What is it?
The C-Max seven-seater, 140mm longer and 110kg heavier than the five-seater. This one comes with the 138bhp 2.0-litre Duratorq diesel engine, driving through the optional six-speed dual-clutch Powershift gearbox
What’s it like?
It’s the version targeted at the US market, and within a mile of driving you know it.
The car is distinctly softer in the suspension than the shorter model; engineers say it’s as much to give the occupants of the third row a comfortable ride as to meet American tastes.
In fact, the rest of the car is very European, with identical interior and seat designs to the short-wheelbase model and VW levels of material quality and finish.
It is deceptively spacious, with sliding rear doors and a clever set-up that allows the centre seat of the second row to fold beneath one of the others, leaving a ‘walk-through’ space. Ford calls the model a ‘six-plus-one’ layout, rather than a simple seven-seater.
The engine is impressively smooth and refined, with typical turbodiesel torque from low down. It works especially well with the Powershift gearbox.
On the road, there’s little beyond the slightly more relaxed ride to choose between the Grand C-Max and the smaller C-Max.
They feel identical in steering precision and cornering grip, and you’re barely aware of its extra size and weight.
Should I buy one?
Ford’s decision to put seven seats in a new, bigger C-Max variant is a good one as this could well be the class leader.
Despite its billing, this is a European Ford; it’ll be fascinating to see how Americans like it.
Ford Grand C-Max Zetec 2.0 TDCi 140 Powershift
Price: £21,995; Top speed: 123mph; 0-62mph: 10.5sec; Economy: 48.7mpg (combined); CO2: 154g/km; Kerb weight: 1634kg; Engine: 4 cyls, 1997cc, turbodiesel; Power: 138bhp at 3750rpm; Torque: 236lb ft at 1750-2750rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd dual-clutch auto
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Join the debate
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
Looks OK but like most of these if you load it up with seven passengers you end up with enough luggage space for a packet of Durex and a folding toothbrush
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
So with Ford it's a "clever 6+1 layout" with a middle seat that folds in to the side seat. On the Mazda it's "too small to be comfortable" and isn't noteworthy in the car in which this seating "miracle" actually debuted... Autocar aren't the only one by the way - I've noticed that various sources wrote off the Mazda 5 as an "anomaly" with its seating layout, but have heaped praise upon the new Grand C-max for the same.
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
It’s the version targeted at the US market, and within a mile of driving you know it.
What, with a diesel engine?
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
Looks OK but like most of these if you load it up with seven passengers you end up with enough luggage space for a packet of Durex and a folding toothbrush
It's not a tardis, if you want more boot space buy a bigger car or perhaps a van.
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
I like it. This will probably be our next family vehicle. I agree that there's not much luggage space with 7, but we are 5, so we can fold down half the rear seat and stash stuff there.
I also doubt we'll get the diesel in the US. Even if we did, diesel fuel is so expensive here there's no net savings from the extra mpg. I'm expecting the 2.0 gasoline ecoboost engine mated to the 6 spd dual clutch gearbox. I can't recall the stats right off, but I believe that 2.0 produces around 230 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, which should be spritely.
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
It's not a tardis, if you want more boot space buy a bigger car or perhaps a van.
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
Choking on Cornflakes - £22,000 for a sqished people carrier......I'd rather have 2 x Ka + a tow rope.
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
I dont get the pricing of Fords mpv's, looking at what car and comparing grand cmax smax and galaxy, all 115 tdci zetecs the prices are;
grand cmax £21,995
smax £21,945
galaxy £24,245
Seems odd that the grand cmax should be (slightly) more than the supposedly larger smax.
Re: Ford Grand C-Max 2.0 TDCi
Seems odd that the grand cmax should be (slightly) more than the supposedly larger smax.
On the face of it does seem but the Grand C-MAX Zetec has a higher spec than the S-MAX Zetec.
Honda CR-V ES 2.2 i-DTEC/Citroen DS3 1.6 VTi DStyle Plus
