Ford Galaxy test drive since 2006 minivan

The sky above the head

Ford combined a powerful motor, seven seats, the possibility of transporting 2,325 liters of cargo, good maneuverability and price tag of a European middle class sedan.
 

For an additional payment, adaptive cruise control, rotary headlights, displays in the headrests, suspension with constant adjustment of the rigidity of shock absorbers, a transparent roof and a ticket to a business class.

 

Galaxy did not win the Car of the Year contest, but it can be considered today's standard of mini-wan. After all, he is so similar to his close relative of the S-Max. They even have a general operating manual!
 

In the vastness of our Galaxy, there are not many mini-wenes with a spectacular, and even more so elegant appearance. If seven -seater cars can be considered such, then Galaxy is probably one of the most stylish. The headlights with sharp corners at the nose, a swift body, hood and windshield merge almost without breaks.
 

The sidewalls catch the eyes with the protruding contours of arches, moldings and a polished metal visit of top -end performance. The glass sparkles about half of the surface area: the view from the outside did not lose anything from this, and the review from the inside, on the contrary, favorably pushed the framework of the displayed picture.
 

Galaxy did not win the Car of the Year contest, but it can be considered today's standard of mini-wan. After all, he is so similar to his close relative of the S-Max. They even have a general operating manual!
 

Of the Galaxy portholes, more than required from the windows of a passenger car. Maybe it is designed to work as an excursion bus? And mini-ven is quite suitable for transporting small delegations (not more than seven people). An amazing thing, but the creators of Galaxy did not sacrifice the comfort of the back passengers: the seats are happy to accept not only children, but also quite adult passengers.
 

The main role in the life of the galaxy is assigned to a person after the helm. More precisely, behind the skin covered with silver plastic inserts and many buttons. The salon not only looks more expensive, but is also equipped with everything necessary for the human modern technology spoiled by modern technologies.
 

The soft chair has numerous electroregulations; The steering wheel is set in height and departure, and a supporting roller grows in the lower back. A lot of free space is much unusual for the owner of a car with a more massive body: you can get to the front passenger’s chair only by stretching out your hand, and it is more difficult to open the right door from the inside.
 

The central console looks like a spectacular silver spot against the background of black salon plastic. Moreover, the console passes into the central tunnel, stretching from the three average diffusers of the heater to the parking brake lever, as in the S-MAX, made in the form of an elongated bracket.

 

The indicators of two priests with silver edging are perfectly read, and the duplicate information display located between them knows the Russian language. Only sometimes he confuses the passenger doors left and right ...
 

Where to put the book, documents, a pack of cigarettes, player and other small things, in abundance pockets? Galaxy gallantly opens before us its many ceiling regiments, a duffel compartment under the seats of the driver and the front passenger and the box above the central console. But this is not the most interesting of what is above the head of the passengers.
 

Through the roof in the car, the sky is visible through a row of paired rectangular windows in the ceiling.
 
Galaxy seats are controlled by the proprietary Ford Foldflat System. She knows 32 options for transforming the salon, including an even floor from the front seats to the rear door. Plus, each chair can move back and forth, and the back is adjusted by inclination.
 

Mini-wen distinguished himself with ship's smoothness, which from the first meters was located to the measured, calm rhythm of driving. The engine works quietly, and noise and vibration insulation do not interfere with listening to their favorite discs through eight standard speakers.
 

With care, an energy -intensive suspension is also designed, which restrainedly reacts to any bumps of asphalt. True, she allows the rolls, and sometimes there is a feeling that the machine floats through the waves, but this does not interfere with maneuvers and overtaking, and if you play with speed or distribution of weight between the wheels and put Galaxy into the skid, the disabled, if desired, the ESP system, will intervene, which will return the mini-wen to the trajectory.
 

The main advantages of the mini-wen are obvious, and Galaxy here does not open anything new high landing and a large area of \u200b\u200bglazing. And the disadvantages begin in traffic jams and in the parking lot at the house, where you envy a neighbor on the Oka. However, the sightseeing side mirrors, as well as the laconic and subtle parking sensor, will provide invaluable assistance when Galaxy will need to lean against the cuts between parked cars.

  

Our car is equipped with a 2.0-liter 145-horsepower engine and a five-speed manual gearbox is the only gasoline (and most powerful) motor offered for Galaxy. The engine pulls perfectly from below, leaving a positive impression of start.
 

In general, acceleration has an even character, leaving the rider who sleeps indifferent in the driver. Today he will not wake up: according to the passport, Galaxy requires 11.2 s for a set of 100 km/h with a maximum jack of 195 km/h. But what is nice, the engine has a very restrained appetite and does not go beyond 13 liters (per 100 km of path) when driving around the city. And this is with the passenger, on the air conditioning and all possible electricity
 

Do not confuse with Ford S-Max!

The European car of the year, the nozzle, who divided a lot with the Galaxy, differs in a more sloping roof, in circles (and not trapezes) of fog headlights located in the upper part of the bumper, decorative gills behind the front arches, a different form of the rear optics and, of course, with a nameplate.
 

Ford Galaxy is perfect for suburban trips. Its main advantages are a powerful motor, soft, but at the same time quite a decent suspension and a comfortable interior. The roof open to the sunlight, adaptive cruise control and rotary headlights will make the journey even more pleasant. There are much less disadvantages. We note only the creaks of the skin panels and refusing to work (in the frost) buttons of heating glasses.

Finally, a remark as a postscript. Thinking about the purchase of such a car, do not save on the transmission. Of course, the machine gun is more expensive and can cause snorting a full drive for connoisseurs. But, on the other hand, Galaxy is not the best car for a racer. Yes, and incredibly tight clutch pedal can spoil the mood.
 

It is better to give part of your attention, released due to the presence of automatic transmission, those who are sitting in the cabin. For this, Ford even offers a separate mirror.
 

Dossier

Price: from $ 28 300
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 10.9 from
Max. Skurost: 192 km/h
Drive: front
Places for passengers: 7
Clearance: 170 mm
Carrying capacity: 718 kg
Luggage compartment volume (Max): 2 325 liters
Service: TO1, TO2
 


The car was provided by the Russian representative office of Ford Motor Kompany


Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 115/2007]