AT THE wheel, the Ford S-Max is probably the most engaging seven-seater in town. Driving it hardly involves the compromises MPVs are known for - excessive body roll, sub-optimal roadholding, inadequate stopping power, disembodied steering and an overhanging lethargy.

The S-Max betrays none of that. Surprisingly, it is better behaved and more entertaining than a number of sedans. Its 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine is able to exploit the car's sporty dynamics sufficiently.

There may be only 161 horses and 208 Newton-metre of torque available, but the power plant's willingness to bring them to the fore and its propensity to stay muted and calm throughout the rev band often pave the way for an enjoyable drive.

So Mum or Dad at the wheel should have little to complain about.

Passengers, however, have a somewhat different deal. The stout suspension that holds up the carriage so perfectly when you attack the bends makes for a firm ride.

Somehow, those in the second and third rows bear the brunt of this trait, where the slightest undulation can come across as joltingly harsh.

The car compensates in other ways, though. It is fairly effortless to get to and from the third row, and the middle section offers more hip- and head-room than expected.

All the seats are well padded, providing decent comfort and good support.

The ceiling is high enough for a DVD set to be installed without compromising the driver's rear visibility.

The rear seats fold flat easily enough to transform the S-Max into a cargo carrier whenever the need arises.

And although the air-con unit is not the most powerful you will find, the S-Max has extra blowers located on the B-pillars to help distribute the cool air to rear passengers.

The air-con needs all the help it can get because the car's panoramic sunroof lets in quite a lot of sun.

In the first week of this three-month road test, we found that the car's fuel consumption was pretty decent, with a litre getting us 8 to 8.5km. Of course, this is only if you happen to spend more time on highways than byways.

In city driving, the S-Max fares poorly, managing just 7km or so per litre. This is, however, with heavy-footed driving that spared no ponies or brake pads.

Fair price to pay for fun, perhaps. Especially when fuel is courtesy of Chevron, which has been our constant sponsor for long-term tests.

And the car would have been more fun if not for a couple of niggles which have come to our attention. One, the cruise control buttons are sometimes sticky. So, you might have to press a couple of times to, say, cancel a set speed.

Two, the power steering protests by whining audibly when in full lock. Hope it doesn't worsen with time.

As a family wagon, the S-Max has a comforting rock solidness that is often missing among Japanese models.

It has a remarkably Teutonic feel that is almost BMW-ish - which is not bad for a Belgian-made American car.

That might explain its premium pricing (of over $100,000).

The Ford S-Max is powered by Caltex with Techron.

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 1, 2008.