|
|
Weekend roadtest : Ford's non-identical twins turn out
publication date: Nov 20, 2010
|
author/source: Robin Roberts
 |
A
miserable wet, windy and misty autumn day in the UK is hardly the best time to
test a new model.
Or is
it?
The
fact much of the UK's
weather can batter Britain
in just 24hrs is a good test for any new car which it is hoped will sell in big
numbers.
Such
was the case with the first UK specified Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max models
which were tested this week as first deliveries begin to dealerships.
The
all-new C-Max five seater and seven-seater Grand C-Max will be sold in just
Zetec or Titanium trim levels, starting at £16,745 and £18,745 respectively.
Ford has learned from its 2003 launch of the original C-Max when it came out
with just five seats, that, in fact, buyers want the option of a seven seat
version for the occasional extra people we all seem to acquire on our travels.
| With
the market downsizing the indications are that two-thirds of buyers want
seven-seat flexibililty of the Grand C-Max. What's more it comes with standard
twin sliding rear doors for easier access into the rearmost pair of seats
compared to conventional rear doors on the smaller capacity C-Max.
Research
by Ford suggests the most popular UK
version of an anticipated 20,000 which will be sold in a full year in Britain, will
be the Grand Zetec with 115ps 1.6 TDCi diesel at £19,745, which is £750 less
than the outgoing equivalent.
Think
of the five-seat C-Max as a super-hatchback and the Grand C-Max as a
medium-sized MPV sitting alongside their stablemate big Galaxy MPV and sporty
S-Max MAV.
Standard
on all Zetec models are alloy wheels, air conditioning, leather wheelcover,
sophisticated alarm and entertainment/ telephone connection, USB plug and voice
recognition while the Grand C-Max also gets child-proof locks on the sliders
and rear parking sensors.
The
Titanium spec adds auto wipers, self-dimming interior mirror and auto-lights,
electronic temperature control, hill launch assist, cruise control and tyre
deflation warning, among other features.
Initially
the new models will be sold with 105 and 125 Duratec 1.6 petrol or 115ps 1.6
and 140ps 2.0 Duratorq diesels with a Powershift auto on the most powerful.
Coming soon will be the all new Welsh-made 150ps 1.6 EcoBoost petrol which will
take the full range to 17 models topping out at £23,245. The EcoBoost will cost
from £19,745 in the top versions only and its most expensive will be the Grand
C-Max fitted with it at £20,995. |  |  |  |
First
impressions
Having
driven both models in September on fine autumn days in France, I was looking forward to "real world"
conditions this week in the UK.
Abroad
I could push the cars hard on dry, wide and sweeping roads to evaluate their
handling, but in the UK
I knew it would be a more challenging test of their ride comfort and safety.
Puddle
strewn roads with varying degrees of grip, loosely sprinkled with leaves still
falling in blustery conditions, the new Ford models behaved impeccably.
Handling
was very safe and sure-footed, the steering easy and accurate, the brakes
progressive and powerful.
I liked
the commanding driving position, the view to front and sides was clear and the
wipers and lights did a good job in country lanes.
I
briefly tested the 115ps diesel with six speed box and five-speed 105ps petrol
and found the diesel a better all round performer if you have a heavier load.
The petrol engine does pull it along reasonably well but not as easily as the
highly flexible diesel. Noise levels were very low in both.
It will
be interesting to test the new 1.6 EcoBoost petrol engine in the UK specified models as it was very good in the
pre-production C-Max I drove in France.
I know
Ford believe the best seller will be the 115ps 1.6 Duratorq diesel, particularly
among fleet buyers who want to shave pennies off their running costs and tax
bills, but the spiritual success just might lie with the EcoBoost, which is
unlikely to be in showrooms before the New Year.
We will
have to wait and see how the Ford C-Max weathers the sales. |
Download the Wheels Within Wales toolbar for your quickest way to keep in touch with everything that's happening on Welsh roads and in showrooms or use our RSS feed for the headlines you will not want to miss
|
|
|
.gif){kind=small}