Ford Galaxy 2.0 163PS Duratorq TDCi Titanium X | New Car Review

“The revised Ford Galaxy range
is now arriving at UK dealerships.
It’s the market leader for MPVs
with around 8,000 sold in the UK
each year and 97 per cent of them
diesel. So who uses them?”

CHAUFFEURS, PRIVATE HIRE, fleet operators, taxi/mini-cab operators and hotel and airport minibus services, that's who. Like Ford's new S-Max, the prices are 10 to 12 per cent lower than the outgoing versions with prices ranging from Ł22,945 up to Ł31,045.

The refreshed Galaxy has the option of Ford's new 2.0-litre, 200bhp EcoBoost turbocharged direct injection petrol engine with the new Powershift six-speed twin-clutch auto gearbox and new 2.0-litre Duratorq 113bhp and 160bhp turbodiesel engines along with a revised 138bhp turbodiesel unit soon to follow. The Powershift auto 'box is available as an option to the standard six-speed manual gearbox for 138 and 158bhp diesels.

Like its stablemate — the seven-seat, sportier looking and slightly smaller S-Max — the Galaxy features refreshed styling with a more sculptured bonnet, bolder trapezoidal grille, new-look fog lights, bolder silver-coloured roof rails, new LED tail lights and, depending on the version, more chrome detailing on the side mouldings and door handles.

The cabin is more luxurious and there's Ford's 'flat-floor' seating system where the second and third rows of seats individually fold to the floor so passenger or luggage carrying options are high. In addition, there's also a new premium sound system, upgraded interior, partial or full leather trim options, a blind spot information light that operates in the rear view door mirrors and an adjustable speed limiter.

“The latest generation
Duratorq diesel
appears to be quieter
and more refined
and with
that all-important responsiveness and
flexibility in traffic...”

Trim choices are Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X with the price-led Zetec being the most popular.

Put through its paces on winding and potholed Cotswold roads this week, the latest Galaxy with the new 160bhp 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi engine was an accomplished performer.

The latest generation Duratorq diesel engine appears to be quieter and more refined and, thanks to an improved turbocharger that provides faster response, delivers that all-important responsiveness and flexibility in traffic.

Driven over winding country roads and through towns my test vehicle returned 38.6mpg against the official 49.6mpg figure. With a CO2 rating of 152g/km, road tax is now Ł155.

Not so great is the limited luggage space with all seven seats in use and some models, like this version, are too pricey. On the plus side the Galaxy is comfortable and spacious with a flexible interior (308-2,325 litres of load capacity), well equipped and drives well. Good enough, in fact, to justify why it's the big MPV market leader by far. — David Miles

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