Safety and security

The reassurance you feel when driving an S-MAX is based on its active and passive safety features which combine in a fully comprehensive system. From the collapsible steering column to help prevent injuries, to clever technology which prevents you from rolling backwards during hill starts, S-MAX has been designed with you and your family’s safety uppermost in mind.

Interior
Exterior
Security

Intelligent Protection System (IPS)

When the S-MAX earns the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP rating for adult occupant safety, outperforming every other car in its class, you know this is a car that takes safety seriously.

Providing the latest in driver and occupant protection technologies, the key element in our passive safety package is the IPS. This includes the following advanced systems, ready to spring into action in a fraction of a second:

• A rigid steel safety cage that works with side impact door beams to minimise the impact of a collision
• Airbags for overall protection, including driver’s and front passenger’s, also front side impact airbags, together with front and second row, side-curtain airbags deployed from the headlining, plus driver’s knee bolster airbag
• 3-point seat belts with pre-tensioners and retractors on front seats
• Height adjustable mounts on front seat belts
• Seat belt reminder system
• An advanced collapsible steering column and retracting pedals that collapse away from the driver to reduce injury in case of impact - Pedal Intrusion Prevention System (PIPS)
• An Advanced Neck Injury Protection System to help the front passenger avoid whiplash
• Passenger airbag deactivation switch – Dealer fitted
• ISOFIX child seat attachments on outer two seats* in the second row.

*Note: A child seat should never be placed in the front passenger seat when the Ford vehicle is equipped with an operational front passenger’s airbag. The safest place for children is properly restrained on the second row seats.

Park Assist

There are front and rear sensors (optional on LX and standard on all other series) that make parking and manoeuvring both safer and easier. An audible warning helps you judge the distance between your car and any obstacle behind or in front of you, so you have complete confidence and peace of mind, particularly in tight spaces.

Active safety features

S-MAX’s active safety features help provide the safest possible environment for you and your passengers. These features include:

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) to help prevent skidding with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) for more stable braking.

Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Traction Assist (TA) which monitors the rotation of the wheels, as well as the steering wheel angle, yaw angle and sideways movement. If the sensors detect either the front or rear tyres slipping, the onboard computer modifies the engine power and applies the brakes to individual wheels. This keeps them under control and helps keep the vehicle stable. Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) is there to ensure full braking force is available whenever necessary, helping reduce stopping distances in an emergency. To alert other drivers if you do have to brake heavily, the hazard warning lights automatically come on.

Hill Start Assist (HSA). This prevents you from rolling backwards when making a hill start. After releasing the brake pedal when stationary, HSA keeps the wheels braked, leaving you enough time to move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator without the car moving. (Available as part of Adaptive Cruise Control.)

(Optional) Tyre Pressure Monitoring with individual wheel sensors that check the tyre pressure, provide accurate pressure data and alert you before any loss of pressure becomes an issue.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Forward Alert (FA) with ACC you can automatically keep your chosen distance from the car in front. Should the car in front slow down and reduce the gap, your speed drops too. And when traffic speeds up, you automatically return to cruising speed. Meanwhile, FA monitors your distance to the vehicle in front. If you drive too close, a warning noise and flashing light activate. ACC is only available on Zetec, Titanium and Tianium S.(Optional, includes Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Unique Sports Suspension with CDC.)

Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS)

When you fall for something as alluring as S-MAX, you want to know that it will remain safe and secure when you have to leave it anywhere. That’s why we have incorporated so many security features. The locks are all high-security, anti-burst and shielded with strengthened mountings. And for extra measure, there’s our patented Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) immobiliser, which disables the engine until your uniquely-coded key is put into the ignition, or is recognised by the sensors. As for alarms, you can specify a perimeter alarm on LX, while a Thatcham Category 1 perimeter alarm with volume sensing is standard on Zetec, Titanium and Titanium S. With the highest rating awarded by the UK’s Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre, S-MAX’s Category 1 combined car alarm and immobiliser not only makes your vehicle more secure. It also helps lower your insurance premiums. the alarm is triggered if an intruder tries to open the windows, bonnet, or boot. It also protects the audio system, and uses volume sensing to monitor movements inside the vehicle.

Double locking (optional) with global open/close (standard)

S-MAX’s double locking key facility means you can remotely close all the electric windows , as well as deadlocking all the doors. So if an intruder gains entry by breaking the windows, they will be unable to unlock the doors from inside. You can activate double locking simply by pressing the 'lock' button on the key fob twice.

You can also open all the windows in your S-MAX, by pressing and holding the 'unlock' button. To close them, simply press and hold the 'lock' button again.