2017 Ford C-MAX Titanium 1.5 TDCi from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Typical MPV

Faults:

Nothing other than servicing and required wear and tear parts.

General Comments:

Multi Purpose Vehicles (MPV) are what I have had to drive the last few years due to needing more space. I have always found them boring and the C-Max is no different.

It is a better car to drive than my previous Zafira, but the positive points end there. It is very spacious and has been reliable also, but that is expected of a modern car.

Titanium model has nice alloy wheels and electric everything. The spec to have.

1.5 TDCi is not fast, but will do over 60 mpg. One of the first cars I have drove with "Start Stop" thing and it is bloody annoying and you should probably turn it off. The saving in fuel is marginal.

Nothing wrong with it really, just a good family car, but a boring modern lump of steel and plastic as most are. Very difficult to say much more. If you are reading these reviews because you are after a bigger family vehicle, the C-Max is a good choice, cannot go wrong with a looked after car, just don't expect anything exciting.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd November, 2022

31st Jan 2023, 16:27

Earlier "Focus C-MAX" was no better, and not great vehicles to keep long term.

2018 Ford C-MAX Grand 1.5 turbo diesel from Belgium

Summary:

Undecided

Faults:

* One tyre pressure warning (nothing).

* Lambda sensor replaced at 19000.

General Comments:

A lease car from my wife's company. Pretty basic version with the smallest diesel engine (95 HP), "Trend" execution which means not a lot of options available on the car. It drives well though, the small diesel is surprisingly quick off the mark... a lot quicker than my old Scenic. Another good point: the excellent gear box and the sharp steering.

On the downside however, the seats are less comfy than the 2008 Renault. There's also less clever touches, likes stowaway boxes e.g. under the seats, etc. The dashboard looks very 90's and nowhere near the Renault's clear instrumentation. In general also a bit less roomy than the Renault.

Not sure if I'm gonna buy it from the company after 4 years, especially now with the lambda sensor failing after only 19.000 km. Will wait and see.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 18th December, 2019

23rd Dec 2019, 15:51

Other cars I've owned or driven:

* No review (Peugeot 205)

* http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/peugeot/305/1981/ (Peugeot 305)

* No review (Peugeot 405)

* No review (Opel Kadet)

* http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/toyota/carina/1997/page-3/#r47794 (Toyota Carina)

* http://www.carsurvey.org/review_109913.html (Renault Grand Scenic)

* http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/renault/captur/ (Renault Captur)

* http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/ford/c-max/ (Ford Cmax)

9th Jan 2020, 00:59

Thank you for your reviews; if only more people used this site and wrote about their experiences.

20th Feb 2022, 17:47

Update @55.000 km: check engine light on. Turns out to be a faulty particulate filter needing replacement, including sensor. Costly affair at 1400 euro, luckily covered by the leasing company.

24th Oct 2022, 21:29

That is lucky. I would hate to personally own one of these cars, reliability nightmare. My neighbour had one and never stopped telling me stories about how bad these cars are. Not Ford's finest hour.

30th Oct 2022, 08:56

Update @71.000 km: lambda probe faulty again and replaced, 559 EUR. Although I really like the way this car drives, I don't think we'll be buying it next year when the lease expires. Too many problems with diesel & filters caused by too harsh regulations.

18th Nov 2022, 15:03

Surely the later C-MAX is an improvement on the earlier Focus C-MAX?

2012 Ford C-MAX Titanium 1.6 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Too many flaws to be good, but it's not alone in that

Faults:

Repeated issues with the fuel filter, meaning the car goes into limp home mode - the only cure is replacement every service! Thankfully it's a lease car, so I ain't paying!

Stupid tyre inflation kit - a puncture left me stranded on the A1 in a blizzard for 6 hours. The tyre inflation kit only inflates a DEFLATING tyre. If your tyre's flat, forget it. Then after being relayed home, you can't get to a tyre bay BECAUSE THERE'S NO SPARE, so it took me 3 days to resolve and get a new tyre on the rim.

General Comments:

Comfortable, well equipped, decent MPG (48 overall).

The dealers try, bless them, but in execution it's very poor. I am told at the dealers the fuel filter issues are endemic with the Ford 1.6 diesel engine across all its applications - just poor design. A car should be able to go 12500 miles between services without the filter clogging with water surely?

As for the tyre - Ford aren't alone in this dodge, and AA and RAC men are now all too familiar with having to piggy back cars home that have suffered nothing more drastic than a flat tyre. And I remember when a puncture was just an inconvenience.

Oh and by the way - order a space saver on a new Ford at the point of sale - cost £80. Decide the inflation kit is a bad idea so you go get a spare - cost £350!!?? Go figure dudes!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 20th July, 2013

26th Aug 2013, 00:50

Update - the car continues to be plagued by electrical gremlins - as I type the car sits on my drive flashing a red (highest severity) warning, however the text screen doesn't actually tell me what's wrong. A system crying wolf or a system too shy to fully warn me of impending doom?

Overall the car is a good idea, let down by Ford's inability to assemble a car robust enough to do what it says on the tin. A five out of ten effort at the very best, and enough to ensure I won't chose Ford next time. My nerves just aren't up to it.