Used Ford Galaxy 2015-2023 review

Some may dismiss the humble seven-seater MPV, such as the Ford Galaxy, as just something minicab drivers use to ply their trade on airport runs, or for transporting a large amount of smart-suited execs from suburb to city on workaday business mornings.

However, the Galaxy deserves a bit more attention than that because it works as a great family car because of its flexible interior, civilised road manners, excellent refinement and surprising economy.

Engines & Performance: There's a vast number of engines to choose from. Most Galaxys are powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine of either 118, 148 or 178bhp outputs, and the 207bhp twin-turbo version. Revisions in 2018 tweaked the latter two to 187bhp and 237bhp respectively.

There’s also a choice of 158bhp 1.5-litre (revised to 163bhp in 2018) or 237bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines.

Ride & Handling: On top of that, the Galaxy is good to drive and comfortable. Perhaps this dynamic competence is not surprising given Ford's success with the similar but slightly smaller S-Max. The standard six-speed manual gearbox is precise and slick, while the optional six-speed (later eight-speed) automatic flits between gears serenely and reacts quickly when you kick down for more acceleration.

The handling is also excellent for such a tall car, making it one of the most agile seven-seat MPVs you can buy. The body leans a bit as you turn in to a corner but settles down to feel stable and controlled. Ride quality is smooth, with the Galaxy's suspension taking the edge off all but the harshest of bumps. Road noise is very well subdued and there's just the merest hint of wind noise kicked up by those big door mirrors.

Interior & Practicality: Climb inside and it feels supremely spacious, no matter whether you’re in the front, middle or rear. The middle row of seats has room for three six-foot adults in reclining chairs that individually slide forwards and backwards. Like the Seat Alhambra and Volkswagen Sharan, these sixth and seventh seats will fit full-size adults.

Removals businesses might go bust if you fold all five rear seats flat because there is a vast amount of space that you could easily move house with. Even in five-seat mode, the Galaxy has a bigger boot than most estate cars. However, when all seven seats are in place, the amount of cargo room shrinks to that of a small car. This is true of almost all cars in this class, and at least the Galaxy has a handy hidden storage compartment below the floor that liberates a bit more room.

Trims & Equipment: Ford has included a good amount of standard equipment, too. Entry-level Zetec trim comes with 17in alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, climate control, an 8.0in touchscreen system with Bluetooth and DAB radio. Titanium adds rear-privacy glass, cruise control, lane keep assistance, sat-nav and automatic lights and wipers. Top-of-the range Titanium X has a rear-view camera, an electric tailgate, leather seats that are both electrically adjustable and heated in the front, and finally a panoramic sunroof.

Standard safety and security features include six airbags, stability control, an alarm and an immobiliser. Look for emergency city braking, though; it’s disappointing this isn’t standard in such a family-oriented vehicle.

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Prices for this generation of Galaxy start at about £6000. However, this will get you a very high-mileage Galaxy that's probably been used as a taxi. Up the dosh to at least £15,000 and more likely £17,000 and you should be able to pick up a clean 2016/17 car with relatively low mileage from a franchised dealer, while £20,000 should find a good 2017 or 2018 car with an average mileage, while a 2019 or 2020 car will set you back at least £24,000. For a 2022 or 2023 Galaxy, expect to pay around £30,000.

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MPG: It’s the diesel-engined cars that are not surprisingly the most economical. It’s worth noting, though, that the 2.0-litre TDCi 150 engine, our favourite here, is exactly as economical as the lesser-powered 2.0 TDCi 120, at an average claimed (NEDC) consumption figure of 56.5mpg and 129g/km of CO2, or 52.3mpg under the later and more realistic WLTP tests. The 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol engine gives it a good go, though, despite its diminutive size, propelling the large Galaxy well and offering up a claimed average figure of 43.4mpg and 149g/km.

Going for an automatic gearbox does hurt the figures by a couple of miles per gallon, so too does the optional four-wheel drive. The least economical Galaxy is the 2.0-litre Ecoboost petrol with a combined figure of 35.8mpg and 180g/km, while the 178bhp diesel with four-wheel drive and an auto gearbox is 48.7mpg and 149g/km. The later 2.0 EcoBlue 190 averages 49.6mpg, under the WLTP tests.

Road tax: Annual road tax will be charged at the current flat rate, £190 per year at the moment, for petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017. If your Galaxy cost over £40,000 new, expect to pay a supplementary luxury car tax as well – £410 per year for years two to six of the car's life. Vehicles registered before that date have their tax based on CO2 emissions.

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groupings work in a range that starts at 17, for the lowest-powered diesel, and continues up to 26 for the fastest 2.0-litre 240 petrol engine.

Servicing costs are generally reasonable, with a service required every 12 months or 18,000 miles. In fact, Ford dealers are generally among the cheaper franchised dealers when it comes to service rates.

The 148bhp 2.0-litre TDCi diesel is the popular choice and represents a good blend of performance and efficiency for a reasonable price. The 178bhp and later 187bhp versions of this diesel are also good choices because CO2 emissions and fuel consumption figures are similar to those of the less powerful model version. Other diesel options include a 2.0-litre 118bhp engine that'll be too slow, and a 207bhp diesel, which is rare and too expensive to recommend.

Petrol options consist of a 158bhp 1.5-litre petrol and a range-topping 237bhp 2.0-litre engine. All miss out on the low-down shove of the diesel variants. The standard six-speed manual gearbox is precise and slick, and the optional six-speed automatic gearbox flits between gears serenely and reacts quickly when you ask it to.

We’d recommend the entry-level Zetec, which has all the basics. Titanium is a little bit plusher, and Titanium X even more so, but unless they’re the same price as the equivalent lower trims, we'd save our money.

Our favourite Ford Galaxy: 2.0 TDCi 150 Zetec

The Galaxy’s two main rivals are the Seat Alhambra and the Volkswagen Sharan.

The Alhambra is an incredibly roomy car, matching the Galaxy, and it’s wonderfully practical too. Despite this, it’s relatively affordable, both new and used, and it’s comfortable, too. The only negatives are that its sheer size makes it difficult to park, and the rearmost seats could be easier to fold down.

The Sharan is nearly identical to the Alhambra, but has a more upmarket feel to it and a correspondingly higher price tag when new, which translates to some slightly higher used prices, too. There’s a range of strong engines, immense space and practicality, and it’s well equipped. Against that, the ride can be a touch firm and the diesel engines are a little noisy.

Also worth considering are the smaller Ford S-Max, which also seats seven and is better to drive than most MPVs, and the Volkswagen Touran, again a slightly smaller car but a good one to drive, and one that comes with a spacious and flexible interior.

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Interested in buying a used Ford Galaxy? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.