Thinking of getting a Ford Galaxy?
The style of the car
The Ford Galaxy has a conventional multi-purpose vehicle, or MPV, design with a long, tall body that is designed to create as much interior space as possible. It doesn’t have sliding back doors (unlike rivals such as the Volkswagen Sharan), but the conventional back doors open wide to make access to the rearmost seats relatively easy. The enormous windows let in lots of light while giving you and your passengers a panoramic view out.
How it drives
The Galaxy is large, but it’s actually no bigger than a large SUV and feels nimble and responsive on the road, making it enjoyable to drive. It feels secure and relaxed on long motorway journeys, too. You need to find big parking spaces, but once you do, the parking sensors and cameras help out. Petrol and diesel engines are available. The more powerful diesels give the best balance of responsive acceleration and good fuel economy.
The interior
The Galaxy is a quiet and comfortable large MPV with seven seats in three rows. It’s about the same size as the Volkswagen Sharan. There’s room for a tall adult in every seat and those in row three will be comfortable even on long journeys. The seats in row two are wide enough for three child seats mounted side-by-side. The boot is on the small side with all seven seats in place but fold row three into the boot floor and there’s a huge amount of space. Fold down all five back seats and a sofa will easily slot in. The back seats fold down individually so you can optimise the layout for your needs, while the Family Pack option includes electrically folding seats. The dashboard is user-friendly and all models have climate control, sat nav and smartphone connectivity.
Running costs
According to official figures, petrol Galaxy models give 34mpg to 38mpg and diesels give 44mpg to 52mpg. The 150hp EcoBlue diesel is the most fuel-efficient model. Road tax and insurance costs are reasonable. And safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the Galaxy a full five-star safety rating.
How it compares with similar cars
Galaxy rivals include other large MPVs like the Seat Alhambra and Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, and seven-seat SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Galaxy (and MPVs generally) may lack the rugged style of an SUV and its lack of a sliding back door may matter to you. But, overall, it’s one of the best family cars.
Looking for a car with room for more than five people? We’ve selected our favourite used seven-seaters here.
