Ford S-MAX

It's amazing how popular you become when you are running an MPV. There’s constant badgering for the keys from colleagues moving house or ferrying families. 

But one request from our head of motoring video Mat Watson was different from the norm. He wanted the S-MAX to star in a video promoting Ford’s in-car tech for our sister website expertreviews.co.uk. 

Eyeing a shot at small screen stardom, I immediately agreed – only to be told by shy and retiring Mat that as I had a face for the radio, he’d be doing the shoot. Typical! As you can see, though, our S-MAX made light work of it all, which has been a feature of its tenure with us.

From motorway blasts up to Scotland to cross country sprints and the daily nursery run, the Ford has handled everything with aplomb, fully living up to its billing as a family car that you can have a little fun with.

The 2.0-litre engine provides more than adequate torque for easy overtaking, while the facility to fold flat both rows of seats has been invaluable on the occasions I’ve required the S-MAX’s huge 2,000-litre carrying capacity.

Our Ford comes with plenty of equipment – some of it very clever. But it’s probably the leather seats which have been the biggest boon. As my 18-month-old daughter regularly sits in the back, there’s generally plenty of mess, and they really are extremely easy to wipe down.

As an all-rounder, then, it’s hard to beat. Little wonder Mat wanted it in his video. Few cars are more deserving of a starring role.