Ford S-MAX (2015-2023) review
The Ford S-MAX is a mature and grown-up family car that's comfortable and practical
This is a review of the 2015-2023 Ford S-Max. If you are interested in information about a used Ford S-Max please follow the links provided.
Ford pioneered the fun-to-drive MPV with the first S-MAX, but the latest model is an even more rounded product. The S-MAX drives like a plush family saloon, yet offers seven-seat practicality. It's more comfortable than the previous model and packed with enough technology to shame even some luxury saloons. There's a great range of engines, too.
It’s not perfect, however. The S-MAX's rivals offer more space inside, sliding doors and more room for adults in all seven seats. Ford's larger Galaxy is a better choice if you want a similar car with more room, although it is more expensive.
The high kit levels mean the S-MAX can look rather pricey against some of its rivals, too, while the Mondeo-based dashboard won't win many points for style or ease of use.
Still, the S-MAX is an excellent MPV and should definitely be on your shortlist if you're looking for a seven-seater, with driving manners to shame everything this side of a BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.
The Ford S-MAX is for sale alongside the Galaxy in the Ford MPV range, with both cars offering seven-seater interiors and plenty of practical space. So what's the difference between the S-MAX and the Galaxy? Well, the Galaxy is larger, and while both models come in Zetec, Titanium and Vignale trims, the S-MAX also comes in sportier ST-Line trim.
Used - available now
2019 Ford
S-Max
19,602 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L
Cash £22,399
2017 Ford
S-Max
94,586 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L
Cash £11,500
2012 Ford
S-Max
77,000 milesManualDiesel2.0L
Cash £6,295
2017 Ford
S-Max
26,424 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L
Cash £17,000Overall, the S-MAX is designed to be the sportier option, although it no longer offers the kind of driving fun that the original S-MAX delivered. It's a softer, more comfortable proposition, and offers enough space for most needs.
In terms of rivals, the S-MAX has the Galaxy to go up against, plus the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer (formerly Picasso), Renault Grand Scenic, BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, Volkswagen Sharan and SEAT Alhambra. There are also van-based MPVs like the Citroen SpaceTourer and Peugeot Traveller that are worth considering if space is a higher priority than luxury and car-like driving manners.
Under the skin, the S-MAX uses a platform that's shared with the Galaxy and the Mondeo family car, too. The range is powered by either a 1.5 EcoBoost 165 petrol with 163bhp – now absent from official price lists – or a 2.0 EcoBlue diesel in two power outputs (150 or 190PS, with 148bhp or 187bhp). There are six-speed manual and eight-speed auto gearbox options, while the range is front-wheel drive with the option of AWD four-wheel drive offered on selected models.
Prices for the S-MAX range start from around £30,500 for the entry-level Zetec petrol, while Titanium trim is around £1,900 extra and sporty ST-Line starts from around £32,500. Top-spec Vignale weighs in at around £40,500, although it's very well equipped.
If you need a family car with space to spare, then the Ford S-MAX is still a worthwhile option in a world obsessed by SUVs. There's more space than you'll get in any 4x4, and running costs will be on a par with an off-road family car, too. The current S-MAX isn't as fun to drive as its predecessor, but it's a comfortable and refined car with a decent amount of tech on offer.
Engines, performance and drive
From behind the wheel, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the S-MAX for something much smaller – such as a Ford Fiesta or Focus. The S-MAX feels relatively nimble, belying its bulk in a way few MPVs can, with the lower centre of gravity meaning it doesn’t roll as much as some of its rivals through the corners. The AWD version adds extra grip, but it won't make enough difference on UK roads for most buyers.
However, the second-generation isn't as sharp to drive as the last one, and some of that handling prowess has come at the expense of comfort. The compliant suspension does a great job of keeping the car in check, yet soaks up the lumps and bumps on pitted country roads. It’s remarkably composed, and will transport big families long distances from A to B without breaking a sweat.
S-MAX Vignale models manage to turn refinement up a notch, with laminated side windows and better sound insulation. The ride is a little firm, however, thanks to the bigger wheels as standard.
Engines
Ford offers buyers a choice of one petrol and two diesel engines, with the 148bhp 2.0-litre TDCi being the most sensible. It offers a decent blend of performance (0-62mph in 10.8 seconds) versus running costs, and feels suitably nippy on the move.
