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Ford S-MAX (2006 - 2015)

3
reviewed by Mark Ramsay on 15 January 2021
5
reviewed by Anonymous on 13 October 2019
5
reviewed by franners on 27 January 2016
3
reviewed by ahenry on 19 October 2014
5
reviewed by grumpy1 on 2 September 2014
4
reviewed by Nomag on 27 August 2014
5
reviewed by Shrekster on 3 February 2014
5

Titanium 2.0 TDCi 140 5dr People Carrier

reviewed by mach1rob on 23 January 2014
5
Overall rating
5
How it drives
5
Fuel economy
4
Tax/Insurance/Warranty costs
4
Cost of maintenance and repairs
1
Experience at the dealership
5
How practical it is
5
How you rate the manufacturer
5
Overall reliability

Does the job really rather well

This will be our 4th year with the S-Max, and so far it's been a great, reliable workhorse. After a few issues with a dodgy Ford Main dealer on purchase, it's been a fairly trouble free time. There have been a few niggly issues, but nothing that has left us out of pocket (well except for a tyre, but more on that in a bit).

As a family car, it's held up extremely well to the abuse young kids throw at it, the seat fabric is hard wearing, although not stain resistant. The middle 3 seats can be moved fore and aft, and also reclined slightly, helps with tired kids on a long journey, the rearmost two are ok, they're fixed, and like most mid sized 7 seaters suited mainly to kids, although the will take 6foot 2" adults. Unlike the Zafira, there is still boot space left with the rear most seats up where you'll get a couple or 3 hold alls in. They're also not that easy to fold up or down, the back rest is a simple affair and can be done one handed, however, getting in to flip the base over usually involves having to then go in through the back doors to reach them, unless you have long arms. There's a useful cubby hole under the boot floor that's exposed with rear seats up, but it's hidden with the seats down, so not that easy to use all the time, unlike the 2 underfloor cubbies in the rear, although one side houses the (useless) tyre repair kit. The only downside is no 12v power outlet in the back of the centre console, should kids there need a charger, you either have to run a lead from the front, or the back, just under the rear pillar, neither of which is as easy as one in the middle.

Not much has broken, the only tell tale signs of use on ours is a couple of the chrome tabs on the air vents fell off and disappeared down the air tubing, never to be seen again, and one broke the plastic tag that connects the two halves so it doesn't open and close as easy as it should. Other failure is 2 broken tabs on the centre top dash cubby hole, meaning it no longer springs open, you have to lever it up with a credit card or similar. Oh and some of the plastic chrome has peeled off the handbrake lever and button. The rest is spot on still.

Only problems have been a snapped bonnet cable thanks to a seized bonnet lock, £17 for a new cable that needs the battery, airbox, glove box and fuse box removing to replace, and £40ish for a new lock. It does like to go through tyres however. Which brings us neatly on to the problem mentioned earlier, which nearly ruined a family holiday to Disneyland. Thanks to Ford not equipping the S-Max with a spare, or even making room for a space saver should you wish to add one later or as an option, they come with a tub of useless goo. It's even more useless when a puncture renders you immobile at 9pm and the sealing kit fails to work, and just blocks up the valve. A call to the RAC saw a patrol come out, who lambasted me for not removing the insert of the valve. So I showed him the kit, the instructions, and the handbook which makes no mention of removing valve, and besides, there's no tool included with the kit to do so, so he agreed, a totally useless repair kit. Now, after a repair, to be told 50mph max, for no more than 50 miles wouldn't have been an issue, but when you're booked on a 9am ferry from Dover 150 miles away, makes it a bit awkward finding a tyre depot open 24 hours...

Only other niggle is a slight hesitation when cruising around 30-40mph. I have fitted an EGR blanking plate which has improved the car no end indeed, a very worthwhile mod for a fiver.

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5
reviewed by knashaar on 16 June 2013
4
reviewed by mdsmax2009 on 15 April 2013
5
reviewed by evets51 on 20 March 2013
3
reviewed by Kagsy on 19 February 2013
4
reviewed by smax2.0tdciowner on 5 October 2012
3
reviewed by BMV on 1 November 2011
4
reviewed by Happy Blue! on 9 September 2011
2
reviewed by PipN on 18 July 2011
4
reviewed by Steve, Northwich on 21 February 2011
2
reviewed by stevepratt on 20 December 2010
5
reviewed by Rupesrep on 2 December 2010
4
reviewed by MarioB on 19 July 2010

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About this car

Price£17,495–£33,085
Road TaxE–K
MPG29.1–54.3 mpg
Real MPG81.9%

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5
submitted by Clyde Wiley
4
submitted by Anonymous
4
submitted by John Alderson
 

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