Hello,

I'm hoping someone here can help! I'm potentially looking at getting an S-Max but I'm finding the model variants very confusing.

Autotrader lists the 2006-2014 models as- Zetec, Titanium, Titanium X Sport. What are the correct variants?? 

I've also seen mentioned on a Kuga forum that there is a difference between a 'Titanium X' and a 'Titanium X Sport', and apparently it's common for them to be incorrectly listed - potentially incorrect at DVLA too, which would affect insurance and tax. So, thinking that's probably the case with S-Max too.

The one I'm looking at is listed on Autotrader as 2014 (64) Titanium X Sport 161bhp. The exterior certainly looks sporty with the front bumper 'skirt', the 18inch alloys, rear spoiler, and it's got the 'Titanium X' badge on the back.

But it's also missing features:

- The panoramic sunroof doesn't have a sunshade. There is no button to open/close one. 

- It's got a standard Sony stereo rather than a touchscreen, so no Sat Nav or parking camera

- It doesn't have integrated rear sunshades

- It doesn't have buttons for Comfort, Normal and Sport modes, which I've seen in a video review of a 2014 one on YouTube.

- Also in that video it has a 'Sport' badge underneath the Titanium X lettering. I've not seen this in any other Autotrader listing.

- It doesn't have a keyless entry button on the door handle

- No light on the wing mirrors to show cars in the blind spot

Are any of these meant to be standard? The lack of a sunshade surprised me. I've never known a sunroof not to have one.

Also, when I lookup the registration on carcheck.co.uk, it shows the BHP as 140 instead of 161. I don't know how reliable the info on there is though.

Thanks in advance!

Hi again,

I've spoken to Ford who sent me a 2014 brochure. They confirmed that there should only be 3 variants- Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X Sport.

From looking at the brochure, what I believe has happened is that the car I'm looking at is actually a Titanium with extras added to make it look like an X Sport. The power sunshade must be an extra that the original buyer thought was too pricey to bother with. But the car does have a Titanium X badge on the back, which I think is a bit naughty if it isn't actually a 'real' one.

So if it is infact a Titanium with extras, then it is listed incorrectly on Autotrader and probably priced too high. It's possible it's registered incorrectly with DVLA too and previous owners may have been paying too much.

I would have thought that the Sat Nav and reverse camera would have been optional extras. As too Blind spot warning, keyless entry and the adaptive suspension (whatever it's called), so no buttons = normal suspension.

Any "Sport" badge would have been added by a previous owner as I don't thinbk it came on any car, not even the Mondeo's. I believe any decent car checking site will show it as a "Titanium X Sport" (TXS) if it is one. It does for my Mondeo. Additionally it shows as TXS on insurance quotes.

Seat would be half leather and alcantara with red stitching and red stiched steering wheel too if it's a TXS.

Have a look at other on Autotrader to get an idea of other cars to help you. If you've been sent the right brochure then you will be able to see all the optional extras.

If you can see the reg number in the ad, let me know what it is via PM and I can check what it should be.