Ford

S-MAX

With three rows of seats and excellent versatility the Ford S-MAX takes multi-purpose motoring to a whole new level. There are models to suit all budgets and technology and comfort levels that will make you look for the longer route!

 

Test Drive

Ford S-MAX ST-Line FHEV CVT (2022)

It’s quite a challenge for manufacturers to develop a car that’s large enough to accommodate seven people without designing an ugly-looking, bulky people mover. But Ford has proved it is possible with the latest S-MAX.

This stylish full-sized MPV boasts impressive performance and handling while still covering all the practicality bases along the way. And with its new 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid powertrain, the running costs are not so bad either.

Our S-MAX was supplied in ST-Line trim level priced at £40,650. The addition of Lucid Red paintwork, an ST-Line Lux Pack with adaptive LED headlights, full leather seats and a powered tailgate, together with a Driver Assistance Pack that added lots of extra safety tech, saw the final cost climb to £44,500.

But for that outlay, you do get a whole lot of car with the likes of a 10-way powered driver’s seat, SYNC 3 with an eight-inch touchscreen, smartphone connectivity, dual zone air conditioning, sat nav, heated seats and steering wheel, plus lots more besides.

The S-MAX has quite the road presence thanks to its larger-than-life design with full body styling kit, rear spoiler, ST-Line scuff plates, privacy glass, a large grille, along with 18-inch alloys with red brake calipers.

But the really surprising factor is just how pleasant the front-wheel drive S-MAX handles. With 190PS of power and 200Nm of torque on hand the 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid engine delivers plenty of zip with a 0-62mph sprint time of 9.9 seconds and it tops out at 115mph.

The self-charging hybrid can deliver a combined 43.5mpg with carbon emissions of 148g/km and it pulls away in near silence in EV mode, with the petrol engine kicking in after a few moments.

Despite its size stretching 4.8 metres in length and almost two metres across the S-MAX is beautifully agile and easy to drive. It cruises at 70mph on motorways and the cabin is refined too with barely a hint of road or engine noise filtering through. It does get noticeably noisier when you want a sudden burst of power for overtaking, but this is the norm for most vehicles with CVT transmissions.

It handles well on fast, twisting country lanes although tighter bends need to be attacked with a degree of caution to avoid any body movement, but the acceleration, performance and steering do impress. And special mention to the superb suspension system that somehow manages to make our crumbling road surfaces feel smooth.

There are 32 seating and storage configurations and the seats in rows two and three can be lowered at the press of a button just inside the boot. They need to be raised manually which is simple enough though.

Inside the cabin, there is bags of room in row two with three individual seats that can slide and recline. But just like most seven-seaters, the duo of rear seats are not quite so spacious although they would be ideal for youngsters.

Storage limits are good ranging from 285 litres with all seats upright to 2,020 litres with just the front seats in use. And throughout the cabin, there are plenty of storage options including a deep central cubby bin, cup holders, a dashboard-mounted compartment with lid, a glovebox, front sunglasses holder, practical door bins, two fold-down trays, plus an extra drop down mirror so the driver can keep a watchful eye on the youngsters in the back.

The Ford S-MAX is a family car and as such is packed with safety kit with features such as traffic sign recognition, lane keeping aid and cruise control with an adjustable speed limiter. But our vehicle also gained extra safety aids thanks to the optional Driver Assistance Pack, costing £1,500. This introduced blind spot information, active park assist with parallel and perpendicular parking, adaptive cruise control, front and rear cameras, along with an upgraded 12-speaker Sony sound system.

All in all, the latest S-MAX with its eco-friendly petrol-hybrid powertrain covers all the requirements of any active family that needs lots of seats and bundles of space without wanting to compromise on style or driving dynamics.

Test Drive

Ford S-Max (2015) – first drive

Ford has really upped the ante with its latest S-Max model that now boasts some of the most sophisticated techno treats around today.

More than 20 new technologies have been introduced on this the third generation version of the car that scooped a whole host of awards when it hit the roads back in 2006.

Since then it has sold 82,000 models in the UK alone thanks to its saloon-like handling combined with its SUV-style practicality.

Amongst the new innovations is an Intelligent Speed Limiter which works with a clever combination of lasers, satellite signals, cameras and radar to help prevent speeding infringements. The system, when activated, does not apply the brakes if the driver is exceeding the speed limit, but instead it smoothly controls the engine torque.

This is just one of the innovative features that S-Max owners can expect to find within their new model.

Other attention-grabbing systems include a glare-free high beam which fully illuminates the road but fades out the area oncoming drivers could be dazzled by. This is activated via a windshield-mounted camera that detects oncoming vehicles up to 800 metres ahead and the system uses shutters to block specific paths of light.

And for anyone fearful they will be shown up when parking the large car, there is parallel and perpendicular parking to make you look the complete expert.

The driver controls the accelerator and brakes whilst the system steers you just like a professional into the space.

And if exiting a tight parking space should prove an issue, there is the Park Out assist system to get you back onto the road with the least amount of fuss.

So clearly the latest S-Max is kitted out to the max! But what about performance, creature comforts, practicality and economy?

According to Ford, 40 per cent of sales are diesel and 54 per cent of customers opt for the entry-level Zetec.

With that in mind, I tested out the S-Max in Zetec specification (there is also Titanium and Titanium Sport). It was priced at £25,995 but additional options such as Ford DAB sat nav with SD card and two USB slots, along with metallic paint, the impressive parking feature, plus cruise control with active speed limiter bumped the asking price up to £27,390.

This model, powered by a 2.0 TDCi 150PS diesel engine with six-speed manual transmission, can reach from 0-62mph in 10.8 seconds with a maximum speed limit of 123mph.

