Ford Galaxy

This is very much 21st Century Ford. The new Ford Galaxy looks great from inside and out, drives well and is impressively spacious as a full-blown seven-seater. If the MPV really is dying out, this is the shot of adrenaline the breed needs.

• Comfort

  With all that space, a high ride height and a suspension set-up geared towards comfort rather than handling, this is just the sort of car you'd want for long, lazy journeys.

  

• Performance

  There's a 2-litre petrol and diesel on offer, each in various states of tune. The 2-litre diesel with 140bp isn't really powerful enough to mark you out as emperor of overtaking, but there's a satisfying depth of competence here and it gets the job done of moving 1,700kgs of MPV, even if stimulation is lacking.

  

• Cool

  Can an MPV ever be cool? No, but within its own odd little niche at least this one looks good from the outside.

  

• Quality

  Ford has really raised the game with this car and its engineering levels are very high. The quality of the materials that make up the dash are truly impressive, as is their fit and finish. Sure it cheapens as you migrate backwards, but if you ain't paying Audi prices, you can't expect Audi finesse in the third-row ashtrays.

  

• Handling

  You're not exactly going to have fun in this car, but it will leave you feeling content. You can lean on the Galaxy and know it'll be steadfast and the consistency of its actions keeps you confident. With a sensible eye on the kind of folk who'll buy it, Ford has set this car up to be on the comfy side of the handling spectrum - it doesn't goad you into lobbing it into corners, but it will co-operate if you do.

  

• Practicality

  The Galaxy has fold-into-the-floor seats replacing the old model's that needed to be physically removed. You get three in the middle row and two in the third and all recline and slide so you can adjust the leg room to whatever inside leg measurements you may have. Plus, because the floor is stepped rather than flat there's plenty of room beneath them. You can get six-footers in for longish journeys and still have room for some bags behind. With the rear seats in place, there's a decent 435 litres of space, but fold them down and this grows to 1,260. Fold both rows down and you have a cavernous 2,325 litres.

  

• Running costs

  Priced on a par with the Renault Espace, it's not cheap, but then a car of this size isn't going to be. It should hold its value well too, and it's worth haggling on the initial price.