Seven-seater Ford Grand C-Max. Important information Ford Grand C-MAX competitors in the Russian market

15.07.2020

To start, a little history. In 2002, Ford began producing the C-MAX compact van. It turned out to be a decent car - roomy and at the same time compact. But it was a five-seater, and according to Ford research, 50% of those who want to buy a minivan want a 6 or 7-seater car. And the Russians - according to Ford market research - would like a car a little more spacious than the 5-seater C-MAX.

Four years later, Ford brought the S-MAX minivan to market. Theoretically, it may not have a third row of seats, but in principle this car is seven-seater. Accordingly, large and expensive. The buyer wanted something smaller.

And so Ford, along with the new C-MAX, decided to produce the Grand C-MAX: more spacious than the simple version, but still not as big as the S-MAX.

To what extent did the company focus on the needs of the Russian buyer? Hardly significant. The segment of minivans in our country and in the best of times (2004-06) was no more than 2%, and this year it is negligible - less than 1%. That is, the new Grand C-MAX, along with the S-MAX and Galaxy also sold by us, will fight for a market of 15-20 thousand cars a year. And that's in the future.

Ford Grand C-MAX competitors in the Russian market

Ford marketers decided not to supply a simple C-MAX to us - only Grand. A car whose base is longer by a very noticeable 14 centimeters, which is higher than a simple C-MAX by a very noticeable 5 cm, which - however, optionally - can have seven seats.

I will leave all the words about “swift, sporty look”, “new original style” and “recognizability” without comment. For me, it's a normal car with no frills. In the end, it’s not beauty for the sake of buying such a car. In evaluating the exterior of the Grand C-MAX, it is worth paying attention to only one detail: this is the first European Ford with sliding rear doors. The design is convenient in the parking lot, really facilitating access to the third row of seats, all in all, eminently practical.

Did I like the C-MAX inside? As a roomy family car - yes, definitely. It is thought out in great detail. But I would say too much. The driver's seat is like a pilot or a DJ: the buttons on the steering wheel, with which you can control information on two screens, the steering column switches, the center console "a la mobile phone" - it's hard to figure it out right away. A few hours behind the wheel was not enough to get used to this abundance. The question remained unanswered: do I need all this?

What's great without any "buts": the seat folding system. A 7-seat car easily converts into a 6-seat car, and just as easily into a 5-seat car. Folding and unfolding is carried out with one hand, and the developers from Ford do it so cleverly that it becomes clear: 5-6 attempts and you will do it just as smartly.

In the basic version, the third row of seats will not be supplied. But as an option, it is relatively inexpensive in Russia - 23,900 rubles. For me, the price is reasonable, and if you have to carry more than 4 passengers, it's worth spending the money.

Of course, the third row of seats is designed primarily for children. I would say that a person above 160-165 cm in the rear seats will be cramped. However, adults of this height are not uncommon ...

Back to options, there's a ton of stuff you can install in the Grand C-MAX. For example, a new system of active parking assistance for European Fords. When you're looking for a free space among cars parked at the curb, two ultraviolet sensors determine if there's enough space to squeeze between cars. When a place is found, the driver can only follow the commands of the system, adjusting the gear selection, gas and brake: the steering wheel will rotate itself.

In the side mirrors of the Grand C-Max, light indicators can be installed that evaluate “blind spots”: from the mirror to a distance of three meters behind the rear bumper, also 3 meters wide. Offers Ford a keyless entry system "FordKeyFree", a rear-view camera with a navigation system and parking sensors, an electric rear door ... Of course, the practical possession of these options requires training (experience), even if much of the management is understandable on an intuitive level.

Dynamics Grand C-MAX for a family car is quite tolerable. Driving a Ford is a pleasure to be in: there is no feeling that you are driving something bulky and clumsy. (However, the C-MAX is not that long: the usual C-class, 4520 in length). The car has a completely new suspension system, new electro-hydraulic steering, cornering traction control, which redistributes torque between the front wheels to further increase stability when cornering ...

There was never any doubt about the adequate behavior of the car during the test, and the sound insulation of the Grand C-MAX is simply excellent. The energy intensity of the suspension on French roads was not fully verified, sorry, it was not possible.

Also, we were not able to evaluate the entire line of motors. Only one - the 140-horsepower Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel - is a joy for the European family. Together with the PowerShift automatic transmission, they form a very quiet and not peppy tandem. However, Ford liked even less with a manual transmission on mountain serpentines. Yes, acceleration is more cheerful, but constant gear changes are very tiring. Moreover, you have to work hard with your feet: the pedal travel in the Grand C-MAX is very large.

The most interesting engines for Russia are 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline EcoBoost - 150 and 182 hp. Their declared characteristics are really good: maximum torque is already reached at 1600 rpm, fuel consumption in the combined cycle of 182-horsepower is only 6.6 l / 100 km, and acceleration to 100 km / h is 8.8 seconds.

The base engine of a minivan in Russia will be a “simple” 1.6-liter engine with 125 hp.

