Ford GALAXY RANGE
The Latest Version Of Fords Best-Selling Galaxy People Carrier Claims To Add Class To Convenience. Jonathan Crouch Checks It Out
You're a parent. You've two or three children - maybe more. Probably a dog. Certainly a stack of paraphernalia to carry on almost every journey. Maybe you have a family estate car or maybe one of those
mini-MPV People Carriers.
Either way, if its not big enough, theres only one way to go. One car, Fords Galaxy, rules the large MPV market and with good reason.
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Ford has succeeded in separating the Galaxy from its VW Sharan and
SEAT Alhambra clones and pushing the car a little further upmarket, in keeping with the big Fords "Travel First Class" marketing aspirations. Hence the
smart New Edge styling front and rear and classy interior with a sophisticated set of high-tech options. Safety has been a priority for Ford with this car in recent times. Hence the addition of side thorax airbags and side curtain airbags from Fords acclaimed Intelligent Protection System to give greater protection for all occupants.
Drivers benefit from a Mondeo-style Electronic Brake Assist system and new smart indicators, which automatically flash a minimum of three times every time the indicators are activated. These additions complement the ABS, driver and passenger airbags and 3-point seat belts for all occupants' already standard equipment on all models. The engine line-up is well up to scratch too though with a lot of help from VW. Wolfsburg provides Ford with the three turbodiesel engines on offer (developing 90, 115 and 130bhp) as well as the improved 2.8-litre petrol V6 used in flagship models.
Only the entry-level petrol 2.3-litre unit that most Galaxy buyers choose is home-grown though just to keep the German connection alive and well, automatic users can order it with VWs Tiptronic gearbox (branded by Ford as Selectshift).
"The biggest surprise for the uninitiated will be its car-like qualities"
Inside the carefully styled cabin, its all surprisingly luxurious and very different to the utilitarian feel of the original model. Beautifully textured soft plastics, subtle wood strips and flashes of silver trim combine to create one of the nicest Ford interiors weve seen and certainly the most practical. To complement large door pockets, two substantial stowage boxes have been built into the dashboard in response to customers who wanted to be able to hide away clutter after a weekend and reclaim their car as a business vehicle for the working week. Once you were behind the wheel there was never much wrong with the first generation model but, as weve suggested, the current versions march resolutely upmarket, in keeping with Fords stated aim to steal customers from the executive saloon sector.
The first thing you notice is the chunky four-spoke steering wheel and the aluminium-look instrument surround. A Ka-style analogue clock sits in the centre of the dash in traditional contrast to the high gadgetry in the centre console, designed to accommodate an optional satellite navigation system. Those used to VW and
Audi products will recognise most of the stalks and switchgear which is no bad thing since nobody makes them better. Fords strengths lie in packaging (hence high equipment levels including air conditioning, ABS and dual airbags) and tight pricing (pitched between £18,295 and £25,720).
The options list is now vast including everything from a fridge to a multi-media system capable of entertaining rear passengers with DVD video or computer games via colour screens mounted in the back of the front seat headrests. Befitting its role as large MPV market leader, the Galaxy seats seven people in great comfort (though you can opt for a six-seater version). The supportive seats are welcome and it continues to be easy to drive, simple to park and no more expensive to run than an average large family hatch or estate. As ever, the biggest surprise for the uninitiated will be its car-like qualities, further refined in recent years with more responsive steering and slight suspension tweaks.
Handling is exemplary, and the Galaxy doesn't roll, pitch or wallow like many of its MPV counterparts. Nor do you need a period of acclimatisation before you can drive it quickly. There are four trim levels in the line-up: Silver, LX, Zetec and Ghia, the latter two including a radar parking system that should avoid many a supermarket scrape. Opt for the 201bhp V6 flagship and you also get ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), a system that will over-ride both brake and throttle to keep you on the tarmac should you enter a corner too fast. Which is maybe just as well, given that this glorious light alloy powerplant is fast enough to make the Galaxy something of a wolf in sheep's clothing, with progress to 60mph in 9.9s seconds accompanied by a satisfying yet muted roar on the way to a maximum of around 135mph. On paper, the turbo diesel versions appear a lot slower (the 115bhp offers 13.1s to 60mph and a 113mph top speed) but in practice, due to lighter weight and impressive through-the-gears pulling power, they should feel just as fast in real road terms.
Quick enough certainly to justify specifying ESP as an option. Plus here, youve can expect to travel almost twice as far on a tank of fuel (with an average consumption figure of well over 40mpg). New 6-speed manual gearboxes are standard on all the diesels and the V6 but not on the Ford 2.3.
The SelectShift Tiptronic auto (with the option of manual up-and-down changes) comes on this 2.3, the 115bhp diesel and the V6. Whichever version you choose, you'll be looking for flexibility - you shouldn't be disappointed. The two rows of passenger seats can be folded down or unclipped and removed completely (though theyre so heavy, youd need to be a fitness fanatic to do it too often). The front seats on Zetec and Ghia models also swivel round to face the rear passengers, facilitating picnics or on-the-spot conferences. It all adds up to a car which is still at the forefront of this expanding sector.
Ford reckons there will shortly be nearly half a million examples of this type of vehicle in Europe, and theyll account for at least 7 percent of the UK market. Whatever actually happens, expect the Blue Oval to continue to lead the way.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Galaxy range
PRICES: £18,295-£25,720 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-16
CO2 EMISSIONS: 178-259g/km
PERFORMANCE: [V6] Max Speed 135mph / 0-60mph 9.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [V6] (urban) 19.1mpg / (extra urban) 33.2mpg/ (combined) 26.2mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and side curtain airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4641/2142/1759mm
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