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Ford S-MAX

A starring role in a Ford technical video was the latest assignment for our MPV

Ford S-MAX header

Text: Graham Hope / Photos: Pete Gibson

April 2011

It's amazing how popular you become when you are running an MPV. There’s constant badgering for the keys from colleagues moving house or ferrying families. 

But one request from our head of motoring video Mat Watson was different from the norm. He wanted the S-MAX to star in a video promoting Ford’s in-car tech for our sister website expertreviews.co.uk. 

Eyeing a shot at small screen stardom, I immediately agreed – only to be told by shy and retiring Mat that as I had a face for the radio, he’d be doing the shoot. Typical! As you can see, though, our S-MAX made light work of it all, which has been a feature of its tenure with us.

From motorway blasts up to Scotland to cross country sprints and the daily nursery run, the Ford has handled everything with aplomb, fully living up to its billing as a family car that you can have a little fun with.

The 2.0-litre engine provides more than adequate torque for easy overtaking, while the facility to fold flat both rows of seats has been invaluable on the occasions I’ve required the S-MAX’s huge 2,000-litre carrying capacity.

Our Ford comes with plenty of equipment – some of it very clever. But it’s probably the leather seats which have been the biggest boon. As my 18-month-old daughter regularly sits in the back, there’s generally plenty of mess, and they really are extremely easy to wipe down.

As an all-rounder, then, it’s hard to beat. Little wonder Mat wanted it in his video. Few cars are more deserving of a starring role.

For an alternative review of the latest Ford S-MAX visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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1 Comment

Just don't mention the clutch...

...because there is a good chance it will develop a fault by 28,000 miles and Ford won't offer to diagnose it under warranty despite it being a common problem

So in summary; good all rounder, reasonable performance, but no bloomin' good cos it'll be broken before its third birthday and will cost a fortune to fix.

By cdj9910 on 3 May, 2011, 8:48am

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Other Reports

REPORT

[+]
Three innocuous looking buttons lie at the heart of the S-MAX’s driver appeal. Pressing Comfort, Normal or Sport will subtly alter the way the car handles, and makes each journey something to savour. Sport, in particular, magically helps you to forget that you’re driving an MPV...
[-]
It was inevitable, really.... especially after bemoaning the S-MAX’s girth in a previous report. One of its smart alloy wheels finally came a cropper as the car was squeezed into a tight bay – despite the rear parking camera. I wasn’t the culprit, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying.
On fleet since:August 2010
Price when new:£25,455
Mileage:7,322
Engine / Power:2.0-litre 4cyl/ 161bhp
Options Fitted:DVD sat-nav with USB and rear view camera (£1,300), climate-control front seats (£450), bi-xenon headlamps (£750), blind spot warning (£400), Seat Pack (£525), Space Pack (£125), adaptive cruise and damping (£1,750), Ice White paint (£775)
Trade-in Value Now:N/A
Insurance Group / Quote:20/ £410
Costs:None
Any Problems?:Rusty locking wheel nuts
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