Ford S-MAX MPV - MPG, running costs & CO2
The Ford S-MAX offers fairly good fuel economy for its class and the smooth automatic gearbox doesn’t reduce it by much
Fuel economy for the 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engines is fine, if not overly impressive, as the Ford S-MAX lags behind rivals such as the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, particularly the the diesel engine in the latter that’s capable of 58.1mpg. Resale values of the previous S-MAX weren’t particularly strong, but this model may do better.
Ford S-MAX MPG & CO2
As of November 2021, the diesel engines have been withdrawn, leaving only a hybrid petrol engine. It’s more expensive to buy, but can return up to 44.1mpg so at least it should be reasonably affordable to run. Hybrids are typically a good choice for business users, but the S-MAX’s 147g/km CO2 output means it’s not in a very low BiK band.
Ford used to offer a powerful 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel that can return 43.5mpg (or just 40.9mpg if you choose the four-wheel-drive model). The 187bhp engine's extra punch will appeal to frequent motorway users or those who often carry seven people and their luggage, but the previously available 148bhp engine still offers enough pulling power.
The 148bhp diesel returns 47.1mpg fuel economy when connected to a manual gearbox, which is okay for such a bulky vehicle until you realise its rivals offer up to 10mpg more. Speccing the automatic sees fuel consumption rise to 43.5mpg, and even a petrol BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer will achieve close to this figure.
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Hybrid versions of the S-MAX will cost the slightly discounted yearly rate in road tax; diesel versions attract the standard rate. The Vignale starts from more than £40,000 so it’s subject to an additional £325 in tax until the car is six years old. It’s surprisingly easy to breach the £40,000 threshold on other models, too, so it pays to not pick too many options.
Used values weren’t very strong for the previous S-MAX, although the 148 and 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel models should claw back a decent amount of their purchase price after three years or 36,000 miles of ownership.
Insurance
Ford S-MAX models sit between insurance groups 19 and 30. That’s pretty similar to the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer, but both the Renault Grand Scenic and BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer may offer cheaper premiums.
Warranty
The Ford S-MAX comes with a warranty that covers the car for three years or 60,000 miles – whichever comes first. This is comparable to a Volkswagen or SEAT MPV, but shorter than the five years standard warranty you get with a Scenic.
Servicing
Service intervals are fixed at 12,500 miles or one year and Ford offers fixed-price service plans, costing around £700 for two years (just over £400 for petrol engines) or £900 for three years (£650 for petrol). This also includes roadside assistance throughout Europe, but is quite expensive, making the S-MAX costlier to service than many SUVs.
