Think sporty SUVs are odd? Don't forget when Ford made a 140mph S-Max ST...
For a bodystyle that once seemed the future of family cars, the MPV does feel pretty old hat in 2022. There's far more excitement even around VW's new electric van than there would have been around a conventional people carrier. They've been surpassed on buying shortlists by more lifestyle-oriented SUVs; where once every manufacturer had an MPV in their line-up, now it's something off-roady. Or three. To think how the Renault Scenic RX-4 was once mocked...
But the demise of the MPV does go to show how much image is key to a sector's success. Because for those that actually wanted to seat seven in a relatively compact footprint and keep something that drove like a car, an MPV did the job admirably. But they weren't cool. Nevertheless, true to form, Ford made all of its people carriers drive well, and the S-Max caused quite a stir when it was introduced.
Plus, this being the mid-2000s, when Rover put a Mustang V8 in a 75, VW made a V10 diesel and the Clio V6 existed, Ford ensured the S-Max had a daft engine in the flagship model. There was no real need for the Focus ST's Volvo-sourced, 220hp five-cylinder to go in the seven-seat MPV, but it did. And the S-Max 2.5 sold... well, not tremendously well, really, because the diesels suited parents better.
But what a cool car, not least because the 2.5 looked like any other S-Max. It was swift rather than rabidly fast , but that still made it way significantly quicker than any other S-Max in the range. And the aural appeal of a five-cylinder engine needs no further explaining here; should sound great with all the seats down on the way back from the tip..., unsurprinsgly, is the only 2.5 currently for sale on PH, out of 339 S-Maxes in total.
With fuel costing what it currently does, maybe now isn't the moment for a five-cylinder Ford, but there was never going to be a time when the S-Max 2.5 was cheap to run. At least it's not much to buy - £4,590 must have some wriggle room in it given the niche appeal. And all money saved can go into making it more powerful.
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