Ford GALAXY TDi 150
It May Look Innocuous, But Fords Galaxy Turns Into Something Rather Special When Fitted With The TDI150 Powerplant. Andy Enright Explains Why
The ability to get to 60mph from a standing start in 11.6 seconds doesnt sound that impressive and as a drivers choice, the
Ford Galaxy isnt going to appear at the top of too many shortlists. Therefore to hear that Ford have launched a version of the Galaxy with more than enough mumbo to paint a huge smile across the most jaded drivers face will have some of you searching the spec sheets in vain. Ill put you out of your misery.
Behind its rather unpretentious façade, the Galaxy TDI 150 has some serious muscle to call upon. Ignore the 150bhp power figure for the time being and concentrate instead on the 310Nm of torque.
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Although Newton-metres of torque may be a bit of an abstract concept for many, think of it as the engines ability to do work, its subjective feeling of strength if you will. A car like a
Honda S2000, while zippy, has very little torque - 207 Nm to be precise - and as such a driver will be defeated by steep hills and will constantly have to shift gears. More torque equals more driveability and thats where this Galaxy scores, offering more torque than something like a
Subaru Impreza WRX or a
Jaguar XJ V6. In other words, youll never find a motorway on-ramp you dont like.
Plug into the meat of the power curve and theres an effortless surge as the turbocharger summons all of those Newton metres. The effect is rather startling. Being of a rather old school design, this engine does very little for the first moments you drop the hammer. When the turbocharger gets its trousers on, all hell lets loose and the Galaxy surges forward with an almost certifiable verve.
All too briefly this storm of torque subsides and, if youre deft with your gear shifting points, you can plug it into the power band all over again in the next gear. True, its not the smoothest or most linear of turbodiesels and the latest common rail TDI engines are a good deal more civilised, but it does major on excitement, an ingredient all to often excised from full-sized MPVs. The greatest thing is that you can enjoy this sort of illicit fun without paying a big penalty at the pumps. The Galaxy TDI 150 will still see a return of around 44.
9mpg and the carbon dioxide emissions of just 170g/km are more akin to a family hatchback than something that can haul around an entire six-a-side football team and their kit.
"The TDi 150 powerplant serves up some excitement a rarity in the full sized MPV division"
Currently diesel sales account for over 32% of all cars sold in the UK each year and the figure is higher still in the full sized MPV sector. Buyers are looking for engines that combine pulling power with fuel economy and diesel is rapidly becoming the default option. In the face of an engine like the TDI150, it would be an act of quite wilful extravagance to splash out on a big V6 petrol unit. 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. There are two trim levels in the line-up: Zetec and Ghia, both including side airbags and a radar parking system that should avoid many a supermarket scrape. Other enhancements to the Galaxy range include the fitting of full three-point seatbelts for all seven passengers, while the Galaxy's brakes have been further improved. They now boast a more powerful anti-lock system and the all-disc brakes are gripped by second-generation non-asbestos brake pads that are offer better performance during emergency braking. Inside the carefully styled cabin, its all surprisingly luxurious and very different to the utilitarian feel of the original first generation Galaxy 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. 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. Although prices that start at £23,155 will always preclude it from being a volume seller, the Galaxy TDI 150 should do good business for Ford. Its a tough, well-proven engine that offers a good deal of fun and some serious motorway muscle. Those drivers looking for a vehicle that can fulfil the family duties without being a total chore would do well to consider it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Galaxy TDi150 range
PRICES: £23,155-£24,655 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 170g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 127mph / 0-60mph 11.6s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 44.9mpg
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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