The petrol, now discontinued, is quieter – but in exchange for some added refinement you’ll have to fork out at the pumps. The 163bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged EcoBoost has a 0-62mph figure of 9.9 seconds, but it doesn't feel as fast as you'd expect, as an inferior torque figure means the diesel engines feel more eager. We’d avoid it and go for one of the faster diesels instead.
A six-speed manual gearbox comes as standard but Ford does offer a Powershift automatic gearbox as an option. It’s smooth – although changes don’t feel as quick as those in the equivalent DSG gearbox you’ll find in the SEAT Alhambra. We’d stick with the six-speed manual unless you desperately need a self-shifter.
Four-wheel drive is offered as an option on higher-powered diesels, but front-wheel drive will suit the majority of buyers most of the time – all the while offering better fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
MPG, CO2 and Running Costs
The Ford S-MAX has never been the most economical MPV, and that hasn’t changed with this latest iteration. While the diesels won’t break the bank, rivals like the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer are cheaper to fuel and tax, so if running costs are of the utmost importance you might want to look elsewhere.
The most frugal diesel under the latest WLTP test procedure is the 148bhp 2.0 TDCi 150. It’ll do up to 53.3mpg and has minimum emissions of 132g/km. Go for a higher-spec model with larger wheels and more kit, and these figures will deteriorate slightly. The more powerful 187bhp 2.0 TDCi 190 has figures of 51.4mpg and 132g/km, which isn't too bad a compromise.
Adding four-wheel drive or an automatic gearbox does no favours for the fuel consumption, either – the 2.0 TDCi 150 AWD manual 4x4 auto manages up to 50.4mpg and emissions of 149g/km, while the front-wheel drive auto also returns 50.4mpg and 139g/km emissions. The 190PS AWD auto returns up to 46.3mpg and emissions as low as 153g/km.
The discontinued 1.5 EcoBoost petrol model isn't a great performer at the pumps. It has a claimed WLTP best of 38.7mpg, while emissions of 169g/km are around 20g/km higher than the diesels.
As for other running costs, the S-MAX is a large car and existing owners have reported heavy tyre wear, particularly on the front wheels. Service intervals are 12,500 miles for every model, while the 650-strong dealer network means there’ll be a Ford workshop near you to fix any problems. Ford also offers an annual fixed-price servicing deal for around £125 to £200 depending on the level of cover required.
Insurance groups
As you’d expect there is also a 60,000-mile or three year warranty (which ever comes first) on the S-MAX. Insurance groups have also been kept reasonably low, starting from 16 and rising to 27 for the more powerful Vignale versions.
Interior, design and technology
It’s clear that Ford thinks it’s struck gold with its latest nose design, as the big grille and slender headlights of the new S-MAX are largely identical to the front end of the Mondeo, Focus and higher-spec versions of the Fiesta.
It certainly gives the S-MAX a smart, upmarket look, with thin chrome bars framed by even more chrome trim, while the headlights add a dash of style, too. The car in our pictures featured the £1,000 adaptive LED option, bringing smart daytime running lights that turn into strobing indicators when you signal.
In pictures, the S-MAX appears similar to its predecessor, but in the flesh, it definitely has a sportier look. Overall, it’s longer and wider than before, yet it hides its bulk well. There are sharp creases down the flanks, and the curved roof line adds a sporty touch not seen on any other MPV. The old car’s big wheelarch blisters are ditched in favour of more subtle flared arches, while the rakish rear end has a smarter, sportier look than its predecessor.
Quality is up, too, with a much plusher feel and swathes of upmarket materials and solid-feeling controls. Yes, the usual scratchy plastics are evident if you peer into the footwells, but it’s a big improvement over the old model.
Standard kit includes 17-inch alloys, while Titanium cars add privacy glass, LED daytime running lights and more body coloured trim. As the name suggests, ST-Line models are the most athletic-looking, with 18-inch wheels, a full body kit and subtle rear spoiler.
Opt for one of the posher S-MAX Vignale models and you'll benefit from heated leather seats and laminated side glass for improved refinement. There's lashings of chrome on the outside, too, but it's not suddenly transformed into a luxury car - the standard model is just as good looking.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
Ford upped its game from summer 2016 with the SYNC 3 system, which is much clearer, responds better to the touch and comes with even more of the latest features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Practicality, comfort and boot space
The S-MAX doesn't have the rear sliding doors of the SEAT Alhambra, or the rear seat practicality of its bigger brother, the Ford Galaxy, but it’s still an impressively well rounded family car – and a welcome alternative to the recent raft of seven-seat SUVs.
