Large, seven-seater MPVs should be flexible and adaptable and as such, Ford Galaxy practicality doesn’t disappoint.

Like many other cars of this type, when all seven seats are in use the boot space is all but useless. Ford claims the Galaxy can accommodate 300 litres of cargo behind the rearmost seats (to roof height), although it would have to be tall and slender to make the most of it.

Nevertheless it’s more than SEAT and Volkswagen offer in the Alhambra and Sharan, respectively at 267 litres, while Citroen quotes only 165 litres for the Grand C4 Picasso but that’s only to the window line.

Tip the third row of seats over – they fold flat into the floor – and you’ll have 700 litres (up to window height) to play with. While the Citroen trumps it at 793 litres, the SEAT and VW twins offer 809.

Owners of MPVs regularly have need to fold all five back seats away and convert their erstwhile family wagon into a van. How does the Galaxy’s 2,339-litre capacity rank against the others? Citroen quotes 2,181 for the Grand C4 Picasso while the Alhambra/Sharan pair clock up 2,297 litres. Only SsangYong’s gargantuan 3,146-litre Turismo outranks the Ford in this segment.

In addition to the numerous cubbies and pockets dotted around the cabin, the Galaxy’s trump card is the optional Titanium Family Pack for the top two tiers of the line-up. With it comes electrically-folding middle and third row seating, with each chair individually selectable for tumbling. Not only that, the rearmost row can be returned to their seating positions again at the touch of a button.

Electrical assistance also features on many models’ large tailgate, with a key fob button to raise it open. Additionally this can be enhanced with a hands-free option that’ll open the boot by wiggling your foot under the back bumper.

Safety

Although it’s yet to be tested by the crash experts at Euro NCAP, we expect Ford Galaxy safety to be rated by them as five stars when it is.

We’ve not given it quite the same rating on the basis that some of the safety equipment available for the Galaxy is optional rather than standard.

With space for seven people, the latest Galaxy is nevertheless a safe car in which to travel, with airbags aplenty – driver, passenger, driver’s knees, side and curtain – ensuring everyone will be well-cushioned in the unfortunate event of an accident.

Additionally the Galaxy can be specified with an intelligent speed limiter which uses a camera at the top of the windscreen to read traffic signs – if the limit is lower than that set by the driver it will ease off the fuel flow to the engine until the legal limit is reached. The system can be overridden with a firm press of the accelerator.

Other cameras are standard or optional, depending on the trim level and location – one at the front offers a split view, making it helpful for manoeuvring the Galaxy’s long, sloping nose out of tight junctions.

Also available are Active City Stop which will autonomously brake the car to a standstill to mitigate against low-speed collisions, lane departure warning and LED headlights with Glare Free technology.