FAMILIARITY may breed contempt, but it often brings about contentment too.

The Ford S-Max has been with us for just over a month now, and it is beginning to grow on us.

Like an athlete who has finished stretching before a race, the S-Max feels a lot more settled now. Its ride is not as harsh, and its engine seems to breathe easier.

Essentially, the whole car does not seem as 'knotted up' as before. Even its throttle response is keener now.

On the flipside, other things have loosened up too. Cabin rattle is more frequent and more noticeable now. The front wheels are quickly coated with brake dust and need to be washed often.

The car is suitably broken in, and the best benefit of this is the ride comfort.

We have reset the fuel consumption gauge, and its readings have become less alarming. Instead of 14.5 litres per 100km previously, the car now consumes about 12 litres of petrol for every 100km.

We are not sure if this is a function of the car 'loosening up' or the mere act of resetting the meter.

By the way, the long-term test car is turning out to be a hit with colleagues who are moving house.

So far, one has used the MPV as a mover, and two more are in the queue.

When its second- and third-row seats are folded, the S-Max has on hand a sizeable flat cargo-hauling floor. Its torquey engine (208 Newton- metre) is seldom out of puff even when the car is fully occupied.

Proof of the latter surfaced earlier this week when seven Torque staff packed into the car. It accommodated everyone reasonably well. Those in the third row were a bit squeezed, but the situation was not unbearable.

The rear air-con vents did keep occupants at the back comfortable on that hot day, but the entire air-con unit could have been beefier. While it does cool the cabin, it takes quite a while to do so.

When the last row of seats are not needed, the S-Max's stowage capacity is quite sizeable. In this configuration, its (detachable) privacy screen can be employed.

Besides its superb driveability and competent dynamics, this car's impressive list of equipment helps to make it even more enjoyable.

These include cruise control, cornering lights, auto headlamps and wipers, steering-mounted controls, a quick-shift function and an easy-to-use nautical- style parking brake lever.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Mar 29, 2008.