Bill Pierre Ford

Ford is bringing the Verve concept series to reality in the form of the next Fiesta. Already an established name in Europe and elsewhere, this small car will be brought to the U.S. for the first time in 2010. We’re glad to see Ford bringing products like the Fiesta and recently announced Transit Connect over from the Continent and hope to see more vehicles, like the Mondeo and Euro Focus, land on our shores.

Your growing brood has you shopping for a people carrier, but that doesn’t have to herald the death of driving fun. Granted, there aren’t many cars in the United States that marry seven-passenger capacity and driving excitement, but if you look to the other side of the Atlantic, Ford offers a vehicle that’s fun to drive, affordable, and able to haul the whole family. That vehicle is the S-Max.

Since its introduction in 2006, this minivan/sporty hatchback has snapped up awards quicker than a kid can shout “Yes!” to ice cream. The S-Max was even named the 2007 European Car of the Year. But why should Americans care about this Euro-centric Ford? Because CEO Alan Mulally is talking about bringing some of the company’s European offerings to the U.S. market, and we think the S-Max should be at the top of his list.

The S-Max is available with a range of gasoline and diesel four-cylinder engines, but we drove the top model, which comes with a 217-hp turbocharged five-cylinder. This Volvo-sourced powerplant would be the best fit for American buyers, because it gives the S-Max abundant torque and impressive pace. Plus, the car we tested returned close to 30 mpg on the highway. Inside, the S-Max–which feels roomier than most SUVs–isn’t as big as a Honda Odyssey; think of it as a bulging Mazda 5 with one more seat. Scanning the list of options, you might think that the S-Max wears a three-pointed star. From an adjustable suspension to ventilated seats to touch-screen navigation to a huge glass roof, this Ford gives up little to a Mercedes-Benz R-class.

But to truly appreciate the S-Max, you need to toss it through a few corners, where the Ford effectively resists understeer while giving the driver excellent chassis feedback, like a big Volkswagen GTI. Body control is impressive, and the dampers soak up cambered and lumpy roads with ease.

Despite our fondness for the S-Max, there are a few hurdles for Ford to jump before it could bring the car to the United States. At this point, there’s no automatic transmission option with the five-cylinder engine, and the weak dollar no doubt would hurt the pricing strategy. More important, Ford would have to hire a brilliant marketing team–and maybe a hypnotist–to convince the typical American that a minivan can be cool and fun to drive.