Ford FOCUS C-MAX
June Neary Tries A Focus That Claims To Offer Something Extra the C-MAX.
Im not sure if I get Fords latest product development strategies. The Fusion offers little more than a Fiesta and Im not altogether certain quite what the five-
seat Ford Focus C-MAX
mini-MPV offers over and above their excellent five-seat Focus hatchback. The Focus hatch is a car that drives so beautifully that plonking a bulbous body on top of it and raising the centre of gravity just had to be bad news. Or so I thought until the C-MAX was delivered.
My first thought was that theyd delivered me a Focus hatch in error and the C-MAX is a long way removed from anything that resembles an egg (
Citroen Xsara Picasso), a loaf (original
Renault Scenic) or a Popemobile (Mercedes Vaneo). I even grew to like the fact that it didnt come fitted with endless rows of seats and nowhere to store my shopping. Im trying to think of the last occasion that I needed to fit seven people into a car and Im still thinking. Im not a quick typist.
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With a wheelbase some 25mm longer than the Focus, the C-MAX offers a good deal of interior space, helped by a novel seating arrangement. The wheel at each corner design also helps maximise interior dimensions. The styling may disappoint those expecting something as ground breaking as the Focus originally was, but having seen the Fiesta and the Fusion, its perhaps not surprising that the C-MAX follows a similarly conservative design theme. The metallic finish around the front grille and the jewel-effect lights give the car a Mondeo-like nose, whereas the back end looks distinctly Fiesta.
If youd have sketched a
Ford mini-MPV before youd even seen the C-MAX, you would probably have been pretty near the mark. Still, this is a market where conservatism tends to pay off. If the exterior may be a little underwhelming, the C-MAX more than makes up for it with the ideas factory that is the cabin. Although its unlikely to be available on entry-level versions, Fords rear
seat flexibility system really is the ace in the C-MAX hole.
A 40-20-40 "tip and tumble" rear seat sees the centre section flip rearwards into the luggage compartment, leaving the remaining two seats to slide diagonally along a runner towards the centre of the car, giving unprecedented levels of space for four. With 100mm of extra legroom and 60mm of additional shoulder room, even extravagantly dimensioned passengers should be able to find space in the back of the C-MAX. Even in the standard three-abreast bench position theres plenty of room, offering 946mm of legroom and 582 litres of luggage compartment space. Remove the rear seats altogether and theres a monstrous 1,692 litres available.
One trick Ford did miss was the ability to tumble the front passenger seat forward to a flat position.
The fascia design of the C-MAX reflects the exterior lines in its calm maturity. The riot of bisecting lines, angles and arcs that the Focus introduced have been replaced by a quietly styled dashboard with classy Sony branded stereo equipment taking pride of place. The gearlever is mounted high and feels more natural than a floor mounted stick. Materials quality has taken a noticeable hike too, the soft-touch plastics used on the upper dash surface being reminiscent of latter day Audis.
Six engines are offered - a pair of diesels and a quartet of petrol units. The 108bhp 1.6-litre diesel is a development of the existing 1.4TDCi common rail unit but the pick of the range has to be the punchy 134bhp 2.
0-litre TDCi engine sourced from
Peugeot. Backed up by a six-speed gearshift, this will be the car to take the fight to
Citroen,
Renault,
Volkswagen and
Vauxhall. Both oil-burners are now available in Euro III or Euro IV compliant forms. Petrol buyers are catered for with 100bhp 1.
6-litre 16v, 115bhp 1.6-litre Ti-VCT, 120bhp 1.8-litre and 145bhp 2.0-litre options.
The Durashift CVT gearbox is offered with the 1.6 TDCi Euro III diesels at a £1,100 premium.
On the road prices range from £13,490 to £18,990, with prices generally around £750 over and above a Focus hatch. Whatever your budget, you'll find the Focus C-MAX cheap to run: there are major components throughout the vehicle, which are designed to require minimal or even no maintenance. The result is low insurance groupings and whole life costs estimated to be £700 - £1,000 less than immediate rivals.
The Focus C-MAX has to be one of the easiest cars to live with yet devised. Pleasant to drive, inoffensive to look at and with a benign image its overwhelmingly nice. Mind you, we all know what happens to nice guys
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