Ford Galaxy
The Ford Galaxy is closely related to its seven-seater sister car, the Ford S-MAX.
The Ford Galaxy is closely related to its seven-seater sister car, the Ford S-MAX. The Galaxy has a higher price, but is designed as the more practical option – and this is reflected in its larger boot size, at 308 litres even with all seven seats in position. Fold the two rows of rear seats, and you can free up a van-like 2,325 litres.
While the dimensions are similar, the roofline is higher than that of the S-MAX, and the increased headroom means few passengers will have problems getting comfortable in the interior. Meanwhile, up front the familiar dashboard is well laid out and reasonably well built, and equipment includes climate control and parking sensors even on basic Zetec models.
Petrol versions provide the strongest performance in the range, but owners will pay the price with heavy fuel consumption. Go for a 1.6 TDCi diesel, and you get 54.3mpg economy, plus the 13g/km emissions mean lower road tax bills. Lower-powered diesels also sit in a lower insurance group, and the TDCi versions have an 1,800kg towing capacity. However, service intervals stand at 12,500 miles whichever Galaxy you buy.
