Ford Focus C-MAX (2003-) Review

On the road

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Like the Focus hatch, the C-MAX has sharp, precise handling, and is utterly predictable to place on a corner. Its high seating position and large windows give excellent all-round vision, and all the controls are clearly laid out and easy to use. The brakes are well-measured, the clutch well-set and the gearstick, mounted in the dash rather than on the floor between the front seats, is at the right height for everyone to reach in comfort. An automatic electronic parking brake is offered as an option, freeing up cabin space. But best of all, the C-MAX feels small enough to nip around town with confidence, and is much more manoeuvrable than most of its rivals. If you enjoy driving, then the C-MAX is the car to choose in this sector. It makes the Zafira feel stodgy, and the Scenic unweildy. Ford has done a better job with its electrically-assisted power steering system than most, managing to maintain some feel and feedback, and avoiding the horrid sensation of woolly over-assistance and artificial weighting. The suspension is agile, grip is good and balance excellent.

Top marks for the 136bhp 2.0-litre diesel - it's fantastically torquey, with oodles of power for overtaking and accelerating, and makes for comfortable high-speed cruising. This is an engine that wouldn't shame a hot hatch, and it works well with the slick six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.6-diesel is a good compromise between price, economy and performance, but when mated to the CVT it's lacklustre. The 1.8 petrol is not quite powerful enough to haul a heavily laden C-MAX along at speed, the 1.6 even more so, but is smoother, and while the 2.0-litre petrol is good, we'd still recommend a diesel.