Skip advert
Advertisement

Ford S-MAX AWD review

Has the addition of a new 4x4 Ford S-MAX broadened the seven-seater’s appeal?

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Ford S-MAX
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Adding all-wheel drive does little to dent the appeal of Ford’s excellent S-MAX. It’s still good to drive, practical and stylish, and the adaptive AWD system will be useful in the typically adverse British winter. In everyday driving, however, most owners won’t notice the difference between this and the standard car – and with a £1,500 price premium, higher running costs and extra weight to lug around, we would opt for the standard car.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With the British winter already making its presence known, many car buyers will be contemplating investing in something with four-wheel drive. Something like this new Ford S-MAX AWD.

Best 4x4s and SUVs to buy right now

Around 12 per cent of cars sold in the UK have four-wheel drive, and Ford wants to cash in on that by offering family models like the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-MAX with its intelligent all-wheel-drive system.

On the S-MAX, you can specify AWD on the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel Titanium paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, or the more powerful and pricier 178bhp six-speed automatic Titanium Sport. 

The 4x4 version weighs around 60kg more than the standard S-MAX, so our 148bhp version is a bit slower – getting from 0-62mph in 12.1 seconds compared to the front-wheel-drive car’s 10.8 seconds. The engine feels torquey, though, and in-gear response is strong enough that you don’t find yourself changing gear too often.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

S-Max

2022 Ford

S-Max

59,217 milesAutomaticPetrol2.5L

Cash £21,920
View S-Max
S-Max

2022 Ford

S-Max

58,884 milesManualDiesel2.0L

Cash £16,369
View S-Max
S-Max

2022 Ford

S-Max

56,485 milesAutomaticPetrol2.5L

Cash £22,867
View S-Max
S-Max

2019 Ford

S-Max

32,894 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £17,395
View S-Max

That means the S-MAX AWD is just as good as a motorway cruiser, with only a bit of road and wind noise at speed. It’s still comfortable to drive on more rutted roads, too, with well judged suspension that has a good balance between comfort and handling. Being a tall MPV, there is some body roll, but it doesn’t feel unstable through faster corners.

Ford’s all-wheel-drive system is adaptive – meaning it sends more power to the front or rear wheels, depending on which requires more traction. It makes the car feel sure-footed, even on the slippery cobblestone section of Ford’s test track – and in the UK, while having the AWD system is not a necessity, it certainly gives you that extra reassurance when dealing with our famously unpredictable weather.

The main trade-off is when you look at the costs, however. The four-wheel drive adds £1,500, and the cheapest S-MAX AWD you can get your hands on is our £29,195 Titanium-spec test car.

Fuel economy takes a slight hit, too, with the AWD model claiming 52.3mpg – that’s 4.2mpg down on the standard model’s 56.5mpg. CO2 emissions also jump from 129 to 139g/km, so you’ll pay an extra £20 per year in road tax. 

Nevertheless, opting for an AWD model over the standard front-wheel-drive S-MAX doesn’t change anything inside. You still get the upmarket interior and mid-spec Titanium models come with sat-nav, Bluetooth, cruise control, DAB radio and automatic lights and wipers as standard.

Like the rest of the S-MAX range, the AWD model has plenty of space inside. There’s loads of head and legroom and a decent 285-litre boot with all seven seats in place. Fold the third row of seats and you free up 965 litres; drop the middle row, too, and there’s up to 2,020 litres. That’s a bit bigger than the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso – and you can’t get that with all-wheel drive.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Ford S-Max

Ford S-Max

RRP £31,025Used from £7,380
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,773 off RRP*Used from £15,876
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £11,895
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,977 off RRP*Used from £12,200
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet
BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort - front

New BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort review: the best BYD yet

The new BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort is arguably the Chinese brand's most convincing model in its range
Road tests
11 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: A Volkswagen Golf R Estate for less than a GTI
VW Golf R Estate - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: A Volkswagen Golf R Estate for less than a GTI

The Golf R Estate is one of the best performance estates around – and right now it’s criminally cheap. It’s our Deal of the Day for 9 June.
News
9 Jun 2025
Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results
Driver Power 2025 - header

Best cars to own: Driver Power 2025 results

The best new cars to own in the UK right now according to the people who already do. It’s the 2025 Driver Power results!
News
10 Jun 2025