Should you buy a Ford S-Max?

It’s getting on and probably makes a better used car buy than a new one, but the Ford S-Max still has a lot to offers. You get practical cabin that’s packed with kit, comfort and a quality feel. It’s also very good to drive at the same time – it doesn’t feel like a minibus like some more traditional MPVs have a tendency to do.

It’s not the cheapest to buy, especially on a monthly payment scheme, but if you want genuine interior space for a large family, plus excellent dynamics (especially compared with some wallowy SUVs), it’s now pretty much the only game in town. And because it’s a Ford, it’s possible you’d be able to haggle a great deal out of your local dealer, assuming you can find one.

The entry-level Titanium cars have all the creature comforts you could want. Well, except for a reversing camera, which is available as an option. The question of whether you buy one instead of a mainstream seven-seat SUV such as the Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq comes down to how much you value driving pleasure and practicality over image.

What we like

The S-Max is a cracking car to drive with excellent steering, handling and brakes. The ride quality is also good considering it’s been set-up for a sporty drive. Although the rearmost row of seats is relatively cramped for a full-sized SUV, they’re large enough for most families, while the rest of the interior is genuinely cavernous. It’s also an excellent motorway cruiser, and capable of 40mpg in regular driving – not bad for a petrol car of this size.

What we don’t like

Despite its agreeable driving experience, the S-Max is not particularly quick. If you want a fast S-Max, used is the way to go. The now-defunct high-performance petrol is technically the fastest, but the (also defunct) bi-turbo diesel’s extra chunk of torque makes it much more satisfying on the motorway, but also at the petrol station. The hybrid is quick if you are prepared to drive it hard, but it makes an unpleasant noise when doing so.

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