The C-Max has conventional doors, while the Grand C-Max’s rear pair slide to aid passenger access.
The C-Max makes up for its lower seat count with a centre rear seat that can be folded away to create a more spacious rear cabin for two. All three seats can be dropped down to give 1684 litres of load space.
In the Grand C-Max, folding the centre seat creates a convenient walk-through to the rearmost pair, which are just comfortable enough for children. All of them can be folded flat to provide 1742 litres of load space.
MPVs lead a hard life, but the interiors of both C-Max models are reasonably robust. The dashboard has too many buttons and a fiddly touchscreen but gained improved materials and a cleaner design with the 2015 facelift.
In fact, the facelift brought improvements across the board: sleeker exterior looks incorporating Ford’s new grille design, improved engines and better kit, including Ford’s Sync 2 voice-activated connectivity system. Improved Active City Stop, the option of parking assistance and a hands-free tailgate all made their way onto the spec sheet.
On both cars, the trim levels are Zetec (16in alloy wheels, Quickclear heated windscreen and air-con), Titanium (17in alloys, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry) and Titanium X (part-leather seats and a panoramic sunroof).
The Grand C-Max’s seven seats and sliding rear doors shout MPV and, if you have need of them, choosing it over the C-Max is a no-brainer. It’s still smaller than the Galaxy or S-Max, though, so try one of those for size before committing.
Think of the five-seat C-Max as a roomier and more practical Focus with a better view out and it too makes a compelling case for itself, as MPVs tend to.
Ford C-Max 2010-2019 common problems
Engine: On the 1.0-litre and 1.6-litre Ecoboost engines, check for coolant leaks and, by referring to workshop invoices, ensure the engine oil is the correct grade. Then check with Ford if it has been the subject of a dealer replacement or upgrade. As for diesels, the 1.6 TDCi suffers injector problems and all of them are prone to diesel particulate filter blockages.