There’s just as much room inside as there was before, meaning three individual seats in the middle row, and a pair of smaller ones in the back. There are loads of cubbies and storage bins dotted around the cabin, and those in the rearmost seats even get a pair of cupholders to make longer journeys less painful for small kids. Boot space is decent although not as spacious as the Citroen, though with all seven seats in place you’ll be restricted to a few squashy bags rather than a plethora of hard-backed suitcases.
Boot space
Just like the previous model, the Ford S-MAX is a very practical car. As before, you get 285 litres of boot space with all seven seats in place, and while that doesn't sound like much – it’s more than your average supermini. It’s more generous than most of its rivals, too, and should be enough for a few small bags.
However, fold the rearmost seats flat and this expands to 965 litres, increasing to a van-like 2,020 litres with the middle row folded. That final figure means the sporty S-MAX is 169 litres bigger than the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, despite the slightly sloped roofline.
One quibble that we have is that there aren't many handy practical touches in the boot. There's just one bag hook, and under-floor storage is limited, with no space to store the load cover when it's not in use - but then that's the price you pay for having a third row of seats.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
The rearmost seats are only really suitable for children, but the Easy-Entry system fitted to the middle row allows for decent access, with the bench tilting and sliding forwards in one sleek movement. All the seats fold flat individually, while buyers can spec buttons in the boot to lower them electronically – it's a neat trick. Ford claims there are a whopping 32 seating and loading combinations in the S-MAX so a trip to Ikea with a car full of people shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
If you have smaller children you’ll be pleased to hear that the three seats in the middle row also come with individual ISOFIX points which can also be used at the same time. There perhaps isn’t as much space in the S-MAX as you get in the Citroen, but you’re unlikely to get any complaints from passengers back there with decent head and legroom.
The interior is packed with useful cubbies, including places to stash odds and ends and all the associated family bits and bobs. The huge airline-style handbrake has been removed in favour of a simple electronic switch, freeing up space on the new minimalist dashboard. As you’d expect, the combination of a high seating position and slim A-pillars means you get a commanding view of the road, while the seats and steering wheel benefit from a wide range of adjustment, meaning it's easy to get comfortable.
Towing
The Ford S-MAX range has two maximum braked towing capacities based on engine and transmission choice. The lower of the two is set at 1,800kg, which is for S-MAX models with the discontinued 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol. However, if you are after the maximum that any new S-MAX can tow (2,000kg), you have a good range of Duratorq diesel engines to choose from.
Reliability and Safety
The Ford S-MAX doesn't sell in big enough numbers to appear in the Auto Express Driver Power ownership survey. However, its scores do contribute towards Ford's overall ranking, and with the company regularly finishing in the lower third of the manufacturer ranking, it seems that owners aren't that impressed with their cars. Ford itself finished in 23rd place out of 30 manufacturers in the 2019 Driver Power survey.
When Auto Express ran a Ford S-MAX long-termer, we found a few electrical niggles entering the system later in its time with us. Considering the amount of electrical kit on board, these faults were only very minor, but still frustrating nonetheless.
Safety
The S-MAX was awarded a full five-star rating when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2015. All cars get a host of airbags and tyre pressure monitoring, as well as Isofix points on all three middle row seats. Other tech includes automatic braking, variable lock steering and a system that recognises road signs and adjusts the car’s speed accordingly. Unlike rivals, however, the S-MAX does not come with airbags in the middle row of seats, which could be a concern for parents especially if small children will regularly be on board.
Warranty
The Ford S-MAX comes with the same 3 year/60,000-mile warranty as the rest of the Ford range. This includes 12 months' roadside assistance, while Ford offers extended warranties of 4yr/80k or 5yr/100k at the time of purchasing the vehicle.
Servicing
Ford offers the Ford Protect service plan on the S-MAX. This covers maintenance costs and also extends the length of the roadside assistance cover, while Protect Plus offers even more cover for high-mileage drivers. This could be useful on an S-MAX, as its extra weight puts greater wear and tear on the mechanical components.
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