Ford is covering two seven-seat minivan bases with the new S-Max and Galaxy due to go on sale this coming northern summer.
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The S-Max is being pitched as the more ‘sporty’ version of the two and, despite similar appearances, shares only bonnet (hood) and headlights with the taller Galaxy. Ford says the height difference is a hand’s width – 1607mm vs 1676mm.
Both have fold-flat second and third row seating and the top S-Max engine option is a derivative of a new 220ps 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit recently launched in a sporty new Focus.
Unlike the previous model, built in Portugal as part of a joint design/build deal with VW group, the latest Galaxy was developed and will be built in-house by Ford, at its Genk plant in Belgium.
Ford claims 30% more luggage space for the Galaxy than the previous model and describes the S-Max, which “clearly expresses more sporty ambitions”, as a crossover.
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By GlobalDataBoth offer a new active suspension system with continuously controlled damping and adaptive cruise control with forward alert. An driver’s knee airbag makes a European Ford debut, along with a tyre pressure monitor and active collision mitigation system.
In both models, second and third row seats fold into the floor, forming a flat and even load area 2.0 metres by 1.15 metres.
Both can be ordered with a large panorama glass roof, and the Galaxy also offers an overhead console as well. A sliding load floor is optional.
The Galaxy’s suspension, with over 200mm of spring travel, is tuned for a typical comfort-oriented minivan ride while the S-Max has sportier tuning and 10mm less spring travel.
Hill start assist – called Hill-Launch-Assist in Ford-speak – allows the driver to release the brake pedal and step on the accelerator pedal without the vehicle rolling backwards.
Available petrol engines include that 2.5-litre turbo with six-speed manual transmission for the S-Max and a two-litre, 16-valve, four-cylinder powerplant available for both models with standard five-speed manual transmission.
Likely to be more popular in Europe are the diesels – a 125ps 1.8-litre turbo-charged common-rail unit offered with both models and, for the Galaxy only, a detuned 100ps version to suit insurance and tax rates in some markets. Five- and six-speed manual transmissions will be available for the Galaxy while the S-Max gets just the six-speed ‘box.
Both models will also be offered with a 140ps two-litre turbodiesel with standard six-speed manual transmission.
Graeme Roberts
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