06/12/10

• Price£26,945
  
• We like...Engine; fold-flat seats
• We don't...Huge handbrake lever

The Galaxy’s just had a mild mid-life update. But it’s of the sort where you’d need to park new next to old to spot what Ford has done. Here we’re mostly interested in the motor and power train, which is new to the car and the make.

Pushing out 200bhp, it’s quick for a full-sized seven seater, dashing from rest to 60mph in under 9sec. The 2.0 turbocharged motor spins easily and, unlike some of its type, is strong from low speeds. Ford calls it EcoBoost to underscore that it’s more economical and less polluting than the five-cylinder 2.0 it replaces. This had to go anyway because of tougher emissions regs, and while the newcomer’s 34.9mpg overall and 189g/km of CO2 are nothing special, they’re a sizeable improvement.

The powershift 6-speed auto transmission swaps gears easily and where you’d want it to. So the Galaxy, already an easy car to drive considering its size and weight, becomes a cinch to pilot. It can even be fun.

More sensibly, the engine’s strength means it copes when you’ve seven adults aboard. Loaded up or near-empty, the car stays level into bends and for a tall vehicle there’s little body lean. It rides firmly but there’s enough squish in the springs and dampers to absorb all but the worst bumps so you’ll sit comfortably, although it is comfier when loaded than when you’re driving alone.

At speed there’s wind rustle around the top of the screen (which you’d expect in a vehicle of its shape and size) but otherwise it’s hushed.

To get this engine you must go for Titanium trim - the cheapest Galaxys come as Zetecs, the dearest as Titanium X. That bumps up the cost – we’d like to see the option of a Zetec version with this engine, too – but it does come well kitted out. Standard items include parking sensors front and rear, digital air conditioning, auto-on wipers and lights, plus seven airbags. Ours also had an optional panoramic roof that has four glass panels that keep the cabin light, surrounding a clutch of overhead storage bins.

The Galaxy is closely related to the S-Max but is a little roomier, though there’s still next to no luggage space left when every one of its seven seats is taken. But its strength is that each of its five rear seats folds one by one into the floor to make for a completely flat load space. Most of the time, though, I guess you’ll run with just the rearmost ones stowed, leaving a load space not far short of the cavern you’d find in the back of a Mondeo estate.

Should you buy one? The Galaxy’s fine to drive, beautifully built and this petrol engine is a good one. But for us a diesel engine makes more sense, and the 2.0 140bhp one we’ve in mind will be at least £1000 cheaper, too. Tempting though 200bhp might be, here our heads must rule hearts.

• Engines2.0 SCTi EcoBoost
• Power200bhp
• 0-60 mph8.8secs
• Economy34.9mpg
• CO2g/km189
• Insurance groups24
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags7
• Seats7

Motors.co.uk value verdict: