Used Ford C-Max 2011-present review

The original Ford C-Max, which was based on the Ford Focus family hatchback, caught the tide of popularity as people swam towards MPVs. So this model, which replaced it in 2011, was careful not to mess with the successful formula.

It was larger all round, because by then so was everything else, and, for those who needed even more space, there was also a stretched seven-seater version, the Grand C-Max. It was smarter, too, and more upmarket. The only fly in its ointment was that not long after it was launched, the buying public started to find favour with the SUV, and the MPV became yesterday’s hero.

On the road, it’s the 1.0-litre engines that appeal the most, and the 125bhp version in particular has enough urge to move the C-Max along nicely. It’s smooth and fairly economical, too. The diesels all have a fair amount of low-end grunt, and the 2.0 TDCi 150 is a real flyer, but there’s also a gruffness to them that the petrols don't have. In corners, the C-Max excels, with good front-end grip and well-weighted steering, so you can enjoy flinging it through a series of challenging bends. Ride comfort is good, too – it only really gets caught out on the roughest of our roads.

The interior is spacious and has a good driving position that provides excellent visibility. The dashboard design and the layout of the major and minor controls is standard Ford. There’s plenty of room up front, and rear seat passengers get plenty of head and leg room. There's even space for three abreast, at least for shorter journeys. The C-Max's layout is also flexible and practical, allowing you to fold away the middle seat to make life more comfortable for two passengers in the rear. The boot is a good size, even if the rear seats don't quie fold flat and there’s no variable-height boot floor.

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