Nicholas is impressed with the interior options and driveability of this family car – Ed.
Say hello to the new Ford C-Max, the newly-released people-carrier based on the new Focus hatchback, which is itself due to be launched this coming March.
Available in two forms – either a five seats or, in Grand C-max form, seven seats, with two folding seats in the back and sliding rear doors for easier access – both come with a handsome body that looks eye-catching without being too busy.
Interior
The interior is by contrast very busy. It makes other people-carriers look bland, but might not be to everybody’s taste.
If you’re one of those who like their toys, then the options are going to get you excited. They include push-button start, Sony CD player and the boot lid that can open and close at just the touch of a button.
From the driver’s seat
Where the Ford C-max is set apart from other people-carriers is from the driver’s seat.
All the driving controls have a certain rightness about them; feelsome steering, solid brakes and an excellent gear change. If you were driving down one of the Island’s twisty lanes, there would be no need to wrestle with or make allowances for the car’s size – you could simply take advantage of the high viewpoint and have fun.
However, what Ford does so well nowadays is mix a dynamic drive with a feeling of quality. You may not expect your family wagon to be entertaining to drive, but you do expect it to be quiet, smooth, and full of hidey-holes for toys and sweet wrappers. Ford are also pushing upmarket, and beneath the jazzy interior design lies good, solid feeling materials.
Pricing
Any negatives? Well, at £21,560 the top spec model I drove was quite expensive. No more so than other premium family cars, such as the high spec VW Touran 2.0 TDI SE at £23,000, but more than some back to basics family cars such as the Kia Carens.
Before adding options, the base Ford C-Max costs £17,000, and regardless of spec, the Ford C-Max is a well-designed, handsome family car with a playful streak.
Summary
The Ford C-max should be the automatic choice for those who have swapped a sports car for baby seats, and only a shortfall on cabin space stops it from being a perfect family car: 8/10
Click on the thumbnails to see larger versions.
Thanks to Premier Ford, Newport, for help with the review.
