Used Ford S-Max 2015-2024 review

Since its launch, the Ford S-Max has been a huge success, even if the SUV has risen to such heights over the years that MPVs like the S-Max are no longer the first tool of choice for those looking for a practical family holdall.

The first generation 2006-2015 Ford S-Max was also much admired. This second-generation model has since enjoyed similar adulation. The appeal of the S-Max is that you are getting the best of both worlds: a car that straddles the line between a practical family MPV and a more fun-to-drive regular hatchback. It’s also desirable to those who haven’t quite given in to the idea of jumping onto the SUV bandwagon but want something with a bit more street cred than a Ford Galaxy or Volkswagen Sharan.

Engines & Performance: Engines have included a 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit. Diesels include a 2.0-litre in 118bhp, 148bhp, 178bhp and 207bhp versions. The 178bhp version was later upped to 188bhp and became the 2.0 TDI 190. Four-wheel drive and automatic gearboxes are also available on certain models.

Later models kick off with the Ecoblue 150. Available with the Titanium trim level, it’s a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel with a manual or automatic gearbox. Then there's the 187bhp Ecoblue 190 offered with the ST-Line and Vignale trims. It’s only available with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and has the option of four-wheel drive. The final engine choice is the Duratec 190 FHEV. This combines a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a battery and electric motor.

Ride & Handling: Handling is an S-Max strong point; it doesn’t wallow through corners and grip levels are high. You might fear that all this handling balance comes at the expense of ride quality, but it doesn’t, thanks to the S-Max's impeccably controlled damping. The engines are refined, too, and the steering is nice and accurate. It’s a good car to drive, and not just for an MPV.

Interior & Practicality: The interior design is a bit plain, with a few too many small buttons, and its infotainment system takes some getting used to, in part due to its confusing sub-menus. The Seat Alhambra has a clearer dash design. You also get sliding rear doors with the Alhambra, making it easier to put people in it if you happen to be parked up in a particularly tight car park space.

The other downside to the S-Max's relatively sporty looks is a slightly compromised third row of seats. This is because of the reduction in roof height in a bid to give it a sloping roofline. This will only be a problem if you regularly put taller people back there or need to carry luggage for five as part of your family holiday. But if this is the case, there is always the Galaxy to consider.

Trims & Practicality: Trims have varied slightly over the years, having been updated to offer more glam in the showroom. There are basically three trim levels to choose from: the entry-level Zetec models come with 17in alloys, Sync3 with 8in touchscreen infotainment, parking sensors, sports seats and a DAB radio. Upgrading to the Titanium trims gets you Ford's sat-nav system, auto wipers and lights, traffic sign recognition and cruise control, while the Titanium Sport gets a sportier bodykit, rear spoiler and sports suspension including heated front seats.

Seek out an S-Max in the Vignale trim and you will find numerous pearlescent paint jobs, lots of chrome, 18in bespoke alloys and acoustic glass, while inside owners will be greeted by full leather upholstery, electric seat adjustment, rear-view camera and Sony's infotainment stereo system.

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

Prices for a used Ford S-Max of this generation start from around £7000, which gets you into a nice 2016/'17 2.0-litre diesel in Titanium specification. This is for a car with an average mileage for the year, and a full service history, bought from a dealer.

It is possible to buy cars for less than this, but you'll only find ones with a high mileage or previous accident damage. A petrol S-Max is a rare beast, and you will need around £12,000 to get into one. I

f you want the poshest S-Max, the Vignale is around £15,000. Figure on around £16,000 for a 2019 car, £18,000 for a 2020 one and £22,000 and upwards for a 2021 and 2022 model. It's best to have a budget of more than £30,000 if you fancy a 2023 or 2024 model.

MPG: The biggest seller is also one of the most economical in the range. Both the 148bhp and 178bhp 2.0-litre diesels have an official average fuel economy figure of 56.5mpg as measured under the older NEDC tests, or 54.3mpg under the newer WLTP tests and cost £115 per year in road tax. Adding four-wheel drive to these drops the economy figure to 52.3mpg NEDC and raises tax to £135. The higher-output, 207bhp version costs more again to run, with 51.4mpg average NEDC economy and a £150 road tax liability. The later 2.0 190 diesel averages a WLTP figure of 47.1mpg.

Petrol engines aren’t that frugal; the best one is the 158bhp 1.5-litre turbo, which has an average return of 43.5mpg under the NEDC and costs £150 to tax, but the 237bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine does just 35.8mpg and will set you back £240 per year in road tax, while the automatic is even worse at 34.0mpg and £280 in tax.

Road tax: Any S-Max registered after 1 April 2017 will be charged under the flat rate of £190 per year (£180 per year for hybrids) due to the change in how vehicles are charged.

Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups waver around 25, which is reasonable for this kind of vehicle.

Ford servicing is normally towards the inexpensive end of the scale. so maintaining your S-Max shouldn’t leave you raiding your piggy bank. Ford dealers also operate a number of plans to enable planning for services, and paying in instalments by direct debit.

Engines: The 2.0 TDCi 150 is all the engine you really need for the Ford S-Max, because it has enough power even with seven people aboard and you don’t pay a horrendous amount to run it. The more powerful 180 and 210 2.0-litre diesels add a bit of useful extra oomph, but realistically, you won’t need that unless you plan to tow a caravan or trailer on a regular basis.

Trims: Zetec gets plenty of standard equipment, with Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control, four electric windows and front and rear parking sensors.

Our favourite Ford S-Max: 2.0 TDCi 150 Zetec

The Citroën Grand C4 Picasso (and the later Grand C4 Spacetourer) tries just as hard as the Ford to be stylish and has an airy interior, thanks to its slim windscreen pillars and large glass area. It's cheaper to buy, but it doesn’t have the best reputation for reliability.

The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer has a classy interior and comes with high equipment levels, but it doesn’t drive as well as the S-Max and isn’t any more spacious in the third row, despite its squared-off shape. Used versions are now getting on a bit but good value.

The biggest rival for the Ford S-Max is the Seat Alhambra. It may be a more traditionally styled MPV, but its boxier shape helps interior space; plus, you get sliding doors, which is a real bonus in tight parking spaces. When you consider that the Alhambra is cheaper and its handling is almost as good, if not quite as engaging, it stacks up as a compelling alternative to the S-Max.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here

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