4 Reviews

Review
I have driven this car for the past 2 years and clocked around 34k KM. View quite a number of options before deciding to buy the Ford galaxy. Having driven a turbo charged engine car before, i will not settle for the usual Toyota Estima where pick up is slow.

Driven twice to KL, cruising was good on North-South Highway. powerful engine makes it a breeze to drive. Warranty by Regent Motors will settle some minor repairs. Even after warranty, there is still a Ford specialist workshop at Sin Ming that offers fast , reliable and reasonably priced maintenance.

Overall a powerful and comfortable MPV to drive.

What I like
-Turbo Charged engine (Ecoboost)
- Comfortable interior

What I do not like
- HU is out-of-date, need to replace your own.

Review
I just got this car in May. Nice power but definitely saw all the issues that GRIX17 mentioned. The one feature that i liked is the voice activation for the aircon, phone and sound system. It takes a bit of time to figure it out but it is really great for safety as you can dail without touching your phone. Just do not store too many names and if you have 2 drivers, programme your own directory. The system do not do well with 2 different voices recognizing the same names.

Another feature that i like is the fact that the driver seat returns to the position that the driver last left it with the passive key. As my car is often driven by my wife and myself, this is really nice.

What I like
- engine
- quietness
- voice activation
- passive key tied to memory seat
- ability to overtake effortlessly

What I do not like
- fuel consumption is poor versus what is stated
- Squeaky hand brakes
- Boot space is poor unless you play around with the seats (Presage have plenty at the back + spare tyre)
- No build in GPS - the external one provided is poor
- No rear view camera

Review
After driving for about 7500 km, I can give a more accurate review than my first one. I have thoroughly enjoyed driving the car, except in traffic jams mostly.

However, I am going to be much more critical than in my first review.
Nitpicking is the goal here.

Some changes since my first review:
1) After reprogramming the ECU, the gearbox is no longer jerky - easy to manipulate at slow speeds (and switched to RON 98)
2) iPod connectivity is good with a 3-line display, but you need the right cable
3) I am used to the mirrors and they are really good with blind spots
4) I found out that the 3rd row seats can slide forward!

Overall, I am very happy with the car and would rate it 16/20.
Leow Ju-Len recently rated it 14/20 in Top Gear Singapore's June 2011 issue.

What I like
Engine power is sweet, and a real blast in Sports mode.

Steering is really accurate, and helped out by the feedback of the Potenza RE050A tyres given with 18" wheels. Very easy to judge turning angle (like racing line). Great feedback.

Handling is superb as long as the steering input is not too sudden (otherwise you get some body roll).

Interior really feels comfortable and homely, with European/Germanic quality cabin throughout.

Superb flexibility in accommodation. Even 3rd row seats can slide back-and-forth. This allows you to adjust the amount of legroom or boot space. I couldn't do this with the Estima previously.

Examples:

Folding down the middle seat in the 2nd row, making it effectively a 2+2+2 seater with easy access to the 3rd row.

Or carrying 3 adults, 3 kids in child seats and 3 kids' bicycles, with 2 boxes in the boot by folding 1 3rd row seat.

Or keeping all seats up, sliding the 3rd row slightly forward and putting a stroller in upright position behind.

What I do not like
My biggest bugbear is fuel consumption (since I drove a hybrid previously).

The fuel consumption is rated as 12.3 km/L or 8.8L / 100 km.
In reality, with moderate driving, the FC figure is inaccurate.
With many short trips and heavy traffic, FC is about 8.8-9.2 km/L.
For 70-80% highway, average FC is 10-10.5 km/L.
If I were to whack often, 8 km/L is likely (luckily no gear paddles!)
Anyway, it's a turbo full-sized MPV.

Chip/ECU tuning to 240 hp and 360+ Nm costs at least $1k. Difficult choice.

Central locking is manual - have to press the door lock on the driver's side door panel.

Occasional creaking from the soft plastics / panelling in the doors when cornering and going over bumps.

Aircraft-styled lever handbrake needs to be oiled regularly to avoid squeaking/screeching upon pulling up to engage the brake.

Aircon is relatively weak. Rear aircon saps power from engine.

Power-assist of the steering seems to be speed-sensitive, so it feels heavy when making sharp turns at crawling (carpark) speeds. Rim of the steering wheel could be slightly thicker/fatter.

Noticeable body roll when turning if the steering is not well-judged.

Gotten used to the small cup-holders. Using the large door bins for water bottles instead.

Would be nice to have:
1) factory LED lights inside and for cornering lights
2) factory-installed TPMS

Review
I have driven about 150 km so far. Driving on optional 235/45 R18 RE050A tyres. Handling is as good as you can get for a large MPV, though there will still be a bit of body roll when you take corners too quickly. Steering feedback is good.

Having previously driven a hybrid MPV, I am still getting used to the dual-clutch gearbox and T/C engine. Hybrids are better suited for stop-start traffic certainly. Powerful engine nonetheless, but still running-in so not pushing yet. Did push it quite a bit during initial test drives.

This car is well-suited for long-distance cruising as opposed to congested roads. Pick-up is powerful, but slightly lethargic from stationary till the engine hits the 1700 rpm mark when all 300Nm come in.

Interior is excellent, although I am used to more boot (over/under) space in my previous ride. The flexibility of the seating arrangements plus the middle seat 3-pt seat belt help to seat different groups of passengers.

Build quality is on par with the usual continental cars like BMW and Merc, but still short of Audi and Lexus (perceived) quality. Feels solid. Doors close with a solid thunk.

What I like
Powerful engine
Handling, stability, independent suspension
Brakes easy to modulate
Build quality
Flexibility of seating
Safety features and 5-star NCAP rating
Good power-weight-engine capacity ratios
My optional 18" rims

What I do not like
Jerkiness of dual-clutch gearbox at low speeds
Small cup holders
HU could be more iPod friendly
Limited boot space with all seats up
Looks odd from certain angles
Weak 2nd & 3rd row aircon
Wing mirrors could be bigger
Lack of keyless entry