Galaxy brings MPVs world's apart

Galaxy is the name of Ford’s MPV or people carrier and in its old guise, it shared a common identity with the Volkswagen Sharan and the Seat Alhambra. Now with a new Galaxy that has just arrived on the Irish market, things are somewhat different. It’s more Ford, for a start, particularly with the new edge design that has come to characterise the brightest and best in recent Ford design.

Galaxy is still built on the same platform as the Sharan and Alhambra but Ford has been intent on giving it a personality all of its own. There are three new engines (out of four) in the line-up, new gearboxes all round and a totally different and much more up-market cabin ambience.

Driving the Galaxy in France at its international launch, we couldn’t but notice the emphasis on practicality too. There are storage compartments for the sunglasses and the mobile phone. We noted that the door bins are bigger and are now split, with lidded sections that also hold and hide small, valuable items. There are also rear door bins and seatback pockets, plus a large lidded compartment in the rear side trim. Two pop-out cup grips work with almost Germanic precision.

The Ford people even managed to build in a bit of fun and entertainment. Luxury extras include a multi-media system capable of running DVD or computer games via seven inch screens in the rear of the front row headsets-the first such system in a car of this class. The screens operate by remote control but the driver-or parent-retains overall control through a master switch in the dash. Could this be the answer to childhood impatience on long journeys, best expressed by the line: "Are we there yet?"

The links with the world of air travel don't stop with the screens. Some higher specification versions have aircraft-style folding trays. The five rear seats in the seven seater models can be lifted out or folded to form tables.

So what about the driving? Various models tried including the 1.9Tdi or diesel, felt lively and refined and easy to control. The ride and handling was very acceptable too as it was in the old Galaxy: there have only been relatively minor suspension changes. Significantly diesel models with manual transmission come with six-speed forward gearboxes.

The levels of specification are being offered, LX, Zetec and Ghia. As well as the 2.3 litre petrol unit which is unique to the Galaxy, other engines are the flagship 2.8 litre V6 and two 1.9 litre turbodiesels, developing 90 and 115bhp.

Ford has done an impressive job in making the new Galaxy more Ford, more distinctive and it does stand out from other MPV rivals. But some of us couldn’t help wondering why Ford wasn't represented where the real MPV action is-with a challenger to small family-type MPVs like the Renault Scenic and Opel Zafira. Sadly, there were no answers. Everyone at the Ford Galaxy launch said their brief was to talk about Galaxy, not about another model or the lack of one.

- Andrew Hamilton.