2015 Ford S-Max first drive

The Ford S-Max proved a point. It turned up in 2006, all slicked-back and angry looking, and showed the world that seven-seat MPVs don’t have to be constrained by right angles and tedium. In fact, it showed that a sensible people carrier could be fun, and it’s been our favourite MPV ever since.

This all-new model sticks to the same principles. It keeps the 2-3-2 seating layout but gets a swankier looking dash and touchscreen multimedia system, and a new platform using MacPherson struts up front and independent integral link at the rear.

The engine range includes a 1.5-litre petrol Ecoboost and a 2.0-litre turbodiesel in four different power outputs, including a stonking 207bhp bi-turbo version. For the first time you can now also get it with four-wheel drive.

Our 177bhp 2.0-litre diesel test car came in straightforward front-wheel drive, six-speed manual guise, and in full bells-and-whistles Titanium Sport trim with optional £2200 Titanium X Pack and £475 variable steering.

Unfortunately, it also came on adaptive dampers, which aren’t available in the UK. However, if - as Ford suggests - the default normal mode is representative of the passive set-up bound for our shores, UK drivers shouldn't feel short-changed. 

Sling the S-Max into a corner and it sticks with light-footed precision, keeping you keyed into whether you’re bleeding into understeer while delivering that fluid response and well-controlled body movement that only Ford seems to be able to nail in your everyday family car.

There’s a bit of kick-back over awkward cambers and ruts, and the self-centering could be less aggressive (the electrically-assisted steering has lost a touch of the old model's organic feeling). Even so, the new S-Max still has a more incisive helm than you’ll find in any other MPV, and even in a fair array of standard hatches.

Don't bother adding the variable steering since Normal does the job in every situation, and makes the other settings seem unnecessary.

Does the ride suffer for the pointy handling? Not really. Glance off a pothole and you get little more than a remote thump as the body dips and the suspension soaks up any harshness. While slightly soggy damper rebound results in some body float, the compression is perfectly controlled. Overall, the new S-Max is spot-on for blending fun and comfort.

It’s just a shame this engine is laggy at low revs, with a fairly abrupt step-up in power delivery as the turbo kicks in. However, it has a torquey, flexible mid-range that makes for satisfyingly rapid progress, and it's fairly refined, too.

In fact, refinement is one of the biggest areas of improvement overall in the S-Max. It's only a bit of wind flutter you're really aware of on a steady cruise, as tyre and engine noise fade to a subdued background dirge.

It’s better than ever for all the practicalities, too. Even with our test car's full electric seat adjustment (part of the Titanium X pack) you can drop the driver's seat quite low for a more hatchback-like feel. Alternatively, there’s loads of adjustment and padded rests on the door and centre cubby that make it perfect for the casual, elbow-resting style that really suits the S-Max.