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Ford has a reputation for producing great ‘driving’ cars – an accolade most often applied to the Focus and Mondeo – and it’s a testament to the company that in a vehicle as utilitarian as the C-Max, the same accolade has been applied by test drivers here and at sister titles Fleet News and Parkers.

An owner who reviewed the car on Parkers gave it a maximum five-star rating, noting the “plush ride and nice handling”, said the C-Max was the best in class and that they aimed to keep the car for five years from purchasing it this spring.

In an indication of the incentives available to customers, the reviewer hinted that a discount for buying the car on Ford Finance sweetened the deal, which included an extended warranty, servicing and breakdown cover. The owner recommended choosing the EcoBoost petrol engines over the 1.6-litre diesel, which was described as slow and so far failing to deliver the promised 48.7mpg, instead reaching a maximum 44mpg over the car’s first 1,500 miles.

Ford C-Max 2.0-litre TDCI – a super-smooth six-speed

An alternative to the petrol would be the 2.0-litre TDCI diesel in our test car, which proved, with a super-smooth six-speed automatic transmission, the ideal combination – particularly on a gruelling, four-hour quick-quick-slow-slower-slower drive from Peterborough to Gatwick airport for this road tester.

It was the best of the bunch available with the C-Max, whose engine line-up ranges from 1.0-litre to 1.6-litre EcoBoost, 1.6-litre Duratec and 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre Duratorq diesels of varying power outputs. CO2 emissions range from 119 to 154g/km and fuel consumption from 48.7 to 57.7mpg.

Zetec and Titanium are the only two specification levels so, to avoid accusations of scrimping, Ford crams as many goodies as it can into each, from entertainment systems to cosmetic enhancements to safety equipment. Whichever one customers choose, they should be impressed.  

Did the Parkers owner have any complaints? “The paperwork took an age” (nothing like red tape to spoil the new car-buying experience) and the DAB radio wasn’t working on delivery and required two dealer visits to fix.

Specification: Ford C-Max 2.0-litre TDCI

Price £26,250
Engine 2.0-litre TDCi 138bhp
Performance 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds
Top speed 123mph
Transmission 6sp auto
Efficiency 48.7mpg, 154g/km CO2
RV 3yr/30k 30.9%
Start mileage 3,758
Current mileage 16,898
Rivals Volkswagen Touran, Nissan Qashqai+2, Citroën C4 Picasso