Ford Galaxy Titanium 1.6T Eco Boost (Start/Stop) 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The Galaxy's turbo-enhanced 1.6-litre petrol engine develops 158bhp and 177lb-ft of torque which translates into a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.

It's astonishing just how well the Galaxy drives; it offers plenty of grip and very little body roll through the corners. On top of this, it is also supremely comfortable and its sharp steering gives you plenty of confidence to chuck it into bends. It's more fun than a big seven-seater has any right to be.

Despite its small capacity petrol engine, there is very little engine noise and road noise is also well hushed. It's a tall car so there's a bit of wind noise at high speeds, although this is rarely annoying.

It would be facetious to call the Galaxy a good-looking car - it is, after all, a people carrier. However, as people-carriers go this is a good looking one. The interior is also very tastefully appointed and feels well made.

Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, climate control, electric windows, cruise control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth and a CD player with MP3 connectivity. A rear seat entertainment system will set you back £1750 and sat-nav will cost a further £1300. Leather seats can be specified for £1600.

Impressively, the Galaxy can seat seven adults in relative comfort. There is also a good sized boot with 308-litres on offer with all the seats up and 2325-litres available with all the seats down.

The Galaxy scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests and it's easy to see why. Not only are driver and passenger airbags fitted as standard, you get side airbags for all three rows of seats and a driver's knee airbag too.

The J D Power survey has revealed that there may be some issues with the Galaxy's reliability, however, the car is supplied with a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty.

The Galaxy Titanium 1.6T Eco Boost (Start/Stop) is pretty pricey at £26,545, and don't expect resale values to be very strong. In fact, you're much better of buying a used or nearly new Galaxy.

It should, however, be relatively cheap to run. You should manage nearly 40mpg (combined) which is impressive for a petrol-powered people carrier. CO2 emissions of 167g/km mean that the Galaxy falls under VED band H, which is quite high, but insurance should be reasonable, falling under group 18.