Ford Galaxy Euro NCAP 5 Stars
Consistently a best seller this spacious and flexible MPV
from Ford will probably figure high on the shortlist of most perspective buyers in this market. Comfortably seating up to seven adults it combines luxury and performance in a very flexible environment.
The Galaxy uses its space very cleverly so there is no need to remove any of the seats to maximise luggage space - they can be folded to form a virtually flat load area. Alternatively you can choose from any one of the other 31 possible layouts. Aficionados of cup holders and cubby holes are also well catered for, so much so
they have died and gone to heaven! The front seats adjust for all shapes and eight-way electrically adjustable seats can be specified.
The Galaxy received a top five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating and a further four stars for child protection. There are seven airbags including window airbags, extending to the very rear, protecting even those in the third row of seats and a drivers knee airbag. Other
safety features include pedals and a steering wheel designed to cause as little damage to the driver as possible in an accident. Options include a passenger airbag deactivation switch (for use when carrying a child seat) and ISOFIX anchors for child seats - to
improve child protection in the event of an accident. An alarm and deadlocks deter thieves.
Three basic trim levels - LX, Zetec and Ghia. The base model has electric front windows and mirrors, air-co, CD player and a heated front screen. When you step up to the Zetec model you add overhead storage console and a dual zone climate control and electric front windows. Ghia models get full leather interior, a CD changer,
automatic lights and windscreen wipers and front and rear parking sensors.
The Galaxy is available with a single 2.0-litre petrol engine or a choice of three diesels. All are offered with manual gearboxes with the 2.0-litre diesel getting a six-speed box (also optional on the 123bhp 1.8 diesel. The 1.8 returns very respectable fuel consumption figures of 44..8mpg combined and 53.3 mpg extra urban.
Every new Ford car sold is protected by a 3 year/60,000 miles Ford Protect Classic Plan Warranty. In addition, it will also come with Ford Assistance for 1 year, providing roadside assistance in the UK and throughout Europe.
About the manufacturer
Ford has been at the forefront of Alternative Fuel Vehicle research and technology for the past 40 years They market more vehicles that run on a wider range of alternative fuels (including Compressed Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, methanol, ethanol and electricity) than any other manufacturer.
As part of their environmental commitment, Ford have developed a complete vehicle recycling programme, encompassing design-for-recycling guidelines, increased use of recycled material, and reducing hazardous materials.
Since 2000 Ford have cut Co2 emissions at its plants and facilities by 15 percent and are targeting further reductions. At its main plant in Michigan they have built the world's largest ecologically inspired living roofabout 500,000 square feet!
Fords hybrid vehicles help save money, fuel and of course the environment. Ford does however accept that emissions are still released when hybrids are built. So, in 2007 they are going a step further by piloting a carbon offset program for hybrids. This program will fund clean-energy projects, such as wind energy, to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount required to build its hybrids.
Ford Motor Company's Onboard Reductant Delivery system received an R&D 100 Award (an Oscar for Inventions" - from R&D Magazine) which recognizes the top new inventions in the US. Past winners include such items as the ATM, anti-lock braking systems, and the fax machine. The ORD system enables exhaust treatment systems to help meet stringent future diesel
emissions standards worldwide, including European Stage IV and V limits for smog-forming emissions. The ORD system can be easily retrofitted onto existing diesel vehicles for approximately one-tenth of the cost of existing retrofit systems.
Ford is investing billions to develop technologies to reduce Co2 emissions from new cars and trucks. It is also committed, amongst other things, to recycling more vehicle components, using more green materials and effectively managing waste to benefit the planet. However it doesnt stop there the company also supports a number of indirect initiatives;
The Wildlife Habitat Council and Ford Motor Company have created "Wildlife at Work" at Ford facilities in the US, England, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico, which encourages communities to create wildlife sites and educational programs on the importance of preserving endangered species.
Conservation International is a field-based, non-profit
organization that protects those spectacular areas in which life is most abundant, and helps the people who live there improve their quality of life. Ford has committed over $5 million to CI's conservation efforts in Mexico and Brazil.
Through its Greener Miles Program Ford have developed a partnership with TerraPass, under which you can calculate the amount of CO2 your vehicle emits, then purchase a TerraPass that funds projects to reduce CO2 emissions elsewhere by the same amount. Know as Carbon offsets these projects include
development of cleaner renewable energy sources such as wind energy or making power from dairy farm manure.