Ford C-MAX Road Test

Ford C-MAX

Moving on to suspension and engines. One of they key features of the original C-MAX was the stability and sheer driveability, making it possible to have a family car that is fun to drive. The basis of this, the Ford Precision Drive, hasn’t changed too much, with Control Blade rear suspension in combination with a wider track and an ultra-stiff bodyshell, making all the difference. Add in one of the Sports Packs and it gets better still while still providing smooth, precise ride and handling characteristics.

The Ford Intelligent Protection System is the collective name for ABS, EBD, EBA and ESP, while a full set of airbags comes as standard - a full set being front and side for the driver and passenger and curtain airbags front and rear.  For the kids, the rear outer seats also have ISOFIX mountings, as standard.

There is a choice of seven power units, which mix and match with various trim levels. Actually, there are eight if you include the 1.8 Duratec Flexifuel. The rest of the Duratec petrol engines are listed as a1.6-, a 1.8- and a 2.0-litre unit. The 2.0 version can, in certain areas, be converted to LPG or CNG.

The smallest of the TDCi, Duratorq engines is offered with two power outputs. One version of the 1.6 produces 90PS while the other outputs 109PS. It comes with a Diesel Particulate Filter System (DPFS), as does the 2.0-litre TDCi, but the 1.8 in the middle and the 90PS, 1.6 does not.

The test car housed the higher output 1.6 and, along with the 109PS at 4,000rpm, there is 240Nm on tap, starting at 1,750rpm. The low-inertia turbocharger helps the car to achieve a top speed of 115mph after a 0-62mph sprint time of 11.3 seconds. While the handling is good, the performance is not excessive for a turbodiesel and overtaking at motorway speeds is best accomplished by dropping a gear to fourth; but then it is a relatively small engine moving a fairly large vehicle.

All of the quoted statistics are for the test car with the Getrag, 5-speed manual gearbox, which is common to most of the range; the exceptions are the 2.0TDCi, which has an extra manual gear and the 2.0-litre petrol unit which is available with 4-speed, automatic transmission.

Whereas the engine’s performance was satisfactory, the fuel economy was impressive with figures of 44.8mpg (urban), 68.8mpg (extra-urban) and 57.6mph for the combined, while the CO2 emissions are measured at 129g/km, putting it in VED Band C.

Ford seem to have all the options covered, there are engines to suit almost every purpose, from frugality to the more performance orientated. There is plenty of space inside the C-MAX with clever seating, if you feel it important enough to pay the extra, and with Ford, you know you will always feel comfortable and welcome.

Ford C-MAX