Ford Galaxy MPV: Review and rate

Ford Cars' Galaxy people carrier was the MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) for you and your family to be seen in during the nineties. Ever since, it has set the standard for family transport and has gone from strength to strength throughout nearly two decades and several reincarnations. So, how well does it stand up today as both new and used buys?

The original Galaxy

The first generation of the Galaxy car was introduced in 1995. It was part of a joint design programme, which also produced the Volkswagen Sharan and the Seat Alhambra. All three offered excellent space, safety and good performance for the class, but only the Ford had the badge loyalty behind it. These early Ford MPVs impressed testers with their car-like driving characteristics. The choice of Galaxy engines was also a big plus. The one to go for these days would seem to be the turbo diesel, as it's a good performer and economical with it. Comfort and safety, though good in its day, are lacking by modern standards. The same can't be said for the equipment levels, however. If you opt for one of the Galaxy Ghia X or Ultima trim packages, then you will find that you lack nothing as they come with all the electrical gadgets that you can dream of. There are a few faults to watch for as they age. The engine electronics are questionable.
Of greater concern (and expense) are the gearboxes fitted to the Galaxy autos. These units fail regularly and you need evidence of service or replacement when buying. The last costly fault is the wiper mechanism, which has a tendency to seize. These aren't currently available re-conditioned and new ones are expensive.

The young pretender

Ford's new Galaxy was launched in 2006 (shortly before the new Mondeo) and has already had its first face-lift. It is a far cry from the earlier generation with sharp body lines and neat styling touches. Storage, and in particular seating, were redesigned and vastly improved. Access received a similar make-over. Special attention was reserved for the engines, as criticism of these was marked on its 2006 launch. New power plants offer a better range of options and much improved fuel economy. Comfort and trim were brought to new levels by the simple medium dropping the base options completely. This brought buyers in further up the luxury ladder and pitched it against cars, like the BMW X5. Overall, it has to be said that a used Galaxy offers great value for money. Whether first, second or third generation, there is a model to suit every pocket. Is there a better way to transport your family in safety? Probably not, for the money.