Ford C-Max For Sale

Why buy one?

Think MPVs are dull to drive? This one isn't. Ford knows how to make cars which ride and handle well, and the C-Max is a case in point.

There's a wide choice of engines, so you should find one to suit you whether driving around town or taking on regular long journeys. The 1.6 TDCi in particular is excellent. There's enough oomph to make a fully loaded car shift along at a fair rate, and exceptional fuel economy.

Inside any used C-Max, there's plenty of space for a growing family.

Why think twice?

There's quite a lot of wind noise at speed, something to keep in mind if you regularly drive on the motorway. A used Ford Focus C-Max may be practical, but some rivals such as the Citroen C4 Picasso have seats which simply fold into the floor and the Vauxhall Zafira or VW Touran offer two more seats.

How safe?

There's no need to worry on that score. The C-Max scored four out of five stars when tested in 2003.

What might go wrong?

The mechanical parts are generally proven to be robust, so major problems with a second-hand C-Max should be few and far between. However, some owners report misfires and problems with the instrument panel.

What do the experts say?

'It's a practical five-seat car with a sparkling drive.' What Car?

Anything else I should know?

Earlier versions were called Ford Focus C-Max, but current models lost their focus and are simply called C-Max.

If you don't go anywhere without your iPod, make sure you buy one of the facelifted cars (sold from 2007). These have MP3 connectivity as standard.

Which one should I buy?

• Greenest? Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi
• Fastest? Ford C-Max 2.0 TDCi
• Best? Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi Zetec