Ford S-Max

new-ford-s-max-for-europe-only

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

S-MAX

A new Ford S-Max is due in 2014 and, unlike the new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/detroit-motor-show-2012-ford-mondeo/n8641">Mondeo</a> itll be based on, it will be produced for Europe only.The new Mondeo, revealed at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2012-detroit-motor-show/n8634">Detroit motor show</a> yesterday, will be virtually identical in all markets, as part of the One Ford strategy to produce global models.However, at an exclusive preview of the new Mondeo, Ford executives told What Car? that the next S-Max wont be sold in the US, so will be developed exclusively for European markets.

MPVs have limited and diminishing appeal to US buyers, so the practical option developed from the same platform is likely to be a crossover/SUV-style vehicle for US buyers.The next S-Max is due on sale in 2014, and is likely to be revealed in concept car form within the next 18 months. Its expected to stay close to the current cars sporty-but-practical ethos and will use the same range of engines as the new Mondeo. The seating system is likely to be a development of the current cars folding set-up.

Our sources also confirmed that a separate but closely related Galaxy is due at the same time and that Ford is not considering combining the two cars into one new model.As with the current car, the next Galaxy will share many parts with the S-Max, but have a higher, longer body for more interior space.

A new Ford S-Max is due in 2014 and, unlike the new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/detroit-motor-show-2012-ford-mondeo/n8641">Mondeo</a> itll be based on, it will be produced for Europe only.

The new Mondeo, revealed at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2012-detroit-motor-show/n8634">Detroit motor show</a> yesterday, will be virtually identical in all markets, as part of the One Ford strategy to produce global models.However, at an exclusive preview of the new Mondeo, Ford executives told What Car? that the next S-Max wont be sold in the US, so will be developed exclusively for European markets.MPVs have limited and diminishing appeal to US buyers, so the practical option developed from the same platform is likely to be a crossover/SUV-style vehicle for US buyers.The next S-Max is due on sale in 2014, and is likely to be revealed in concept car form within the next 18 months. Its expected to stay close to the current cars sporty-but-practical ethos and will use the same range of engines as the new Mondeo. The seating system is likely to be a development of the current cars folding set-up.Our sources also confirmed that a separate but closely related Galaxy is due at the same time and that Ford is not considering combining the two cars into one new model.

As with the current car, the next Galaxy will share many parts with the S-Max, but have a higher, longer body for more interior space.

New Ford S-Max for Europe only

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

*   New Ford S-Max not a global model...
*   ...unlike the next Mondeo
*   Due in 2014; Galaxy, too

New Ford S-Max for Europe only        

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition. In fact, it&nbsp;tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from a tiny EV (the Ami) through to the C3 small hatchback and&nbsp;the large van-based&nbsp;Spacetourer MPV.

Its range of SUVs are all badged Aircross, and like the rest of its range place emphasis on comfort, not speed.

CITROEN

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

MAXUS

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

TOURNEO COURIER

Tourneo Custom

Transit Nugget

Statisticians tell us that the world’s population has more than doubled in the past 50 years. So, along with placing a huge strain on Earth’s resources, more babies, toddlers and teenagers than ever before need to be ferried to and from nurseries, schools and universities, putting a strain on your family transport. Just as well, then, that the Ford S-Max is around to help take some of the strain off harassed parents.

Okay, you’ll have to ignore the fact that it’s not a trendy <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-family-suvs-2022/n17116">SUV</a>, and there is a whiff of ‘airport taxi run’ about it, but don’t assume that the S-Max is a boring family plodder – historically, it has been one of the sportiest MPVs around. And, of course, all versions come with that all-important asset of seven seats to keep the whole family mobile.

As if being an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-mpvs-and-people-carriers-2022/n17001">MPV</a> wasn’t unfashionable enough, diesel engines feature heavily in the S-Max lineup, with a choice of two power outputs. However, there’s also the option of a bang-up-to-date hybrid that combines a petrol engine with a battery pack and electric motor to drive down CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy.&nbsp;

To match the three engines that can reside under the S-Max’s heavily raked bonnet, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/ford">Ford</a> also gives you a choice of three trim levels. These range from sensible but by no means sparsely equipped Titanium, sporty ST-Line and luxurious Vignale.

But&nbsp;should you be looking to buy one over its seven-seat rivals, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/grand-c4-spacetourer/mpv/review/n17341">Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/galaxy/mpv/review/n142">Ford Galaxy</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/touran/mpv/review/n17348">Volkswagen Touran</a>? Read on over the next few pages for our in-depth impressions, along with our recommendations for trim levels and engines. And don’t forget to head to our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/configure/ford/s-max/mpv/">What Car? New Car Deals pages</a>&nbsp;for the best prices&nbsp;available.

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New Ford S-Max for Europe only

* New Ford S-Max not a global model... * ...unlike the next Mondeo * Due in 2014; Galaxy, too...

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