Ford

Galaxy

Capable of carrying seven adults in comfort, the Ford Galaxy now boasts a longer and wider design to offer even more room. Specification levels are very high and the safety features are extremely reassuring. And despite its high sides, the Galaxy certainly handles with ease.

Test Drive

Ford Galaxy (2015) – first drive

Mention the label ‘people carriers’ to any true car enthusiast and you can see the horror creep across their face as they conjure up graphic images of bulky, unrefined, sluggish, box-like and generally ugly vehicles that offer very little in the way of driving enjoyment.

But, believe me, there are a few really good models out there to be explored and one of them is definitely the Ford Galaxy which offers all the versatility, practicality, comfort that a luxury seven-seater should, but also proves that there’s more to life than shifting people.

The Galaxy was launched back in 1995 and is now in its fourth generation, but it looks better than ever and has certainly aged very well. Of course, it still boasts its larger-than-life dimensions but it carries them off in a sophisticated almost VIP-looking manner thanks to privacy glass, an opening panoramic roof, sculpted bonnet, 18-inch alloys, neat chrome trim and LED adaptive headlights with a glare-free feature which optimises driving at night.

As one would expect, the interior is very spacious, but for me it’s the clever technology that has been incorporated into the Galaxy that helps this MPV really stand out from the crowd.

A perfect example of this is the efficient way the seats can be moved in a pain-free manner. At the press of a button located in the boot, the third row of two seats can each be lowered or raised in just seconds. The trio of individual second row seats can also be lowered at the press of a button and then easily raised manually. It’s features like this which make life so much easier and quicker when an unexpected guest comes along for the ride.

Parking such a giant can be tricky too but Ford has simplified the procedure with the introduction of a Perpendicular Parking system that detects a suitable space and manoeuvres the vehicle hands-free into the gap. And there is Park-Out Assist to help you leave a parallel parking space whereby the system operates the steering wheel while the driver controls the accelerator and brake.

The Cross Traffic Alert warns drivers who are reversing out of a parking space of any vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them.

Then there is the new Intelligent Speed Limiter system which, when activated, scans traffic signs and adjusts the accelerator to help drivers stay within the legal speed limits and so avoid hefty fines and penalty points.

All these features help to keep Galaxy occupants safe and secure whilst making their driving experience as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible.

So onto the new 2015 line-up. There is a range of highly efficient powertrains to choose from. On the diesel side there is a 2.0-litre TDCi in 120PS, 150PS and 180PS. And for petrol lovers there is the new fuel-efficient 1.5-litre 160PS EcoBoost and a 2.0-litre 240PS EcoBoost option.

Buyers can also select from three richly-equipped trim levels – Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X – with prices ranging from £26,445 to £36,760.

All models boast first class infotainment systems, including a clear and easy-to-use touchscreen, sat nav, Bluetooth connectivity, a great sound system with DAB radio, dual zone climate control and plenty more besides.

But customers demand more and more these days and rightly so.

Not only do they expect a vehicle to offer first class technology with innovative features, they also expect a car to be comfortable for all its occupants and so prevent any squabbles about being relegated to the back row! Well, new Galaxy caters for those concerns by increasing headroom for second and third row occupants by an additional 10mm.

And there are plenty of spaces to store stuff thanks to good-sized door pockets that can hold extra-large water bottles, trays in the back of the front seats, a glovebox, sunglasses holder, a deep central bin, room behind the central console and a covered tray on the top of the dashboard.

I tested out the 2.0-litre 180PS diesel model mated to a six-speed manual gearbox in mid-grade Titanium format costing £30,795 (£36,290 with options).

This model can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in 9.8 seconds and has a top speed of 131mph.

According to official figures it can achieve combined fuel economy of 56.4mpg with carbon emissions of 129g/km.

Despite its large dimensions and imposing presence the Galaxy is actually quite nimble and easy to manoeuvre. It feels nicely composed with very little body roll even when pushed quite hard into bends.

Acceleration through the manual gears is smooth and responsive with ample power on tap at all times.

