• Summary
• What's Good
• What's Bad
• On the Road
• In The Cabin
• Prices and Specs
• Owners' Reviews

The original Ford C-MAX was a compact MPV with a good reputation for handling and build quality but was left behind by the competition in certain areas, not least a lack of rear seat flexibility and the fact it only had five seats. With similar-size people carriers such as the Vauxhall Zafira and Volkswagen Touran offering seven seats as standard, the C-MAX couldn't compete.

However, Ford has addressed that problem by introducing two new versions of the C-MAX. There's the seven-seat Grand C-MAX which is actually seen as the successor to the previous C-MAX. And then there's this new C-MAX (with the standard five seats) which is designed to appeal to buyers who are after more space than a regular family hatchback, but who don't want to sacrifice a sporty design or good handling.

Ford has already said that the new Focus, due in 2011, will be even better to drive with more focussed handling (if you'll pardon the pun...) and a sporty feel. The marketing experts at Ford reckon that for those owners who liked the practicality and comfort of the outgoing Focus, the C-MAX will be the car for them, with the Focus aimed more as a 'driver's car'.

Whether this strategy works only time will tell, but as the forthcoming Focus is based on the same chassis as this C-MAX it's already easy to see that Ford has created yet another set-up that perfectly blends ride, handling and comfort together.

There's a choice of three petrol engines and two diesel engines. Making its debut in the Ford C-MAX and Grand C-MAX is the all-new four-cylinder 1.6-litre 150bhp and 180bhp Ford EcoBoost engines which come with a new six-speed manual gearbox. This gearbox is also fitted in the 1.6 TDCI and 2.0 TDCI models while driver's who prefer an automatic transmission, the dual-clutch Powershift six-speed automatic option is available with the 2.0 TDCI engine and delivers emissions of 149g/km. There are also plans for all new 1.0 litre three-cylinder Ecoboost offering around 100bhp and aiming at less than 100g/km.