Ford Tourneo Custom Active Debuts For South Africa

The all-new, redesigned Ford Tourneo Custom officially launched in Europe back in the fall of 2023, and in February 2024, that same van was added to Ford Australia’s lineup, too. Now, the ever-popular people hauler is getting a lineup expansion in South Africa, as the Ford Tourneo Custom Active has been added to the list of offerings in that part of the world, giving shoppers a more affordable alternative to the previous entry-level Trend trim.

Interestingly, the Ford Tourneo Custom Active isn’t that much different than the Trend. It features deleted privacy glass for the side and rear windows, with a light tint applied instead, and the dual sliding side doors are now equipped with pull-up shades for privacy. The Active is equipped with automatic climate control in place of the dual-zone system used on the Trend, while with the heated front seats, driver and passenger armrests, and wireless charger have been removed.

Otherwise, the two models are identical, utilizing the same interior screens, safety features, and 2.0L EcoBlue diesel engine, which generates 100kW (134 horsepower) and 360Nm (266 pound-feet) of torque, and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. The big difference here is pricing, as the Ford Tourneo Custom Active starts out at R1 050 000 ($27,500 USD) in South Africa, compared to R1 076 000 ($41,810 USD) for the Trend.

“The current Tourneo Custom Trend was launched last year and has been very well received by the market, but we saw that there is a gap for a slightly lower specification model at a more accessible price point for prospective customers,” said Sunil Sewmohan, Executive Director, Product Marketing, at Ford South Africa. “For the Tourneo Custom Active, we removed some of the ‘nice-to-haves’ but not essential interior features, while retaining the impressive list of standard driver assistance, passive safety and connectivity technologies that are fundamental to the Tourneo Custom platform. There’s no change to the vehicle’s outstanding interior space or the flexibility it provides for carrying people and goods. As a more affordable offering, we are confident that it will appeal to a wider range of both private and fleet customers.”