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News Car : Review Ford Grand C-MAX 2015

The Ford C-MAX has long been the go-to MPV for alternative manufacturer trying to benchmark their mid-size folks movers in terms of driving dynamics. However, with BMW incoming into the phase with the two Series Active Tourer, will a mid-life refresh keep the C-MAX feeling recent and sharp to drive?

Changes to the outside ar gentle, with new front and back lights, a fresh Mondeo-style grille and updated foglights. There’s a deceiver crease down the aspect and a few new alloy wheel styles, however the body remains for the most part identical as before.

Inside there’s a marked intensify in quality, and every one cars get an analogous dash layout to the one you’ll realize on the new Focus. It’s way more intuitive to use, and higher-spec cars add Ford’s Sync2 touchscreen system – with nav accessible at further price. Ford reckons fifty four per cent of kingdom consumers can prefer the entry-level Zetec, with the rest split between mid-spec atomic number 22 (34 per cent) and range-topping atomic number 22 X (12 per cent).

All trims get further kit as customary, with every model currently speech act 16-inch alloy wheels, hill begin assist, tyre pressure observance and Ford’s clever MyKey technology. That’s beat addition to the DAB radio, electrical front windows and a heated screen carried over from the previous-generation Zetec.

Our Grand C-MAX atomic number 22 had automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate management and greater alloy wheels. keyless begin, controller and therefore the aforesaid Sync2 system also are enclosed, whereas flagship atomic number 22 X cars add flashes of animal skin, a bird's-eye roof and adaptational atomic number 54 headlamps.

While Ford expects the one8bhp 1.5-litre TDCi to be the massive vendor within the kingdom, our automotive was fitted with the larger a pair of.0-litre 148bhp version – complete with six-speed manual shell. There’s no denying the additional power offers a fine addition in force (400Nm versus 270Nm), however it’ll set you back an additional £1,500 and it’s not accessible on the essential Zetec trim. Power delivery is sleek, refinement is superb and providing you retain revs within the power band, there’s enough grunt for safe passing.

In the corners, the Grand C-MAX continues to handle with additional poise than a seven-seat MPV need to, and therefore the five-seater version is healthier still. clearly there’s additional roll than within the smaller five-seat C-MAX, however grip is spectacular and therefore the steering is sharp. The suspension offers an excellent balance between comfort and handling, and tyre roar and wind noise is well supressed on the thruway.

Not solely is it smart to drive, it ought to additionally prove pretty low cost to run. Ford says residuals have improved by the maximum amount as £650, and with carbonic acid gas emissions of 118g/km this 148bhp TDCi may be a important seventeen per cent cleaner than the the outgoing model. As a result it prices simply £30 a year to tax. Ford claims it’ll do over 60mpg in mixed driving, however that’s to a small degree optimistic. Expect that to drop into the mid-to-late forties with seven folks and their baggage on board.

Speaking of that, the area within goes unchanged from the recent C-MAX. which means the 2 back seats ar reserved for youths (or very little, versatile adults), whereas boot area with each rear rows in situ is proscribed to a paltry sixty five litres. Fold all 5 rear seats flat tho', and you’ll open up a cavernous one,715 litres – enough to rival even the largest estate cars.

Handily, Ford engineers have supplementary a load of helpful options to form the foremost of that area – claiming a complete of twenty storage solutions dotted round the cabin. homeowners not needing the total seven seats will fold the central seat into the bottom of the outer seat to reveal a slender gap into the rear. the 2 middle seats then shift inwards for improved shoulder and head area, and may slide forwards and backwards to form additional or less legroom.

Small changes have revived the Grand C-MAX’s charm, tho' rivals still supply additional outright area. We’d advocate making an attempt the smaller (and cheaper) one.5 TDCi model before candidacy up for the additional powerful a pair of.0-litre – tho' if you frequently carry seven folks, it ought to be definitely worth the further money.

Read : autoexpress.co.uk

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