Agile Compact Van
The second generation of the Ford C-Max (as of 2010) offers car drivers the choice between a compact van with five seats and a seven-seater with a lot of space for family and luggage. In addition to the C-Max in Focus format, there is the 14 centimeters longer Grand C-Max, which comes up with two optional individual seats in the third row and two practical sliding doors for comfortable access. In the DEKRA Used Car Report 2017, the van goes right to the top of its class as the winner.

The compact car also offers a lot of flexibility. After the middle seat is folded away, the two outer seats in the rear passenger compartment can be moved diagonally backward, depending on whether more knee room or more loading space is desired. It can hold a respectable 471 liters to a stately 1,742 liters of luggage. 

The second version of the C-Max, produced in the Spanish Ford plant in Almussafes near Valencia, shares its technological genes with the Focus III. For example, the precise electric steering and a harmoniously coordinated chassis. This gives the compact van agile handling, despite its higher body, which makes driving round bends a delight even when the vehicle is heavily loaded. 

The Ford keeps pace with the times when it comes to safety as well. Six front, side, and head airbags are on board, as well as a braking assistant, an ESP anti-skid system, and safety seats with an anti-submarining effect. Passenger safety according to NCAP received the top value of five stars. Looking around, one finds on the market used models with a driver assistant package containing lifesaving and practical things such as a parking assist, an emergency braking assistant, a lane keeping assistant, a lane change assistant, and a driver fatigue warning system.

There are various engines on offer, with currently seven petrol engines and five diesel engines in a performance range of 85 hp/63 kW and 182 hp/134 kW. Not to be forgotten is a liquefied gas variant of the 1.6 Ti VCT petrol engine, which is reserved for the compact C-Max. The EcoBoost downsizing engines, available since 2012, the one-liter three-cylinder engine with 125 hp/ 92 kW, and the 1.6l four-cylinder engine in two performance levels with 150/182 hp (110/134 kW) are high-torque and frugal. 

Commentary 2017
When inspecting a first-generation C-Max, pay close attention to the chassis of your desired car. Worn transverse link bearings, leaky shock absorbers and damaged shock absorber bearings may surprise potential buyers. In the electrics assembly group, besides misaligned headlights, a high number of low beam headlights with damaged glass stand out. Tip: Check that the headlight levelling control works during an inspection.