Ford taking inner space to the Max
ATRIP to the recent national Classic Car Show at Birmingham’s NEC posed a bit of a transportation quandary as I had promised to take a few friends.
What would be the perfect vehicle for six middle-aged – and far from skinny – chaps to use for this pilgrimage to all things classic motoring?
Despite its seven seats I quickly discounted my old Defender as too uncomfortable for the two hour each way trip and plumped instead for the very latest Ford S-Max.
Ford very kindly supplied a Titanium 2.0 TDCi 6-speed manual model which came with (optional) leather trim and sat-nav, DAB radio, keyless entry and start plus cruise control on the long list of standard features.
The first thing to say is there is space in this vehicle – lots of it. It’s a true seven-seater and the third row of seats are full size plus, in a very neat touch, can be folded down electrically at the flick of a switch. Even with the rear seats up there is still enough load area left for the average weekly supermarket shop.
The next thing is a surprising level of brand loyalty. More than once I was asked ‘how I found the S-Max’ from owners past and present who had nothing but good things to say about their experience with the MPV.
On our trip to Birmingham the S-Max proved to be a comfy, quiet cruiser with good driving position/ handling for an MPV and it had plenty of power from that new, 2-litre diesel engine which has almost 180bhp on tap. In fact it was more like driving a sporty hatchback as the 0-62 figure is a very creditable 9.7 seconds.
The revised for 2015 interior boasts high quality trim and our ‘Titanium’ version is mid-range with the Zetec below and Titanium Sport above. The optional extra panorama glass roof (£750), upgraded Sony sound system (£450), active park assist (£150) a and ‘Winter Pack’ of h heated front seats and st steering wheel (£300) a added to the enjoyment.
It was also good value in the fuel department re returning over 56mpg o overall (61 extra urban), not bad for such a large vehicle with a big carrying capacity for both people and luggage.
However, it has to be said that some buyers may baulk at £2,200 for the Titanium X Pack, which gives leather seats and adaptive LED headlights.
One extra which was a must is Adaptive Cruise Control with Active City Stop (£900). Although the standard car comes with basic cruise control, the adaptive system, using radar to detect cars ahead and adjusting your speed automatically, is far superior. Cruise control you don’t have to continuously turn on and off while travelling on our busy motorways.
So I am pleased to report all went well with our day trip to ogle at acres of old cars including Fords, Jaguars, MGs, Minis and BMWs which we all once owned and sold for a pittance that are now worth a small fortune. Mind you – who would have thought Austin Allegros, Morris Marinas and Reliant Robins would become collectors cars?
S-Max prices range from £24,545 for the 1.5 Ecoboost Zetec up to £32,260 for the Titanium Sport 2.0 Duratorg TDCi AWD auto. Our Titanium 2.0 TDCi manual is £28,445, but a long list of extras pushed that on the road test car price up to £34,140.