The Ford S-Max has been around for some time, but gets a new hybrid engine for 2021. Does this stylish MPV still cut it in a world of SUVs?

PROS:

+ Good to drive for an MPV

+ Practical seats

+ Frugal hybrid model

CONS:

- There are bigger boots

- Infotainment starting to age

- Average third-row space

Verdict: The Ford S-Max is about as stylish and fun to drive as MPVs get, plus is superb for a growing family. A Ford Galaxy's boot is bigger, though and the S-Max's third row is tight for adults if that's important.

2021 Ford S-Max review: the five-minute read

If you already have two young kids and find yourself looking at a pregnancy test stating you're going to have a third (congrats, by the way), it won't be long until you're scratching your head trying to find a car that'll make life easier.

You'll also realise you won't have too much disposable income handy going forward, so that car will need to be sensibly priced, too. Of course, there are SUV options, but MPVs like the Ford S-Max are still the most practical choice – if not exactly the most stylish.

Well, in fact, compared with other MPVs like the Ford Galaxy, VW Sharan and Peugeot Rifter, the S-Max's arcing roofline, sleek headlights and sharply-creased flanks are about as stylish as MPVs get.

Inside things aren't quite so rosy. The S-Max has received a few updates over the years, but its basic dash design is looking and feeling a little long in the tooth. All-told, it feels plusher than a Rifter inside, but not quite as solid as a Sharan.

The same goes for its infotainment, which consists of a sunken 8-inch touchscreen on the dashboard and semi-digital driver's dials. Sat-nav is included, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the system's general response times and graphical design make it feel its age. VW's system is ultimately superior.

Still, its practical cabin is something that the S-Max still has and is as good as ever. It seats seven, with three individual middle seats that slide and recline and each has an Isofix point too. The front five seats are all very comfy for adults, although the third row is tight.

Behind all that is a generous boot, too. Just keep in mind that Ford's own Galaxy has a squarer shape and therefore a bigger and more practical boot still.

The engine range consists of diesel or hybrid electric power, with two 2.0-litre diesels producing either 150hp or 190hp kicking of the line-up and a non-plug-in 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid sitting at the top. Six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearboxes are available, plus the option of two or four-wheel drive depending on the model.

The diesels are the cheapest to buy and will return good fuel economy on longer journeys, but the hybrid is capable of around 54mpg in the real world in and outside of town so is well worth investigating if you're often driving in urban areas.

The hybrid is the most relaxing in town thanks to its silent electric drive at low speeds, but all S-Maxs are comfy and easy to park. It's the best MPV to drive on twisty country roads too, plus makes a comfy and quiet motorway cruiser.

So, unless you need to regularly carry seven adults, the Ford S-Max is a stylish, good to drive, practical choice. Just keep in mind that its less stylish MPV competition are even more spacious inside.

For great Ford deals click here

Extended read…

2021 Ford S-Max interior and infotainment

The Ford S-Max has been around for some time and has been through various facelifts, but is starting to feel a little long in the tooth inside.

It's not an unattractive dashboard, and it can be made to feel sportier with fake carbon fibre trim on ST-Line models, but some of the fake chrome surfaces aren't particularly convincing and a VW Sharan feels more solidly constructed.

The same goes for its infotainment, which consists of a sunken 8-inch touchscreen on the dashboard and semi-digital driver's dials.

Sat-nav is included, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the system's general response times and graphical design make it feel its age. Again, VW's system is ultimately superior.

You can upgrade the system for extra to include a better Sony sound system (standard on Vignale models), which is well worth doing if you enjoy your music.

Buy a new or used Ford S-Max

2021 Ford S-Max practicality and boot space

MPVs essentially exist to be practical, so it's no huge surprise that the Ford S-Max does this very well.

It seats seven people, with individual seats for everybody onboard. The middle set all slide and recline and every passenger seat gets its own Isofix child seat points too.

Getting front and rear-facing child seats into the middle row is easy thanks to the wide-opening rear doors and three child seats will fit side-by-side, although the rearmost two seats are a little tight for adults, so best left to children.

If you need to carry seven adults frequently, the more upright styling of the Ford Galaxy and VW Sharan make them more spacious in the third row.

The same is true regards boot space, because while the Galaxy and S-Max offer similar amounts with all seven seats in place, with the rearmost two down the Galaxy's (and Sharan's and Rifter's) boxier dimensions ultimately mean more usable space – and even more so with the rear two rows folded flat for those trips to the tip.

That said, the S-Max's boot with the rearmost seats flat is still a decent size, with enough room for a large folding pushchair plus extra bags. It'll easily handle a family week away.

2021 Ford S-Max engine

The engine range consists of diesel or hybrid electric power, with two 2.0-litre diesels producing either 150hp or 190hp kicking of the line-up and a non-plug-in 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid sitting at the top.

Six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearboxes are available, plus the option of two or four-wheel drive depending on the model.

In terms of performance, the 190hp diesel is the quickest of the bunch, although the hybrid is only just behind it in a sprint to 60mph from a standstill. Of course, being an MPV, none of the numbers are particularly impressive, but it hardly matters.

The diesels are the cheapest to buy and will return good fuel economy on longer journeys, but the hybrid is capable of around 54mpg in the real world in and outside of town so is well worth investigating if you're often driving in urban areas.

Build your dream car

2021 Ford S-Max driving

MPVs are rarely fun to drive, and while the Ford S-Max is no sports car, it is pretty much the most fun you're going to have with seven people on board.

Ford has a real talent when it comes to making cars great to drive and its MPVs are no exception. The S-Max is more fun to drive than any other MPV.

However, it's also easy to see out of a park in town plus comfy over bumps, yet on country roads, it steers with precision and does lean this way and that through tight bends – also good for keeping car sick kids to a minimum.

It's great if you've got a long motorway journey to cover too, because it doesn't wander about in its lane, has all the performance you need for overtaking safely and remains decently quiet and comfy.

The only black bark is Ford's optional adaptive cruise, which is clunkier to use and not as smooth in operation as the best systems out there.

Interested in buying a Ford S-MAX?

Find used Ford S-MAX