Ford has launched its dynamic new range of market-leading multi-purpose vehicles – the Galaxy and “seven-seater coupe” S-Max – with a pricing deal making them more attractive to business and private motorists alike.

It hardly seems possible that the Galaxy has been evolving for 15 years, and with S-Max, dominates the chauffeur/private hire sector while also being a hit with families.

In a careful balancing act called Blue Tag pricing, Ford promises to keep existing and new buyers happy by cutting list prices over outgoing models by ten to 12 per cent without denting residual values.

This means the S-Max prices start from £20,645 (Zetec 2.0 Duratec 145PS, five-speed manual) and Galaxy prices from £22,945 with the same powertrain.

The key issue is that company car drivers’ benefit-in-kind taxes – and 70 per cent of large car customers pay these – are based on list prices and CO2 emissions, so with cleaner new engines and lower list prices the tax bills will fall.

Model names have changed, with the Edge entry model replaced by Zetec and Ghia by Titanium and Titanium X, but better still are the engines with higher output but lower CO2, which also brings down road tax.

The key units are the new 115 and 163PS 2.0 litre Duratorq turbo diesels and the 2.0 litre 203PS petrol EcoBoost, an advanced turbocharged direct injection petrol engine, available on both ranges. Standard with the Ecoboost engine is Ford's PowerShift double-clutch automatic transmission, far more efficient and less power-sapping than the old torque converter variety.

With the new Ecoboost powertrain the S-Max sprints to 62mph in 8.5sec and on to 137mph, yet with 25 per cent more power than the previous 161PS 2.3 litre automatic powertrain its CO2 is down by nearly a fifth to 189g/km while economy is an attractive 34.8mpg combined.

With the diesel and Powershift, the S-Max can save a higher tax-rate business user £50 a month tax with CO2 emissions of just 152g/km, and the bonus of 49.5mpg combined. Driving the S-Max in Titanium X Sport specification was a real pleasure – the seven-seater had the handling and ride of a sporty hatch.

The Galaxy is roomy and easily accessible with its higher roof profile, and the diesel was smooth, quiet and responsive.