Ford Galaxy Review

It's not very often that an MPV turns heads but the new Ford Galaxy has the ability to do just that.

The new, aggressive styling makes it look like an enlarged Focus ST and that's no bad thing. Whereas the previous model was a joint venture, the latest version is all Ford.

It has a wider track than before but is lower to the ground and this, along with the pronounced wheel-arches, adds to the sleeker, sportier air. At the front, the bonnet is more steeply angled and the restyled headlights make the car look mean, while the fog-lights integrated into the bumper either side of the grimacing grille, increases the impression of width.

Although the Galaxy was designed alongside the S-MAX they are considerably different, in terms of detailed styling. At the back, for instance, the windscreen of the Galaxy extends further down between the bright tail lights than the slightly smaller, sister car.

All in all, the Galaxy makes an impression on the road, especially when it has a black paint job, which, together with the standard tinted privacy glass, makes you wonder if the 'mob' has arrived.

The test car had the Ghia trim, as opposed to the LX or Zetec, and that means lots of goodies. The price-conscious LX has electrically powered and heated door mirrors, air-conditioning and the aforementioned privacy glass and front fog-lamps. Moving up to the Zetec adds power-adjustment and manual lumbar support for the driver's seat, dual-zone temperature control, powered rear windows to go with the front ones on the LX, leather trims to the steering wheel and gear-knob, park-assist and a medium-length overhead console.

The Ghia, on the other hand, features a 6-CD autochanger, chrome-finish exterior details, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, cruise control, the door mirrors gain integrated indicators and the overhead console increases in length and includes a child observation mirror so that you can see who 'started it'.