I can’t say I’m a big fan of five-seat MPVs. Even now that I have a family and need a lot more space than before, I still don’t see the point of all that extra headroom. I mean, it’s not as if the cheaper and quicker Focus isn’t roomy enough already. I can get the same number of people and almost as much luggage into the back of a regular hatchback, so what exactly is the appeal of these things? Do people buy them simply because they like sitting up high, I wonder? Of all the five-seat MPVs currently on sale, the C-Max is possibly the least versatile because you can’t remove or adjust the rear seats individually –instead, you can merely convert the three rear seats into two individual seats and slide them rearwards to generate more legroom, not that it really needs it.
I thought Ford would remedy this come facelift time but instead it simply restyled the front end, slapped on some new bumpers, bolted in a snazzy new dashboard and left the daft rear seats in place. Still, I can take comfort in the fact that of all the small MPVs on sale, the C-Max still handles the best. It also rides with more composure than any of its rivals even it is a bit noisy these days. Our 2.0 Titanium model boasted a glass roof, 17-inch alloys, climate control, cruise control and half-leather seats but it’s rather expensive and really not worth the money.
All you really need is a 1.6 Activ, which comes with A/C and 16-inch alloy wheels as standard. Or you could just buy a Focus and save yourself a grand. You won’t be able to see over the neighbours’ wall, perhaps, but in every other respect it’s a better proposition.
INFO
Ford C-Max
Engine 2.0-litre, turbodiesel, 136hp, 320Nm torque
Transmission 6-speed manual
Acceleration 0-100km/h 9.6 seconds
Top speed 200km/h (limited)
Economy 5.8 litres/100km
CO2 Emissions 154 g/km
Weight 1,491 kg
Boot Capacity 473 litres
Base Price €33,150
Price as Tested €33,945
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