Alex Grant provides a first review of our new long-term test car.

Back in the Eighties, when I was the age my kids are now, if you’d been in the market for a quick Ford family car, you’d have guaranteed some serious school gate cred with a Sierra Cosworth. Pre-crossover, pre-MPV, this super saloon was one of the swiftest ways to move your nearest and dearest, with space for child-related gubbins in tow.

Looking back it’s hard to imagine that, by the time I became a parent, you’d be able to buy a seven-seat MPVwith 20% more power than a ‘Cossie’. Sporty people-carriers might sound like a misnomer, but our S-Max has the performance to back up the ST-Line styling – a 237bhp version of Ford’s new Euro 6d-Temp compliant EcoBlue diesel under the bonnet. And all while returning more than 40mpg – it’s not even run in yet.

Granted, an S-Max lacks a little of the Sierra’s touring car cred, but it’s got plenty in its favour. Seven seats, or five with a sizeable boot, three ISOFIX points in the second row, and surpris- ingly adept at hiding its bulk both visu- ally and to drive. It’s not much of a shock to see this significantly outselling the Galaxy, with which it shares a platform.

We’ll be spending the next three months throwing life at the S-Max to see how it copes. Does its sportiness curb the practicality MPV buyers seek, or is it a saving grace in a market increasingly flooded with seven-seat SUVs? It’ll be interesting to find out.

P11d/BiK:£36,760 (36%) MPG/CO2:47.1mpg (WLTP) 156g/km (NEDC Correlated) Test MPG:42mpg