Ford‘s S-max was our 2007 Business Car of the Year in 2007, and Ford has continued to build the people carrier’s line-up, the most recent addition being the new 2.2-litre diesel.
For an extra £1000 over the 140PS 2.0-litre TDCI you gain a 25% increase in power to 175PS, which drops the 0-60mph time from 9.7 seconds to 9.0 seconds and increases the top speed from 124mph to 132mph.
The downside is a worsening of fuel consumption to 42.8mpg from the 2.0-litre’s 44.1mpg and a CO2 figure rising 12g/km to 176g/km, which takes the car up three BIK bands to 26%. Cost per mile goes to 57.5ppm.
Although the car is quicker, the difference is really only felt on longer motorway inclines. Where a fully laden 2.0-litre would struggle to accelerate, the 2.2, which we tested in top-spec Titanium trim, will happily give more.
