Ford S Max Engine Advice

Ford S Max Engine Advice

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XMT

Original Poster:

3,898 posts

154 months

Saturday 13th January 2018
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Hi All,
With a 3rd child on the way, I need a new family wagon that can take 3 seats. Looking at a C4 picasso or an S max.
I prefer the S max for many reasons but there's such a bewildering choice of engines I am not sure which is the most reliable.

I am looking for a 2011 on-wards model.
I have seen the

1.6 ecoboost petrol
2.0 derv.
2.2 tdci
and various petrol 2.0 petrol engine.

Any advice on the autos? reliable?

Any advice would be great. I have done quite a bit of reading up but still quite confused!

Anything else I should know about these?

quinny100

960 posts

193 months

Sunday 14th January 2018
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What is the usage profile of the car?
How much power do you want?
What is your MPG expectation?
Do you want a high spec Titanium X Sport model?

In short, the 2.0 Ecoboost is great, but low 30’s MPG average. Powershift automatic only. 200BHP or 240BHP in Titanium X Sport. Chain driven so no cambelt costs. Powershift bos is generally very reliable with the petrols, but needs servicing every 3 years or 37.5k at around £300. If none of that bothers you, get one because they are by far the nicest power train to use.

Forget the NA petrols - no better on fuel than the Ecoboost and less power.

Of the diesels, the 2.0 163BHP is the one to have. No more thirsty than the lower output engines. The 2.2 TDCi is quite a bit more thirsty in the Mondeo, especially with an automatic (2.2 use an conventional auto rather than Powershift) so if you want the power the petrol is usually considered the better bet as it there’s only about 3-5MPG difference and the petrol is nicer with none of the diesel stuff to go wrong. Even the 2.2 manuals are only good for very low 40’s average in the Mondeo, probably a bit less in the S-Max.

I’ve not much experience with the 1.6 Ecoboost, I found it a bit underpowered in the Mondeo and cars with it tend to be low spec.

XMT

Original Poster:

3,898 posts

154 months

Monday 15th January 2018
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Hi quinny100

Thank you for the detailed reply, thats very helpful, We have allround use for the car, long jounreys and short school runs, We have diesels for over 10 years and never had issues with DPF etc

From looking on AT and PH We would aim to get the Titanium X sport trims spec which I think leaves us to the 163 BHP and 200 BHP engine. Is the 200 any more or less reliable?

LarsG

991 posts

82 months

Monday 15th January 2018
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Never believe the Ford figures mpg on an ecoboost engine. I had a 62 1.6 180 Focus that the brochure promised 47.6mpg. I was lucky to get 33-35 in mixed driving.

Incidentally a diesel Mondeo 2.0 210 Bi Turbo Estate I have promises 57mpg and delivers 58mpg. Only comes with a Powershift gearbox which is smooth and has the option of paddle thingys to change gear. Suggest that the bigger the engine, the more torque the better for the S-Max.

Edited by LarsG on Monday 15th January 23:54