Ford B-MAX (2012 – 2017) Review

Ford B-MAX (2012 – 2017) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Compared to key rivals, the B-MAX is by most measures the best in the class.

+Sliding side doors and no central pillar mean unimpeded access. Five star Euro NCAP rating. Engines include 1.0 litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol. Decent drive.

-Doors are thick and subsequently heavy to close. Cluttered centre stack. Numerous Powershift clutch pack failures.

Insurance Groups are between 7–14
On average it achieves 75% of the official MPG figure

Ford enjoyed much success with its C-MAX, S-MAX and Galaxy MPVs which managed to be as practical as you would hope but not insufferably dull to drive, and the B-MAX is the brand’s attempt to shrink those attributes down to a supermini size. 

Introduced in 2012, the B-MAX took a different route to practicality by adding sliding rear doors for a significant advantage over the competition, such as the Vauxhall Meriva and the Fiat 500L. Sitting on the same platform as the Fiesta, the B-MAX has a strong engine range, is good to drive and is relatively cheap to run too.

The B-MAX is Ford's answer to small MPVs like the Vauxhall Meriva - a practical family car that blends plenty of exterior space with a compact, hatchback-like footprint.

But unlike the competition, the B-MAX has a trump card in the form of a unique door arrangement - the rear doors slide open and there is no central pillar between the front and back doors. This makes access to the back row extraordinarily easy, and means the B-MAX is easily one of the most practical small MPV you can buy. 

Underneath the fancy doors, the B-MAX is based on the same platform as the Fiesta, so there’s a well-judged balance between ride comfort and nimbleness.

For those moving from a hatchback to a people carrier for the first time, the B-MAX is a sensible choice, offering a similar driving experience to its small car sibling. On the other hand, those used to MPVs might find the B-MAX provides an overly-firm ride - always try before you buy.

The engine range is broad, kicking off with a simple 90PS 1.4-litre petrol. Fine though it is, it’s worth spending a bit more time and money to find one of the other options, whether it’s the 1.6-litre TDCI diesel or the 1.0-litre Ecoboost, offered with either 100PS or 125PS.

In particular the EcoBoost units are a great example of the modern downsized petrol unit, with strong performance and low fuel consumption. Those who want an automatic are restricted to the 1.6-litre petrol with 105PS, which unfortunately isn’t particularly good when it comes to emissions.

It is better to drive than both the Vauxhall Meriva and Fiat 500L, and although the Meriva offers its own take on a more practical rear-entry system with a pair of ‘suicide’ doors, the B-MAX is also more practical than the main competition.

Despite the novel door arrangement, the B-MAX manages a five-star Euro NCAP rating, plus it offers a nicely trimmed interior and a large boot. Luggage capacity is 318 litres with the seats in place, expandable to 1386 litres if you fold them flat, something that’s easy to do.

Children or adults will fit comfortably into the back row and – of course – they will have no issue getting in and out. Fitting child seats is a doddle too.

Practicality is further enhanced by plenty of little extra touches like map nets, bottle holders, 12v sockets, big door pockets and a wide-angle mirror for checking on the rear seat passengers. Altogether the B-MAX is a great package, only let down slightly by fairly high prices, slightly gruff diesel engines and a few confusing interior buttons.

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Ford B-MAX review.

Ask Honest John

How can I fix the faulty headlights in my Ford B-MAX?

"I have automatic headlights on my car so never normally have to make any adjustments with them, but I recently noticed the headlights weren't working at all, only the sidelights were working. The headlights were switched to automatic, I then changed them to the "On" position, but that made no difference. The strange bit is that if I switched the headlights to the "Off" position the headlights turned on, but I lost the rear lights. I have been told it may be the control module, which is a very expensive fix so I was hoping someone could suggest other options to try first before committing to a costly fix with a garage."
We are not aware of any specific fault that may cause this issue, but given the problems you are experiencing it would seem that either a wiring or a control module fault is to blame. Unless you are comfortable with checking the wiring yourself, we would suggest trying an independent Ford specialist or automotive electrician who would be able to diagnose the fault and repair it at a reduced cost compared to a main dealer. If the control module is to blame a secondhand replacement should be available for around £100 or less.
Answered by David Ross

Can I upgrade my car audio to receive DAB+?

"Can my Ford B-Max radio be upgraded for DAB+?"
Whether your car can received DAB or DAB+ depends on when it was manufactured, so it may already have this facility. One way you can check this is to go to the Digital Radio UK website here: https://getdigitalradio.com/post-code-checker/ and see which DAB+ stations are transmitting in your area and see if you can receive them in your car. Your SYNC system may require an update, so we would also suggest resetting and rescanning the available stations on your audio system. It is unlikely that your system can be made compatible with DAB+ if it is not already, although you may wish to consult a car audio specialist. Alternatively you could stream DAB+ stations through your smartphone, or replace the audio system with a more modern aftermarket system.
Answered by David Ross

Should I change the cambelt on my Ford B-MAX?

"I have a 2014 Ford B-MAX 1.6 petrol automatic with 43500 miles. I've been advised that I need to have my cambelt changed do to to the age of the car. What else should the garage change while doing the belt and would you recommend me to have it done?"
We would recommend that the belt is changed every 60,000 miles or 5 years whichever comes first so given the age of your car, we would get the belt changed now. Also for very little extra cost we'd suggest having the auxillary belt renewed and also the water pump.
Answered by Alan Ross

My car broke down a month after its MoT - should this have been picked up?

"My Ford B-MAX was MoTd in May with two advisories for tyres and dust caps. It then broke down the first week July, the gearbox had a serious oil leak which I have been told should have been picked up on MoT. It needs new gear box and clutch. Can I do anything about this with the garage that passed my car?"
You have the right to complain about an MoT if it has passed and you think it should have failed, but unfortunately the time limit for this is 28 days after the date of the MoT. You can still contact the DVSA if you wish to complain about the service you received, you can find the contact information here: https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/problems-with-your-test-result It is important to remember that the MoT test is designed to ensure that the vehicle is road legal and meets minimum road safety requirements on the day it is tested, rather than diagnose any faults. It is possible that at the time, the leak had not developed sufficiently to be spotted by the MoT tester.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Ford B-MAX (2012 – 2017) cost?