Ford China’s five-seat S-Max is not unique to that market and a similar model is available in Europe, though not sold here in the UK.

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Fiona Pargeter, Ford’s UK manager of product affairs, told just-auto that the UK was the only European market in which the five-seater was not sold.


“Our market in Britain is a seven-seat market,” she said. “The seats in the back can fold flat into the floor so [the S-Max] can be five seats if that’s all you need.


She said UK buyers demand the flexibility of five or seven seats with variable luggage capacity.


Ford China on Tuesday enlarged its S-Max range by removing two seats to create the new five-seat Trend version “for customers who want more space instead of more seats”.

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The model was launched at the Beijing motor show with 2.3-litre petrol engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Seven-seat Ghia and Flagship versions remain on sale.


“Not everyone needs seven seats. Introducing a five-seat variant to the range makes perfect sense and illustrates Ford’s ability to provide Chinese customers with cars and features they want,” said, Changan Ford Sales Company general manager Nigel Harris.


Ford said the new variant was tailored to meet Chinese market demand. Minus third row seats, the five-seater has 185 litres more cargo space.


Here in Europe, the S-Max has many rivals. For example, GM Europe’s Opel/Vauxhall Zafira has seven seats only but Renault’s Scenic and Citroen’s C4 Picasso are built in two lengths with the choice of five or seven chairs.


Graeme Roberts