Even though the minivan era was closing to an end on the European market, Ford introduced the S-Max MPV in 2006 as a family alternative for the Mondeo Station-wagon.
There was no argument that a minivan would provide more comfort on long journeys than a sedan or a station wagon. But since most of the European distances are small enough to be crossed in a few hours, the minivans soon became obsolete. Ford, on the other hand, didn’t want to drop the ball.

The S-Max featured the new-edge design philosophy that combined long, curved lines with sharp and narrow edges. Its trapezoidal grille from the front bumper and the flared wheel-arches gave the car a more aggressive look. Ford had to introduce a secondary set of pillars for the windscreen to eliminate or at least diminish the blind spot on the front-side area. The fake extracting vents on the front panels amplified the sporty look of the car.

Inside, Ford offered room for up to seven occupants, with the two seats in the back fitted for small people and short distances. The carmaker tried to make the car offer a feeling of a sportier car, with a sloped center stack extended toward the center console. Thus, it canceled the minivan concept of a cross-through vehicle.

Under the hood, the S-Max featured a choice of six engines, and all paired as standard to manual transmissions but, for selected versions, Ford offered an option for an automatic gearbox.