Insurance Group: 18
MPG: 53.3
CO2: 139
0-62 Mph: 10.2 secs
BHP: 138 BHP
Range: 821 miles
PROS: Good looks, sharp handling, seven-seat practicality, low running costs
CONS: The third row of seats is only suitable for children and there isn't much luggage space with all the seats in position.
The S-MAX's 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine produces 138bhp and 236lb-ft of torque. This translates into a 0-62mph time of 10.2 seconds and a top speed of 127mph which is more than acceptable for a car of this size.
The real news though is just how good the S-MAX is to drive. Okay, it's not exactly a Ferrari 458 but it grips well, is surprisingly agile through the corners and is comfortable to boot. A minor masterpiece.
The S-MAX is a genuinely good looking car. It looks stylish and purposeful which is quite a feat for an MPV.
Leather seats are not included as standard but they can be fitted for an extra £1,600 on top of the purchase price. Standard kit includes climate control, electric windows, rear parking sensors, CD player with MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth. Sat-nav is an optional extra and will set you back £1300.
There is plenty of cabin space with an impressive 2000 litres of boot space when the seats are folded down, and 285 litres when all seven seats are in place.
Ford have a good repuation when it comes to reliability and the S-MAX is covered under warranty for three years, or up to 60,000 miles.
Driver, passenger and side airbags are all fitted as standard to improve safety and the S-MAX achieved an impressive five stars in the Euro NCAP tests.
At £23,310, the S-MAX Zetec 2.0 TDCi (140ps) is very reasonably priced.
It should also be cheap to run thanks to impressive fuel economy of 49.6mpg on the combined cycle. Relatively low CO2 emissions of 149g/km also mean that the S-MAX should be cheap to tax, falling under VED band F.
Overall, the S-MAX offers terrific value for money and offers class-leading credentials at a reasonable price.
The S-MAX is a great car. Reasonably priced, endlessly practical and surprisingly good looking, it offers pretty much everything you could reasonably ask for from a large family car.
Ford really do know how to build a decent family car. The S-MAX is practical, good looking, cheap to run and well equipped. In terms of bang for your buck, they really don't come much better than t...
As a family car this model ticks all of the right boxes. It is stylish with alloy wheels and a leather interior whilst safety measures makes travelling in the vehicle as secure as possible for the ...
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