By all received wisdom, a vehicle like this should not exist. If the latest birth rate figures are to be believed, targeting a product at young families is a loser right from the outset. With birth-rates per 1,000 population dropping by 32 per cent since 1960 in this country and by 51.4 per cent in Germany, 29.6 per cent in France and 45.3 per cent in Italy, simple demographics would appear to have put a nail in the Ford S-MAX 2.5T's coffin before it's even turned a wheel. The truth, however, is not so cut and dried.

While it's true that the number of kids per household has dropped dramatically in the last fifty years, it's also true that the demands we put on our vehicles has probably grown by a bigger proportion. We have more disposable income. We buy more gear and we need to cart that gear around. That's why there's been a massive increase in sales of niche models that don't fit the established saloon/hatchback/estate categories. Even the traditional MPV is starting to look a bit like yesterday's news when faced with cars like the S-MAX 2.5T.

For a start it doesn't look like a standard MPV. It snugs down aggressively onto its big alloy wheels with a stance that's anything but the class norm. This car has attitude. The aggressive swage lines, the vents behind the front wheel arches and the sporty front spoiler all suggest a performance model. It's not until you clock what engine this S-MAX is packing that you realise it's something more than a sheep in wolf's clothing. The unit in question is the very same powerplant that powers the Focus ST hot hatch, in this guise punching out a healthy 220bhp.

Although Vauxhall's Zafira VXR packs an even bigger punch, the S-MAX trumps the Vauxhall in terms of handling, styling and spaciousness. There's room inside for seven people but it's a radically sportier vehicle than the latest Galaxy model with which it shares the same underpinnings. Ford point to the fact that the S-MAX in fact shares just a handful of exterior parts with the more conventional Galaxy, the headlamps and bonnet having the same part numbers. The comparative height of the vehicles (1,676mm for the Galaxy and 1,607mm for the S-MAX) shows that the sleek, hunkered down appearance of the sportier S-MAX is not merely down to clever penmanship. This vehicle is the sleekest people mover this side of a Mercedes R-Class.

"If you need an MPV but want a performance car, the S-MAX 2.5T could offer a one size fits all solution"

The S-MAX 2.5T is a vehicle that's all about that magnificent five-cylinder Volvo-sourced engine. Strong in low down torque but with a real swipe of top end power, it will accelerate the S-MAX to 60mph in just 7.6 seconds and won't let up until aerodynamics intervene at 142mph. You'll need to be extremely saintly to match Ford's quoted combined fuel economy figure of 28mpg, while the 224g/km of CO2 will be enough to strike it from the lists of many curious company car user-choosers.

Where this car scores is in offering a 'one size fits all' solution for the young family, where practicality is the key but driving enjoyment doesn't get overlooked. With supple suspension that flows between corners, the warbling five-cylinder soundtrack and that 'instant-on' overtaking wallop, this is a car that makes cross country travel fast but not furious. It's certainly an easier car to drive quickly than the Zafira VXR. It's good value too, with the Zetec model weighing in at £21,300 or £22,800 in range-topping Titanium guise which still manages to undercut the Zafira.

Ford's designers appear to have become fed up with Vauxhall taking all the plaudits for clever seating solutions and have come up with a system of their own. FFS (Ford FoldFlatSystem before you attribute a baser meaning to that acronym) allows 32 different seating permutations. The second and third rows of seats all fold flat to form a genuinely huge load floor that measures 2.0 by 1.15 metres - that's about as big as a double bed.

In addition to the Ford FoldFlatSystem, a number of lashing points are located across the floor and on the cabin sides, helping to prevent your belongings from destroying themselves if you do fail to resist the Ford's sporty character. The perennial complaint of seven-seat vehicles, namely that there's no room for luggage when all seven seats are occupied, is partly addressed by the S-MAX which offers 285 litres of space with all seats in place. This is up 18 per cent over the old Galaxy. The answer to this question is staring buyers right in the face. Buy a decently sized roofbox for those rare occasions that you are going to be loaded to the gunwales by seven people and their tat. If you do wish to run the S-MAX in removal van mode, it'll heave up to 2,000 litres of goods with all the rear seat folded flat. There are also no fewer than 26 different cubbies located around the cabin so you'll need to know where you left that key/credit card/wedding ring or it could be a lengthy search. In total, there's a full 90 litres of oddment stowage in total.

The fascia design of the S-MAX reflects the exterior lines in its calm maturity. The riot of bisecting lines, angles and arcs that used to typify Ford dashboards has been replaced by a quietly-styled effort with classy materials and no outrageous gimmicks or cheap attempts at creating showroom impact. Some of the silver plastic finishes may be prone to scratching over the longer term but overall the cabin is a step removed from the 'mainstream' norm. The double windscreen pillar can make three quarter visibility a bit touch and go at roundabouts but aside from that, Ford have really committed to safety with this model.

An ultra-rigid passenger cell is a good start point, but there's also a recently-developed Interactive Vehicle Dynamics Control (IVDC) system that controls all of the other safety systems in a cohesive manner. When those include Continuously Controlled Damping (CDDC), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Forward Alert (FA) and Collision Mitigation By Braking, that's quite some integration task. Factor in the anti lock braking system, Hill Launch Assist (HLA) and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and you have a wide array of available safety functions that Ford predict will easily be enough to net the S-MAX a coveted five-star EuroNCAP safety score.

The great thing about the S-MAX 2.5T is that it disguises its size so well. It looks and handles like a far smaller car than it is yet will seat five with ease and seven at a pinch. If you want a fun car to drive but need some practicality, this could well be the answer.

TOP 2 S-MAX DEALS

The results below show the top S-MAX deals on buyacar

	Ford S-Max 2.5T Zetec 5dr People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £378	Saving £3,053	Price £19,037
	Ford S-Max 2.5T Titanium 5dr People Carrier
	ETR	Mthly £406	Saving £3,263	Price £20,327

typical 11.72% APR

PCP finance quote over 48 months,  10,000 miles pa,  deposit of £1000