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Will It Suit Me?

I never thought I'd see it but here it is. A large MPV people carrier that could conceivably appeal to someone like me who has no need of a people carrier. And doesn't want one thankyou. I would however, be quite happy to be granted the keys, long term, to Ford's S-MAX, particularly in its current improved second generation form. Here's why.

Practicalities

Before I get into all the seat folding and luggage stowaging, I'd better explain. This car looks great and drives like a well engineered fast estate car. Yes really. Yet it also does all the things a large MPV is supposed to do. For proof, I checked out FFS (Ford FoldFlatSystem before you attribute a baser meaning to that acronym) which apparently allows 32 different seating permutations. I didn't try many of these but I did note that the second and third rows of seats all fold flat to form a genuinely huge load floor big enough to take a double bed. My usual issue with all 7-seat MPVs is that with all the seats occupied, you've next to no luggage space. In this respect, this Ford is better than most, offering 285 litres of space with all seats being used. You'll need a roofbox if you want more than that. If you do wish to run the S-MAX in removal van mode, it'll heave around up to 2,020 litres of goods with all the rear seat folded flat. Yes, a van-based MPV like Ford's Grand Tourneo Connect would offer you a bit more room in this format but with that kind of People carrier, you've got the hassle of physically having to lump out the second and third row chairs and store them in the garage. There's none of that kind of hassle here. In an S-MAX, the extra rearmost seats fold neatly into the floor and can do so with electrical assistance if you've avoided entry-level trim and opted for the extra-cost 'Family Pack'. This gives you a 'Power Easy Entry' feature that's activated via buttons on the lefthand cargo area sidewall though annoyingly, for reasons best known to Ford, it only works in flattening the seats, not in raising them again in the way you can (at least with the third row) with an equivalent Galaxy model.

Behind the Wheel

The fact that Ford has its marginally more practical Galaxy model for those only concerned with practical 7-seat A to B family transport leaves this S-MAX free to provide something pretty unique in the segment for bigger MPVs: namely, a good looking car dynamically capable enough to reward the enthusiastic driver. Other big 7-seaters feel vaguely pointless if you're alone in them on the move: this one just shrinks around you and encourages you to take the back road home, where you'll find bodyroll kept impressively well in check for a car of this size. There's plenty of traction too, even if you don't go for the optional Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system. Clever Integral-Link rear suspension borrowed from the fourth generation Ford Mondeo this car's based upon is fundamental to this impressive showing. And though the freshly added electric power steering system isn't quite as feelsome as the previous hydraulic set-up, standard Torque vectoring system that lightly brakes the inside front wheel through tight bends and sharpens turn-in still makes this S-MAX feel rewarding through the twisties. Engine-wise, the range now hinges around a much improved family of EcoBlue 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines, offered in 120, 150, 190 and bi-turbo 240PS outputs. Improved low-end torque is a particular characteristic of these latest-generation powerplants. The line-up also now benefits from a more refined, smoother-sifting 8-speed auto gearbox which alters its shift pattern to suit your driving style. Petrol engine options include Ford's fuel-efficient 165PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost with manual transmission and the 240PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost with 6-speed automatic transmission.

Value For Money

List pricing suggests that you'll probably be paying somewhere in the £28,000 to £36,000 bracket for your S-MAX, depending upon the variant you choose. All models sold in this country come in 7-seat configuration and if you avoid the entry-level petrol and diesel variants, there's the £1,500 option of the Powershift 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Ford reckons that almost 97% of buyers will want one of the TDCi diesel variants and you can see why. The diesel engines all return excellent economy. In the 2.0 TDCi 120PS variant with 17-inch wheels, you'll see 55.4mpg on the combined cycle and 134g/km of carbon dioxide (or 56.5mpg and 132g/km in a 150 or 190PS version). You'll hit those returns by nearly 10% if you opt for four wheel drive or the Powershift automatic gearbox.

Could I Live With One?

With both the S-MAX and the more sensibly-orientated Galaxy in their large MPV line-up, Ford offers an unrivalled choice for buyers in this sector of the market. And in the S-MAX, a pretty unique proposition.