SPARE a thought for the Galaxy, which has been such a wonderful workhorse for Ford since 1995.

Back then it did not have much competition in the MPV sector, with perhaps only the Renault Espace a serious rival for your money if you needed a reasonably-priced quality vehicle to carry a large family.

Although it was revised in 2000, it only given a complete makeover last year, including a striking new body design featuring elements of Ford's so-called "kinetic design" language.

But at the same time Ford introduced its sporty sibling, the S-MAX, and that little blighter stole all the limelight as it soared to the heady heights of European Car Of The Year.

Latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders show that this year the Galaxy has increased its volumes by 80 per cent to 3,800 vehicles, while more than 4,750 examples of the S-MAX have been sold this year.

In other words, Ford has apparently succeeded in providing not only a large MPV we like and buy in big numbers but also a smaller even more successful version that has more of the driving qualities of a car.

This new Galaxy, built at Ford's Genk plant in Belgium, was born from a new vehicle architecture driven by the company's global shared technologies initiative.

With this approach to product development, Ford has been able to design and engineer the Galaxy and S-MAX to share many of its core technologies. These vehicles are soulmates doing slightly different jobs, in much the same way that Citroen has developed its new C4 Grand Picasso and smaller Picasso.

Viewed from any angle, the new Galaxy retains a certain elegance, despite being a full-size people mover. It has a lower stance and almost bullet-shaped nose featuring the dual grille now common on Ford vehicles.

The wider track, pronounced wheel arches and the strong line which runs from behind the front wing to the tail lamp enhance its modern profile and demand that you take a look inside, where extra space has been built in for up to seven adults and their luggage.

Up front, there are captain's chairs with armrests to convey a "command bridge" feel for the driver and front seat passenger. Don't expect anything but simple, clear features on the instrument panel and centre console, because Ford just never gets this sort of thing wrong.

Optional front seats with eight-way power adjustment can also be specified. The Galaxy's centre console is short and designed to free up room between the front seats for a walk-through to the second row. This also enhances the interior's overall spaciousness. The centre console also includes a stowage compartment and two cup holders.

A new feature is an optional fixed glass panorama roof which combines with large windows to give a light and airy feel to the interior.

The Galaxy is equipped with the Ford Fold Flat System (FFS) for the five rear seats. This enables the second and third row seating areas to be transformed into a flat load space without having to remove and store the seats. In total, there are up to 32 different seating combinations.

Families will enjoy the vast amount of stowage offered. The Galaxy's luggage capacity expands from a minimum of 308 litres (with the third seat row in its rearmost position) up to 2,325 litres (filled to the roof) with all rear seats folded flat. That makes new Galaxy ready to take anything from grocery bags to large and bulky items from DIY stores. For example, four standard-size refrigerators could be loaded.

In addition, there are 31 stowage compartments for everyday items. And if you are still struggling for space, try the large drawers underneath the front seats.

The new instrument panel-mounted gearlever has been raised by 105mm and the spade-handle type handbrake adds to the character. There is even improved pedal spacing.

Two sets of sophisticated steering wheel-mounted toggle switches in combination with an easy-to-read instrument cluster centre display form the basis for Ford's latest-generation HMI (Human Machine Interface).

Beyond standard features such as the common trip computer for fuel consumption and speed information, HMI allows the driver to select individual settings. The system enables a dialogue between the driver and various support systems - radio, navigation system, Adaptive Cruise Control, and mobile phone.

Air conditioning is standard on all new Galaxy models, and for maximum interior climate control, dual Electronic Automatic Temperature Control (EATC) is available.

An optional multi-media DVD system can also be specified. This includes a DVD player located under the front passenger's seat, two LCD screens integrated into the rear of the front seat headrests, an infra-red remote control and two pairs of infra red headphones.

A Bluetooth hands-free telephone and voice control system is also available.

The Galaxy is available in three series - Core, Trend and Ghia. While the Core model is the entry-level offering all the essentials, the Trend series is the volume seller.

At the top of the range, the Ghia model offers classic luxury, with added chrome elements to the exterior and standard features as cruise control, auto lighting and rain sensing wipers, a full-length overhead console and powered/heated door mirrors.

The Ghia X-Pack takes the luxurious Ghia model one step further, and offers additional premium features like full leather trim and the Panorama Roof.

Up until this month, the Galaxy had been available with a manual gearbox across a range of four diesel engines and one petrol engine, ranging between 1.8 litres and 2.0 litres. From this month, both the S-MAX and Galaxy models are available with a 130PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engine and Ford's new six-speed Durashift automatic transmission. On-the-road prices for the automatic start from £19,995 for the S-MAX and £21,995 for the Galaxy.

Despite its size, the Galaxy manages car-like driving dynamics. But its extra bulk means it cannot quite match its little brother's award-winning performance.

When the two models were conceived, engineers strove to create differentiated styles of driving dynamics for the two vehicles. The S-MAX is more sporty, whereas the Galaxy's suspension is tuned to a considerably more relaxed ride.

If you are looking to buy a Ford MPV, then don't just head straight for the S-MAX. The Galaxy remains one helluva people carrier.

At a glance

Model: Ford Galaxy Ghia 2.0 TDCi £23,995 on the road. Galaxy range from £19,500.

Engine: 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit producing 140bhp.

Performance: 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds. Top speed 120mph.

CO2 emissions: 172g/km.

Economy: City 34.4mpg, country 51.3mpg, combined 43.4mpg.