Ford Galaxy Estate 2006-2010

The Ford Galaxy is the largest of Fords MPV's and has been a long standing model for Ford which has proved very popular with large families. The size of the Ford Galaxy provides a lot of room for the occupants and can comfortably fit 7 people and still have enough boot space for a number of bags. The vehicle is large and therefore doesn't offer the best handling but it also isn't bad. The suspension is softer than some Ford models which allows for a smooth ride.

Pros and Cons:

• Built upon the success of previous Galaxy models
  Very versatile car
  Provides 7 seats which can fit a large family
  Very good to drive considering its size

• Is very big, other smaller models may be adequate
  Diesel model expensive to buy

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Exterior and Interior

For its size the Galaxy does try to stay stylish while providing a huge amount of practicality. The entry level of Galaxy 2 (06- ) MPV has air con, heated windscreen and electric windows. The Galaxy can have all of the modern extras added to it including a media pack, Bluetooth phone package, CD player, radio and AUX / MP3 inputs. The Zetec models have alloys and climate control. The car has plenty of leg and head room in the car for the passengers and has a comfortable driving position. The rear seats have the ability to be folded flat into the floor when they are not needed by the passengers. This allows the car to act as a van if it is required.

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Engines

The range of engines provides a wide variety of options. Unsurprisingly the diesel engines have proved very popular, although for those that travel fewer miles the petrol engines may be a better bet due to the high cost of the diesel engines. The range of engines starts with the 1.8-litre diesel Duratorq TDCi. There is a 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engine which produce 145bhp and 140bhp respectively. The most powerful option is the diesel 2.2-litre, 200bhp engine which comes with either an auto or manual gearbox.

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Performance and Economy

The petrol and diesel models are quite different in both emissions exerted and fuel consumptions. All the petrol models have one of the highest carbon dioxide emissions of the MPV market which leads to higher road tax costs. The average fuel economy ranges between 34.4mpg to 28.8mpg, something that is expected with a vehicle of this size. The diesels do perform better on the economy front and manage to provide up to 45.6mpg.

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What it's like to Drive

The car is not bad to drive but it will depend on what you are expecting. It is a comfortable drive but the car will resist a little when being driven harder. Considering the size of the vehicle it does have decent handling and is nice and easy to drive. There is some wind and road noises but these are no worse than any other vehicle in the same category. Ultimately the car feels more like a big family hatchback rather than the big MPV it is.

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Faults and Repairs

The Galaxy overall is seen as a fairly reliable car, and although there are some problems shared with the S-Max, it does tend to fair better than its smaller brother. A well known warranty provider recently ranked Ford as forth top of their reliability index and the Galaxy follows this. Things that people should look for are diesel engines cutting out, alarm problems, stiff brake pedals and some slight cabin fitting issues which may lead to creaks and squeaks. There are also a couple of recalls that people should check have been completed when buying a Ford Galaxy.

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