Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi – make the premium minivan in your family

What is Vignale, what is FordStore? And what makes a premium car a premium car?

We know that the Vignale level in itself is not just a more extended half-extrusion of the car, but also a significant trim. Basically, each Vignale model is customisable, literally – you have a unique customer number after purchase, and almost immediate availability is guaranteed for any problem, request or need. They’ll even deliver the car to your door, even from the countryside – which is exactly what we ran into a few weeks ago when buying a Mustang. True, the Mustang is not a Vignale (who knows, there may come a time when there will be a version of the muscle car), but the flagship Ford Stores selling the premium line are handling the delivery. As it happens, the Budapest region didn’t happen to have a V8 5.0 GT Fastback in immediate stock, so Ford Vagép in Debrecen had to be contacted, and they were able to guarantee immediate delivery of the coveted exotic. The customer, however, was unable to travel down to Debrecen from Budapest due to his busy lifestyle, so he requested home delivery – and it was arranged at short notice.

Well, the same is the case with the Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi and any Vignale. Although we don’t think there’s any other premium FordStore-exclusive car from the brand other than the Mustang or the Edge that’s getting such a push, but who knows. It might also be more exclusive locally if a customer service representative knocks on the door with the car and keys you’ve ordered.

As we’ve written before, although the Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi has a completely new approach compared to the ‘plain’, previous-series S-Max predecessor, which has also been reviewed many times before, there’s a sense of déjà vu about the whole design. The rearward-sloping, slightly bus-like character is retained, with the lines emphasising the huge side surfaces, and here (and in many other places) the eye is drawn to the numerous break lines.

The nose design follows Ford’s current styling direction, with the trapezoidal grille dominating and the obligatory chrome striping in its own right. This may not be a new feature compared to the traditional S-Max, but the grille pattern here follows a unique Vignale line. No matter, the premium character must be emphasised, because the Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi was built to be premium.

Many common features in a traditional S-Max

The graceful lines remain, of course, even from the side: there’s no distracting minivan feel, no sense that the Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi is too big or too bulky.

Perhaps something like this could happen with the Galaxy, although there too the design engineers have solved the ideal distribution with taste and a good sense of proportion. The unmistakable resemblance to the previous S-Max is first striking from the side, with the air intake element wedged between the A-pillar and the front fender arch already showing its full potential, as does the window frame line, which tapers towards the rear. There’s chrome trim here too, but it’s not overdone anywhere, and the new S-Max doles out exactly as much as it can.

Finally, we’re talking about 19-inch wheels, and the Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi test car has been fitted with these. In our previous S-Max test, we complained about this, that is, we thought the dimensions were bigger; although manoeuvring, such as parking on a higher kerb, was easier there.

Even so, there’s still just the right amount of comfort to go along with the alluring looks – basically, the Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCI AWD’s suspension is softly supporting the sizeable carriage, which, when loaded with liquids and passengers on board, can weigh up to 2 tonnes. Which, admittedly, is no mean feat, but it certainly seemed that the 210bhp diesel power unit was up to the task

The Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi’s rear design is more of a station wagon than a van or a single, so if you plan to travel with 7 people, you’ll have 285 litres of luggage space. That’s the capacity of a lower-midsize, or rather small car, in this respect, but let’s not forget that 7 passengers is still a lot. Compromise is important, and it is ‘only’ 4768 mm long.

From the rear, there are more similarities with the predecessor: the design of the rear tail light clusters on the Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi is classic, with a slightly more modern spirit than before, but unmistakably Ford; the number plate design is set under a narrow chrome silver trim strip in the centre, with the S-Max lettering engraved in the left-hand side in the tradition of the past. The twin exhaust tips are the icing on the cake, reinforcing the premium character that has been repeated over and over again, and it suits it well, somehow making the whole look more striking.

Premium use of materials, quality assembly

Speaking of the overall image, the interior of the Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi is a must.

Here you’ll notice a much bigger transformation than on the outside (apart from the nose approach), the whole thing has a complex, upmarket feel thanks to the use of materials and the re-thought design and layout.

The central instrument cluster, the design and shape of the steering wheel itself, the layout and re-design of the cross spokes are all novae in the image of the new Ford Vignale model, but it is the centre console that is most striking and which presents the passengers with a digestible series of stages in a major metamorphosis. The relatively large LCD infotainment is superbly mediated, the handling transparency is perfect, much more polished and precise than before – the whole presents a more unified design. And of course the special, dedicated seat upholstery, or if you prefer, surfaces – here again we get a Vignale pattern that harmonises perfectly with the grille pattern mentioned above.

Our tested Ford S-Max Vignale 2.0 TDCi model has a six-speed PowerShift gearbox, the grip and reach of the lever is excellent, as is the mechanics themselves (more on that below). Sitting in the front seats – what sitting, sprawled out – you can ride in maximum comfort.

Plenty of extras and comfort

Their good adjustability is the main strength of the seats in the driver’s position and in the right 1, the pleasantly sized seat and backrest can be fine-tuned little by little, and the thigh and backrests are also a boon, especially if you expect them on the road.

In the back, if you only use one row of seats, there’s plenty of room for 3 adults, and the separate adjustable chairs mean that customisation and adaptability work here too. The seats can also be moved on rails, so you can even create gigantic legroom if you don’t mind the volume of the cargo area.

The spacing between the two rows of rear seats (three-seater, two-seater) can be adjusted to add two plus medium-sized adults to a five-person travelling party. Obviously there will be compromises here, but for medium-haul journeys, space constraints are not an obstacle.

Of course, it’s better to plan for two children than all other similar cases, but a couple of rear bench seats can be opened up as a not-necessary solution.

Family, minivan, 210 hp

The 2-litre turbo diesel produces 210 hp of power, with maximum output at 3750 rpm and a respectable 450 Newton metres of torque available from 2000 rpm. The PowerShift automatic transmission mated to the drivetrain has been made class-leadingly more refined and precise than on previous base S-Maxes, with no more waiting 2-300 revs for shifts, and the system acts in time. As a result, the gearbox can be unobtrusive, shifting up into higher gears as quickly as you’d like if you’re at a more moderate pace. So there’s no two-way at 50 mph, and you can intervene at any time to change gears without delay.The 210 horsepower and torque of the 2-litre diesel seemed particularly lively: it sprinted from zero to 60 mph in 10 seconds. Fuel consumption was also much improved over the previous S-Max, with an average of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in urban areas and 4.6 litres on the highway.