Using a slightly elongated version of the Focus platform the C-Max mid-sized people carrier models carry over more than the Focus styling.
The big difference between the five seater C-Max and its ‘Grand’ seven seater stablemate is the increased seating accommodation and the fact that this larger version has sliding side rear doors for improved access to the second and third row of seats and these are much easier to use in confined parking spaces.
The C-Max has conventional hinged rear side doors and more of a coupe side profile than its larger ‘Grand’ version which has a higher roof towards the rear for better headroom for the third row passengers.
As for the front styling they both more or less mirror the latest ‘One Ford’ family face used for the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo passenger car models.
The all-important load space for the C-Max is 471-litres with all five seats in use and with the three rear seats folded this increases to 1,723-litres. For the ‘Grand’ version the load space ranges from 475 to 1,867-litres.
In both instances the load area is boxy in shape so it maximises capacity and access is via a tall and wide tailgate which has the £700 option of hands free power operation using a foot waved under the bumper to activate it.
The front fascia panel again adopts that used in the latest Focus range and for the Titanium and Titanium X versions have the much better 8.0-inch touchscreen. Combined the C-Max and Grand C-Max will see 54% of UK customers choose the Zetec specification, 34% Titanium and 12% Titanium X.
Throughout the range switches and controls have a tidier and improved intuitive layout. The entry level Zetec model’s specification includes electrically operated windows, air-con, 16-inch alloy wheels, Ford DAB audio with the latest Ford SYNC 2 system with emergency assistance, heated door mirrors and Quickclear heated windscreen.
Titanium level has additions which include 17-inch alloys, auto headlights and wipers, dual zone air-con, cruise control with speed limiter and a power starter button.
Titanium X additions include a panoramic glass roof, Bi-Xenon headlights, partial leather upholstery, a driver’s power operated seat and heated front seats.
There is also a wide range of options many of them safety related and these include automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning and automatic parking function.
When it comes to the choice of engines only available for the C-Max there is a 1.6-litre, 125hp normally aspirated petrol engine with a five speed gearbox.
Available for both C-Max and Grand C-Max models is the choice of 1.0-litre, three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol units which will account for 14% of sales and are available with either 100 or 125hp with auto stop-start as standard and a six-speed manual gearbox.
Mainstay of the engine options accounting for 71% of sales is the new 1.5-litre TDCI 120hp turbodiesel engine. This replaces the previous 1.6-litre engine but still have more power, better fuel economy and lower emissions.
The revised 2.0-litre turbodiesel unit has gone up from 140 to 150hp but has a 20% improvement in emissions. As before there is the option of manual and auto transmissions, depending on the engine chosen.
My test drive version was the expected best selling of the C-Max and Grand C-Max models.
This was the five seater C-Max Zetec powered by the new 1.5-litre TDCI 120hp turbodiesel engine with Start/Stop and a six-speed manual gearbox and carrying a price-tag of £20,045. The seven seater Grand C-Max equivalent is £21,645.
Both test models had the Ford SYNC2 DAB navigation system with the better-sized 8.0-inch touchscreen which costs a worthwhile £500. Not only does this work well it also improves the visual appearance of the revised fascia panel.
Both versions of C-Max/Grand C-Max offer a user friendly and practical interior. Out of preference I would opt for the Grand C-Max, not just because of the extra third row of two seats but more importantly because it has sliding rear side doors.
This makes loading and unloading of passengers much easier and in particular getting in and out of the vehicle in parallel parking slots where there is little space these days for opening doors.
They ride well as I would expect from the excellent Ford Focus platform, the handling is agile, the ride compliant but there is a shade more body roll than a Focus due to its higher centre of gravity and raised roof line. The only downside is the thick twin front A pillars which can restrict front quarter driving visibility.
The new 1.5-litre, four cylinder 120hp turbodiesel engine is impressive. With 270Nm of torque from 1,750rpm the flexibility and response is remarkably good and is well matched with the six-speed gearbox ratios.
How it performs when fully loaded with the family and their luggage on hilly routes remains to be seen but first impressions were good with effortless cruising speeds.
This engine can also be chosen with a six-speed Powershift automatic gearbox which adds £1,250 to the price over a manual version.
With two body options, a wide range of engines and transmissions plus a comprehensive choice of specification levels, both the C-Max and Grand C-Max are good examples of what Ford do well – providing a competitive well priced cost effective product to suit many needs and budgets.
MILESTONES
Ford C-Max Zetec, 1.5 TDCI Start/Stop 6-speed manual (Best selling model) £20,045.
Powertrain: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, 120hp, 270Nm of torque from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual. Performance: 114mph, 0-62mph 11.3-seconds, 68.9mpg Combined Cycle (57.2mpg on test), CO2 105g/km, VED road tax £0/£20, BIK company car tax 19%.
Insurance group: 17E Warranty: 3-years/60,000-miles. Dimensions/capacities: 5-seater, 5-doors, L 4,379mm, W 1,828mm, H1,610mm, boot/loads space 471 to 1,723-litres, braked towing weight 1,200kg.
For: Easy to live with, easy to drive, fuel and tax efficient, comfortable ride, improved equipment levels, equipped, versatile seating combinations, improved residual values.
Against: Restricted front quarter visibility, some rough edges to the plastic lower fascia and trim around the front seat adjusters, fascia looks better with the optional larger 8.0-screen on Zetec versions, returned much poorer mpg than the official figure.
