Ford Galaxy review

Browsing the Galaxy price list will show that the 2.0 EcoBlue 150 in entry-level Zetec trim, which is our pick, costs more than versions of the Seat Alhambra, about the same as a Volkswagen Sharan, and much less than a Volkswagen Caravelle or Mercedes V-Class. Ford's PCP offers can bring competitive monthly payments, but resale values aren't terrific. That's true for the Sharan and Alhambra, too, but the V-Class and Caravelle hold a lot more value after three years. CO2 emissions for the EcoBlue 150 diesel engine are competitive and will keep benefit-in-kind company car tax reasonable. The EcoBlue 190 is rather more polluting and pricier, so we'd avoid it. 

Stick to Zetec trim to keep the costs down. It brings 17in alloy wheels, power-folding mirrors, a heated windscreen, automatic wipers, dual-zone climate control and all the infotainment features we mentioned earlier. Titanium doesn't add a massive amount more kit, apart from rear privacy glass, automatic lights and keyless entry, but it does let you add more option packs if you want leather seats and other luxuries. 

On the safety front, automatic emergency city braking (Ford's term for AEB) is standard on all versions, and lane-keeping assistance and traffic sign recognition are standard with Titanium trim. Euro NCAP has rated the Galaxy with five stars for safety, but that was back in 2015 and there are areas – such as rear passenger whiplash protection – that are weak. 

As for reliability, we don’t have any data on the Galaxy specifically in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, but Ford sits in a middling 14 out of the 31 manufacturers. That's just above Volkswagen and Seat, and way ahead of Mercedes. 

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