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

First impressions are vital and the S-Max doesn’t disappoint with its sweeping sporty profile, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, tinted windows, 17-inch alloys, front fog lights and smart light clusters.

The interior is both modern and feature rich with lots of leather trimmings and plenty of on-board technology to be explored, such as the sat nav system, excellent audio, Ford’s Sync system to keep you connected on the move, plus an eight-inch colour touchscreen.

The instrumentation is clear and precise and all controls, dials and readouts are ideally positioned for driver usability.

When used as a five-seater there is ample boot space with a capacity of 700 litres. This is obviously reduced if the pair of third row seats are in use, but generally they remain flat to the boot floor.

Performance-wise the S-Max is a great all-rounder and the introduction of additional sound-deadening materials has really improved the noise levels within the cabin.

In busy traffic the car cruises along effortlessly and the elevated driving position is a real plus factor. Then out on faster roads and lanes it certainly comes into its own. The acceleration through the gears is beautifully smooth and there is ample power on tap at all times, even when accelerating hard.

The S-Max is nicely planted and that means tight bends can be attacked with confidence. There is next-to-no body roll and the car really does boast saloon-like driving dynamics.

And then when called upon, it can adapt in just seconds and be a people mover – proving it is a very capable all-rounder that is packed to bursting with the very latest technology.

Test Drive

Ford S-Max 2.0 203PS Eco Titanium X

The S-Max has been described by Ford as perfect for the driver who needs to carry things and people in their vehicle but who also has a life of their own.

It may sound very profound, but the truth is the S-Max is one of the most versatile vehicles on our roads today.

It has eye-catching good looks, it’s great fun to drive, offering excellent economy, road-holding and visibility, along with blistering pace and performance, but it can also be used to carry your family, their friends and all their luggage requirements too.

The top-of-the-range Titanium X supplied for my test drive was packed to bursting with top notch specifications and equipment levels. In the world of motoring, first impressions count and you cannot fail to be impressed by the S-Max’s sleek styling with twin exhausts, tinted windows, full-length panoramic roof, sculptured bonnet, rear spoiler and eye-catching 18-inch alloys.

Then, once you take your place behind the sports-style steering wheel, you are surrounded by chic design features everywhere. The shining black fascia contrasts perfectly with the black dashboard and the heated black leather seats are finished beautifully with red stitching. These are subtle, but very effective qualities rarely seen in a seven-seat SUV.

There is a stop/start push button feature and the grip-style handbrake would not look out of place on any fighter jet. The aluminium pedals which always look nice, but can prove very slippery in wet weather are made safe on the S-Max by covering them with an anti-slip surface.

Throughout the cabin there is ample space for seven people to travel in comfort and the seating flexibility means unused seats can easily and quickly be folded flat to open up a massive storage area.

In and around town, the S-Max was a pleasure to drive and visibility was superb. Parking sensors make squeezing into a tight slot very easy.

Then, out on the open road, the 2.0-litre petrol engine delivered plenty of power as the automatic transmission moved smoothly through the gears.

You have to admire Ford’s safety brief on this vehicle – it seems every possible angle has been covered. For example, the S-Max features a blind spot information system – when a van, motorcycle or car enters your blind spot it is picked up by the rear radar system and the driver is alerted by a discreet visual warning lamp on their door mirror.

And of course, it has all the more traditional safety features such as anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme, numerous airbags, an adjustable speed limiter which is very useful when driving long distances through speed-restricted areas, hazard warning lights that are activated automatically when braking sharply and plenty more.

All in all, the S-Max is a family vehicle with all the trimmings, but it is a whole lot more besides. Personally, I think Ford were spot on with their description of the vehicle.

Test Drive

Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi Titanium

Ford has certainly taken the driver into consideration when designing its S-Max model because comfort, versatility and quality are supplied in abundance.

The top-of-the-range Titanium model supplied for my test drive was crammed to bursting with creature comforts and also had a striking design that is guaranteed to turn heads.

From the second you take your seat behind the steering wheel, it almost feels like the vehicle has been made especially for you as all the controls, dials and levers are perfectly positioned for ease of use. And you cannot fail to be impressed with the quality of equipment fitted throughout. There is, for example, power operated and heated door mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic lighting and parking sensors front and rear to name just a few.

There is ample space for the whole gang too as there are three rows of seats and thanks to Ford’s FoldFlatSystem, the third row can easily be stored away to open up a vast luggage area.

This is complemented by a number of smaller, useful storage compartments throughout the cabin.

The S-Max offers excellent all-round visibility and all occupants benefit from the light and spacious feeling inside the cabin.

This unobstructed view makes city centre driving a real pleasure and the S-Max is easily manoeuvred, and thanks to those sensors can be squeezed into the tightest of parking spaces.

Out on the more open road, the 2.0-litre engine delivered plenty of power and the road-holding was also very impressive in all driving conditions.

The vehicle also boasts a whole array of safety features such as anti-lock brakes, electronic braked force distribution, numerous airbags and an Intelligent Protection System which basically means every possible safety aspect has been built into the vehicle from a collapsible steering column and pedals to audible and visual warnings if there is a chance of colliding with the vehicle in front – even the cruise control automatically adjusts your speed if the vehicle in front slows down.

In fact, it would be very difficult to categorise the S-Max in one particular class as it would appeal to so many different motorists. It has the comfort and spec level to attract a business driver clocking up those motorway miles. It has the looks and classy features to satisfy the fashion-conscious and it has all the versatility and safety equipment to slot into the family car segment, so all in all, quite an all-rounder.