If we compare S-Max with other MPVs available in the market then we will notice that its features are not only good in performance but also in its best form within an MPV. The practical approach with standard interior equipment’s offers a good blend of performance and style under one roof. The latest model is highly appreciated replacement of the older one with lots of improvements.
Overall interior quality has been improved a lot. Its practicality is far better than its competent rivals including SEAT Alhambra, Citroen Grand C4 Picasso and Volkswagen Sharan in all dimensions.
The Ford S-Max is a practical MPV of the day with its good, simple and solid interior. Overall interior is reasonable but some plastic material is not up to standards. The dashboard is simple and fitted with lot of hi-tech features and equipments which help a lot during driving. The practicality is beyond question. There is plenty of leg and head room for every passenger.
The seating arrangement is very good and practical, offers a comfortable ride for its occupants. The boot space is good without folding rear seats there is 285-litres of boot space but if you drop both rear seats you can achieve 2020-litres space to use that is more than enough for any kind of luggage.
Ford S-Max is available in two powerful petrol versions and four diesel engines. All of them are progressive and competent in performance. The range travels from1.5litre engine to 2.0-Litre engine capacity. Ford S-Max is a comfortable seven-seat MPV with good large size so all engines are having good compatibility with its size and loading capacity. Its engine range offers a good driving experience. All of them are smooth and fluent in performance.
Petrol engines are performing but not fuel efficient where as the diesel range is little bit slow than the petrol ones but offers a good fuel average with low emissions of Co2.
The petrol engine of this MPV starts with 1.5-Litre EcoBoost that is capable of 157bhp and 177lb/ft torque. This petrol engine is good in performance. It takes 9.6 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 124m/h. It is a four-cylinder and sixteen-valve petrol engine so fuel consumption is high if we compare it with diesel engines. It offers 43m/g of fuel average with 149g/km of Co2 emissions. It is fitted with six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive system as standard.
The second petrol unit is a 2.0-Litre EcoBoost unit with some extra power and fitted with six-speed automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive system. This petrol engine is capable of 236bhp and 254lb/ft torque. It takes 8.1 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 140m/h, impressive performance for an MPV. The fuel consumption is very high, it gives 35m/g of fuel average and Co2 emissions are 180g/km.
Ford S-Max is quite impressive in diesel versions. With good maximum speed and economic fuel average, the diesels are the best option for the MPV lovers due to its affordability. Ford S-Max is a MPV and fuel consumption is considerable if you use it commercially.
The diesel engine range starts with 2.0-Litre TDCi that is capable of 118bhp and 229lb/ft torque. Though it is not as fast and brisk in response as petrol engines, but with good top speed its overall performance is quite reasonable. It takes 13.0 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 114m/h. The fuel average of this engine is 56m/g with 129g/km of Co2 emissions. It is fitted with six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive system.
The second version in 2.0-Litre TDCi diesel engine is of 147bhp and 258lb/ft torque. With same fuel average and Co2 emissions, this unit is a reasonable one with top speed of 123m/h. From 0-62m/h Sprint time of this engine is also reasonable with 10.5 seconds. This diesel engine is available in three combinations six-speed manual gearbox along with front-wheel drive unit, six-speed automatic gearbox along with front-wheel drive system and six-speed automatic gearbox with four-wheel drive system. The complete automatic combination gives 134m/h top speed with 11.7 seconds for 0-62m/h sprint. Fuel consumption of this combination is little bit higher than the manual setup; it gives 52m/g of fuel average along with 139g/km of Co2 emissions.
There is another powerful 2.0-Litre TDCi diesel engine with 177bhp and 295lb/ft torque. It takes 9.4 seconds to reach from 0-62m/h with top speed of 131m/h. The fuel consumption is very economical one with 56m/g and Co2 emissions are 129g/km. It is fitted with different combinations and gives different outputs with little bit variation. It is available in manual transmission and front-wheel drive assembly along with complete automatic mechanism is also fitted with this engine.
The last version in 2.0-Litre TDCi diesel engine is of 207bhp and 332lb/ft torque. It is available in two combinations; one is six-speed manual gearbox with front-wheel drive system and the other is six-speed automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive system. With both mechanisms, it gives maximum speed of 135m/h with 0-62m/h sprint in just 8.5 seconds along with 51m/g of fuel average and 144g/km of Co2 emissions.
Though it is not tested by Euro NCAP, but it is based on Ford Mondeo formula that is a five stars certified vehicle, so we can expect the same rating from this MPV. This vehicle is specially designed for large families or for professional drivers for pick and drop purpose so safety measures are exceptional. The MPV is equipped with airbags along with side curtains for all seats. There is a camera in wind screen that monitors the speed of vehicle according to the roadside speed limit signs, which is remarkable for safety driving.
The technology works by cut short or adding the fuel delivery to the engine, not by applying the brakes. Pre-collision assist along with pedestrian detection system, parking sensors cameras, lane departure warning system, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection system and many more safety measures are there in this MPV to make it safe for passengers.
