Space: the final frontier

Ford’s veteran Galaxy has had an effective makeover, says Paul Carter

As old campaigners from the MPV market go, the Ford Galaxy is up there with the best of them. Around in various guises since its launch back in the mid-1990s, it is one of the long-standing MPVs and alongside rivals such as the Renault Espace, is still going strong.

The Galaxy has had a bit of a makeover in its latest incarnation and, as a result, it’s as close to a looker as you’re likely to find in an MPV, with the front looking more like a small car, and the back considerably more rounded than earlier models.

The interior is well designed, and all of the necessary controls are accessibly laid out, while everything has a very solid feel to it.

Inside the car, Ford has managed to maximise the benefits of an MPV by making full use of the available space.

The rear seats fold away in various combinations and can also be removed, making it extremely customisable to suit individual access needs.

However, if all of the seats are left in and upright, then it leaves very little space in the boot for any equipment or luggage, so family trips or holidays without a roof-rack may involve travelling rather light.

Of the many MPVs we’ve tested, one of the Galaxy’s most stand-out features is the fact that it drives less like a people-carrier and more like a family car.

This combined with its high driving position, low cabin noise and responsive steering make for a pleasant, if not remarkable ride.

As you may expect from a vehicle of its size, the acceleration is far from breathtaking, but in reality it doesn’t need to be, and it has more than enough pull at higher revs to be able to handle motorway journeys comfortably.

With MPVs becoming less fashionable in a competitive marketplace, the Galaxy has shown that there is still life in the bigger cars yet.

However, it is considerably more expensive than Ford’s other players in the field, the C-Max and the S-Max.

Whether you decide it is worth the extra cost will depend squarely on how much of a premium you place on space.

• The Ford Galaxy is available on the Motability scheme in engine sizes ranging from 1.8 to 2.2, mainly with diesel engines. The basic 1.8 manual diesel is available at an advance payment of £2,750, while the top-of-the-range Ghia 2.2 diesel manual is available for an advance of £4,800