airbags at the front, and curtain airbags in the front and rear, with ISOFIX mounting points on the two outer second row seats. Notably, Euro NCAP scored these mounting points at 100 percent for the ease of installing a child safety seat.
Additionally, the front end of the Tourneo Connect contains a host of features to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians, including innovative designs of the hood, windshield, and instrument panel to minimize the risk of head trauma.
Drivers will also appreciate several segment-first features that enhance occupant safety, including Active City Stop and the SYNC voice-activated infotainment system with Emergency Assistance. While Activity City Stop helps drivers avoid low-speed collisions with stationary or slower-moving traffic in front, SYNC allows them to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road when interacting with the vehicle’s entertainment and communication systems. Emergency Assistance, which just recently launched in Europe, can help occupants call for help in the event of a crash.
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