Ford Grand C-MAX (2010 – 2019) Review

Ford Grand C-MAX (2010 – 2019) At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The combination of seven seats and sliding rear doors makes the Ford Grand C-MAX hugely versatile, and it’s good to drive as well.

+Seven seats as standard, plus sliding side doors. Outstanding ride and handling. Good range of petrol and diesel engines.

-A seven-seater for younger families rather than those with tall teenagers. Barely any boot space with rearmost seats in place.

Insurance Groups are between 10–26
On average it achieves 80% of the official MPG figure

Ford added a compact seven-seat MPV to its line-up with the 2010 Ford Grand C-MAX. And it didn’t do it by half measure, either, as the model came with sliding rear doors for added ease of access. Based on the Ford Focus platform of the period, the Ford Grand C-MAX outshone rivals like the Mazda 5, long established Renault Scenic and big-selling Vauxhall Zafira Tourer thanks to the way it drives. However, there are areas where the Ford Grand C-MAX falls a bit short, such as in terms of boot space and room for passengers in the third row. Read on for our full Ford Grand C-MAX review.

The Ford Grand C-MAX does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s a Ford C-MAX, only it’s grander. That’s thanks to a pair of fold-out seats hidden away in the boot floor. Aside from that, it’s all familiar Ford C-MAX, meaning excellent handling, family-friendly practicality and a good choice of engines.

The two additional rear seats are simple to pull up from the boot floor using fabric straps and, while not suited to larger children, are fine for occasional use and short trips.

They do more or less render the boot useless, though – a Ford Galaxy or the excellent Ford S-MAX might be better if you need boot space and seven seats at the same time, and are keen to stick with the Ford badge.

Unlike the standard Ford C-MAX, the Ford Grand C-MAX has sliding rear doors that make getting child seats in and out very easy. Plus they give great access in multi-storey car parks. The middle row of seats folds with a 40/20/40 split and is very spacious, with plenty of room for adults to sit in comfort.

The engine range consists of two 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engines, plus 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre TDCi diesels. All four options are suited to the Ford Grand C-MAX, although the entry-level 100PS Ecoboost can get out of puff if fully loaded. The two diesels, with 120PS or 150PS, can both be found with a Powershift automatic.

All of the engines have decent fuel economy and even the most powerful 150PS automatic model has emissions below 130g/km, so running costs should be low – just bear in mind the often poor performance of Ecoboost engines in our Real MPG section.

What really sets the Ford Grand C-MAX apart from other used MPVs of the same time is the way it drives. On the road, it has excellent ride quality, yet it also has tremendous grip and great steering, making it surprisingly good fun for an MPV. It’s quiet and refined too, so is well suited to long-distance journeys.

If you’re looking for a true seven-seater, then the Ford S-MAX or SEAT Alhambra are a better bet, but if you just need some extra seats for occasional use the Ford Grand C-MAX is great – it’s good to drive, cheap to run and has a practical cabin. Just remember that those two extra seats eat into boot space.

Fancy a second opinion? Read heycar's Ford Grand C-MAX review.

Ask Honest John

I need a seven seater that is ULEZ compliant for £6000, what are my options?

"I'm looking to buy a 7 seater, £6000 budget. We currently have a Vauxhall Zafira and had nothing but problems with the gearbox. So I'm looking for another 7 seater that is ULEZ compliant, what are my options? "
There are limited options within your budget that offer seven seats and ULEZ-compliance, but we would suggest looking at the Ford Grand C-MAX and Fiat 500L with a petrol engine.
Answered by David Ross

Which seven-seater is best for space and comfort?

"Which of the following has the roomiest rear seats (in a seven-seater): BMW Series 2 Gran Tourer, Ford Grand C-MAX, or Vauxhall Zafira?"
Assuming you're looking at the newer Zafira Tourer then that'll be the most spacious, with the Grand C-Max and 2 Series Gran Tourer having broadly similar amounts of rear seat space. You can check out our favourite MPVs here: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/guides/best-mpv/
Answered by Lawrence Allan

Does 2015 Gran Ford C-Max 2.0-litre diesel auto have a cam belt?

"Does my 2015 Ford Grand C-Max 2.0-litre diesel auto have a cam belt? What is the replacement mileage?"
This engine uses a cam belt. I would recommend changing the belt and water pump every five years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Answered by Dan Powell

How do I keep the DPF clean to avoid trouble with the new MoT?

"With regard to the new MoT changes for diesel cars with DPFs, how can I go about keeping my DPF clean? I have a 2017 Ford Grand C-MAX 2017, which I usually use car for city runs. It doesn't get much use on motorways."
Only ever use Superdiesel and stick to the same brand. After starting the car stay in lower gears keeping the revs to between 1500 and 2000 for the first five to ten miles (don't bimble along at 1000rpm). Take your car for proper runs of at least 50 miles outside the city every week. Take it for a 40 mile run using plenty of revs immediately prior to the MoT.
Answered by Honest John
More Questions

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