Ford has extended its range of people carriers or MPVs with a van-based model more suited to smaller budgets.

The Tourneo Connect, available with five seats or seven with the longer wheelbase Grand Tourneo, is the second model in the range following the Tourneo Custom at the end of last year.

A third model, the Courier is being rolled out but no decision has been made on whether this one will come to the UK. Ford is still evaluating the market for the smaller version and, crucially, whether it can make money on it.

The Tourneo Connect, on sale from December, is set to compete with segment leader Citroen Berlingo, while the Grand Tourneo Connect offers a seven-seat Ford MPV for some £6,000 less than the more stylish S-Max.

Marketing director Anthony Ireson said: "Many people want the additional space and flexibility that an MPV can offer but they also want style and comfort so they are the traditional buyers of the car-based vehicles.

"But there is a growing market for people who don't value style so much but what they do want is space and durability at a good price. A vehicle that fits a reality rather than a dream."

AM magazine reviews the Tourneo Connect in its next issue, published November 22.