All-new 2015 Ford Galaxy - full details

Ford has announced a brand new Ford Galaxy - one of Britain's favourite seven-seater MPVs - in a stunning video on YouTube. The footage, released ahead of the full reveal, shows illusionist Darcy Oake introducing a group of willing test subjects to the concept of first-class road travel.

Priced from under £26,500, the all-new Ford Galaxy will be more luxurious and spacious than ever before, according to Ford. The seven-seat MPV was revealed in these first official images at the beginning of April.

Sporting a fresh look, the new Galaxy people carrier features thinner windscreen pillars to enhance visibility and an improved interior design.

The dashboard features a more sculpted design than before and the car can be specified with a full-length retractable glass roof. A digital screen displaying the car’s speedometer and rev counter has replaced traditional analogue dials.

New Ford Galaxy practicality

Despite its sharp new looks, the latest Ford Galaxy features seven full-size seats. The second and third row of seats can fold flat into floor at the touch of a button and, in a first for a large MPV, the third row can be raised electrically.

The car has a flat floor in an effort to make it easier to load bulky cargo, and each seat in the second and third row can slide and fold individually to strike a balance between accommodating long luggage and people.

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Under the boot floor sits a Cargo Management System which offers an additional 20 litres of space and helps to accomodate taller items. There’s additional storage in the door pockets (enough for a 1.5 litre bottle), under the seats, and around the dashboard. A wide-angle mirror is fitted as standard, allowing parents to keep an eye on their children.

There’s more headroom for second and third row passengers, and those in the third row also have their own armrest, storage bins and cup holders. Access to those rear seats is made easier by second row seats that tilt and slide in a single action and a clever double seal around the door reduces the risk of passengers getting their clothes dirty when climbing in and out.

New Ford Galaxy equipment and safety

The 2015 Ford Galaxy features the same advanced air-con system than appears in the new Ford Mondeo. It is designed to provide more airflow, can reach lower temperatures and is quieter.

Ford SYNC 2 with Voice Control is available, which allows the driver to operate phone, entertainment, climate and navigation systems by voice – the system can even understand regional accents. It also features technology that connects the car’s occupants to the emergency services in the event of a crash.

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A hands-free bootlid can be opened and closed via a kicking motion under the rear bumper, and electrically-operated heated door mirrors are fitted as standard across the range. Other kit includes an electric parking brake with a hill-hold function that prevents the car from rolling backwards when applying or releasing the handbrake.

Safety equipment includes headlights that adjust their angle for optimum vision and a function that switches off the car’s main beam when cars are approaching, reducing dazzle.

Automatic parking systems to warn if a vehicle enters your blind spot or if you drift out of lane is available, as is traffic sign recognition. Cameras fitted front and rear can provide better visibility when exiting junctions or parking spaces.

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An automatic emergency braking system, which can reduce the likelihood or severity of a collision, is also available.

As well as the usual array of airbags, the new Galaxy offers second-row seat side airbags and seatbelt reminders for all three rows. Ford’s MyKey system, which restricts top speed, audio volume and prevents the car’s stability systems being disabled is also available.

Ford Galaxy ride and handling

Ford says the new Galaxy is a more comfortable vehicle to travel in thanks to heavily sculpted seats and an advanced suspension setup. The suspension design is already used in the new Ford Mondeo, and will feature in the new Ford S-MAX; both of which are closely related to the Galaxy.

Self-levelling rear suspension will be available, which will maintain the correct ride height irrespective of how much weight is carried in the rear. Also available will be adjustable suspension, which allows the driver to set the car up for a more comfortable or more sporting ride.

And the new Ford Galaxy promises to be more fun to drive, thanks to Ford’s Adaptive Steering, which adjusts the speed of reaction depending on speed to optimise manoeuvrability and precision at high speed.

Ford Galaxy engines

The 2015 Ford Galaxy will be powered by a wide range of petrol and diesel engines. Diesels will, once again, be the preferred choice for British buyers.

The Galaxy will be available with Ford’s new 2.0-lite TDCI Bi-turbo diesel engine. Ford says the 208bhp engine will be particularly responsive, especially when accelerating from low speeds.

The seven-seat MPV will also be offered with a 2.0-litre TDCI diesel in power outputs of 118bhp, 148bhp and 178bhp, each using new technology to reduce CO2 emissions.

All of the diesel engines will be available with Ford's Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system, designed to help the Galaxy grip the road much better than the standard front-wheel-drive version.

Ulrich Koesters, Ford Europe's Vehicle Line Director, said: "Intelligent AWD activates when it is needed, so it can help Galaxy drivers find grip in wintery conditions and enhance the signature car-like driving dynamics with minimal impact on fuel-efficiency and without affecting refinement."

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Petrol engines include a 158bhp 1.5-litre Ecoboost and a 238bhp 2.0-litre Ecoboost engine. All engines use a Smart Regenerative Charging system, which charges the car’s battery when coasting and braking; automatic start-stop, which cuts the car’s engine when stationary and a front grille that opens and shuts to make the car slip through the air more efficiently.

Ford Galaxy price and release date

The Galaxy is available to order now through your local Ford dealership or online. Prices start from £26,445 for an entry-level Zetec with a 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol connected to a six-sped manual gearbox.

The cheapest four-wheel-drive model is a Titanium-spec with a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

For more on Ford's current range, including the reviews for the recently updated C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and S-MAX models, visit Carbuyer's Ford review page.