In busy villages and town centres, it ambled along quite happily yet when needed, it had all the oomph and power required to feel comfortable and fully competent on faster motorways.

An elevated driving position is a total must with any MPV and the Galaxy offers very good all-round visibility.

According to Ford, additional sound-deadening materials have been incorporated within the Galaxy’s underbody shields, wheel arch liners, doors and headliner although there is still a little road surface noise to be heard at times.

But that aside, it was hard to find fault with new Galaxy. Maybe I would have expected electrically-adjustable front seats on a vehicle with that price-tag, but that’s about all I can think of.

Admittedly, the Galaxy is not going to factor into every motorists plans for a dream car, but for anyone looking for an accomplished people mover that also offers plenty of techno treats and creature comforts along the way, the Ford Galaxy has proved its years of experience really do count.

Test Drive

Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCi 163PS Titanium X

These days, lots of manufacturers claim to have designed the perfect seven-seater, but the reality is most of them have failed miserably – just ask any passenger relegated to the third row of seats after a long journey and they will back me up.

However, in the new Ford Galaxy, the rear seats are raised and the cabin height is higher than most – this results in back seat passengers being treated to a proper sitting position with plenty of legroom.

Another factor that I really liked about the Galaxy is the consideration given to driver visibility through the rear-view mirror. The host of rear seats all with headrests could prove a real visibility hazard, but on the Galaxy, the headrests fold right down into the seat backs when not being used so the driver benefits from an unobstructed view.

And when it comes to versatility, few other vehicles offer seats that can easily be configured in 32 different ways to suit requirements and for carrying larger than life objects.

But there is a whole lot more to the Galaxy experience than versatility and comfort – the vehicle is crammed to bursting with quality features and boasts plenty of eye-catching design qualities too.

There is for example, a black leather multi-function steering wheel, leather seats with smart contrasting grey stitching, privacy glass, cruise control with adjustable speed limiting device, an excellent Sony sound system, dual-zone climate control with rear compartment cooling, an automatically-dimming rear-view mirror and a panoramic roof that stretches the length of the vehicle to further enhance the light and airy feel throughout the cabin.

And when it comes to the drive itself, the Galaxy doesn’t disappoint. The 2.0 diesel-powered engine on the test model provided plenty of power and the road holding was very impressive for such a large vehicle on tight bends. Excellent all-round visibility makes parking quite simple and the parking sensors are there for added reassurance.

Ford’s advanced Intelligent Protection System uses a full range of sophisticated features to keep passengers and pedestrians safe including an ultra-high strength safety cage, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, plenty of airbags, a tyre pressure monitoring system, blind spot information system and a whole lot more besides.

All in all, the Galaxy has always been a well respected multi-purpose vehicle, but with the launch of the new Galaxy those credentials just got a whole lot better.

Test Drive

Ford Galaxy Ghia 2.0 TDCi (140ps) 5dr

IN a day and age where children seem to have the newest, biggest and best toys on the market, you really need a vehicle to transport everyone in style.

That vehicle could just be the Ford Galaxy with space, comfort and style in abundance.

There is ample space for seven people to be transported in style and they can take along all their goodies too.

One real plus factor of the Galaxy is the excellent handling ability.

Oh, so often you are forced to compromise performance and comfort levels for space – not so the Galaxy which is packed with classy features such as cruise control, a stunning sound system, front and rear park assist and dual control air con… all as standard.

For a few pounds more you can add a leather trim, alloys, sat nav, a six-CD autochanger, solar reflect windscreen and climate control front seats – the sort of features normally only found on a first class luxury saloon.

The 2.0-litre engine on the test model delivered plenty of oomph both in and around town and on the more open road and the diesel-powered system was extremely generous on the pocket boasting excellent economy stats.

And the safety spec is most impressive too with anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme, a Forward Alert system on the cruise control which offers a visual and audible warning if you get too close to the vehicle in front, plenty of airbags and even a tyre pressure monitoring feature.

All in all, the Ford Galaxy certainly has a well-defined market place, but with the high comfort levels and top notch specifications it wanders into plenty of other domains too.