With it, in the rich minimum configuration of Trend with a 5-speed manual transmission, the Grand C-MAX costs from 799,000 rubles. The second possible equipment - Titanium costs from 872,000 rubles. The number of additional options, as noted above, is huge: it will not be difficult to assemble a car for a million or more.

It remains only to understand whether you need such a car. According to Ford statistics, the average buyer of the Grand C-MAX will be a 42-year-old man, nine out of ten buyers will be family people and most likely this minivan will not be the first car in the family. Is this your portrait? And you are just part of the 1% of Russians that pay attention to such models?

The values that this Ford promotes are very clear and good. Spacious car, with distinct running advantages, if necessary, 7-seater and stuffed with what the hell - isn't it tempting? It turns out it's not for everyone. There are many in Europe. In Russia, the majority is still ready to take a simpler and cheaper car. Or let's go.

And perhaps the new minivan would not deserve such close attention. But! The C-MAX family is the first cars made on a completely new Ford class C platform. According to the manufacturer, it will become the basis for the production of at least ten different models and their versions. A new Focus will be made on it next year. Ford does not hide the fact that many technical solutions and most of the options available on the minivan will migrate to the most popular foreign car in Russia. And the Ford Focus will interest a lot of people.

We liked the Ford Grand C-MAX

We didn't like it

in Ford Grand C-MAX

Wide possibilities for transforming the interior, an interesting range of engines, nice design

Driver's seat overloaded with buttons and switches, plenty of options to get used to

I learned about the new Ford C Max 2019 2020 from my friend, an avid lover of this brand (dreams of buying). He spoke with such enthusiasm about the Ford S Max that I also became eager to learn as many interesting points about the new product as possible.

Official dealers

Region:
Select region

Abakan, st. Shosseynaya 2

Arkhangelsk, pr. Moskovsky d.39

Astrakhan, 1st passage Rozhdestvensky, 6

All companies

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the useful information that I managed to get. There are not so many differences from the predecessors of the novelty. In general, the design turned out to be modern, stylish, extraordinary. The body of the car has become more streamlined, and the roof, made in the form of an arc. This testifies to the excellent dynamic qualities of "Max".

The hood of the car has become lower, the radiator grille has a trapezoidal design. The overall impression is enhanced by strongly elongated, slanted headlights, a new air intake and an improved diffuser. A distinctive feature of the Ford S Max 2019 2020 is a double row of clear edges located on the sides of the car. The blunt, “chopped off” front part looks stylish. The minimum ground clearance is 130 mm.

Salon has changed slightly

Inside, you can still see a three-spoke steering wheel with a lot of functions. On the center console is a modern on-board computer, the screen of which is now as much as 10 inches. The instrument panel has become much higher. Thanks to this, it was possible to improve visibility and visibility of the road path.

Gearbox drives
front end
dynamic not boring
image capacious for the driver

The ergonomics of the cabin have been noticeably improved. This was facilitated by the use of high-quality, modern materials. We are pleased with the extensive list of security systems that are now included in the equipment of the new model. Very impressive is the large number of options and features that have been added to the base version. Among them are:

Rear View Camera;
radars, ultrasonic sensors that recognize road signs, signal when the car is moving in reverse, warning when parking;
height adjustment, inclination of the head restraints;
massage function;
position memory function;
heated front seats;
hill start assist system.

The trunk volume of the S Max is 700 liters. With the second row seats folded down, the volume can be increased to 1050 liters. If you fold the third row of seats “to the floor”, then this figure increases to 2000 liters.

Specifications improved

The power equipment of the new Ford ES Max 2019 2020 is admirable. The creators offered as many as five engine options. Three of them are diesel and two are petrol. Agree that such a wide choice of motors attracts. Not all manufacturers have taken care of an extended line of engines. Each of the presented power units endows the 2019 Ford C Max with excellent technical characteristics.

Together with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine, a 6-speed manual transmission works. The engine for 240 "horses" is aggregated "automatically". Diesel engines with a capacity of 150 and 180 "horses" are equipped with a dual-clutch automatic transmission like that. The two-liter diesel engine is only equipped with a 6-speed "mechanics".

The suspension design has become completely independent. A stabilizer bar is installed in the front. Behind you can see a similar stabilizer that complements the multi-link design. A pleasant surprise was the news that three trim levels of Ford C Max 2019-2020 will be available in Russia.

Equipment		Engine, l / hp	Box		Acceleration, seconds		Speed, km/h	Consumption, l / 100 km			price, rub.
trend		petrol 2.0/145	MT		10.9		197				1 108 500
		petrol 2.3/161	AT		11,2		194	9,7-13.7			1 223 500
		diesel 2.0/140	MT		10,2		196	5,0-7.7			1 248 500
		diesel 2.0/140	AT		11,6		193	5,7-9.7			1 326 500
Sport		petrol 2.3/161	AT		11.2		194	7,4-13.			1 412 500
		petrol 2.0/200	AMT		8,5		221	6,4-11.0			1 511 500
		petrol 2.0/240	AMT		7.9		235	6,5-11.5			1 599 500
Titanium	petrol 2.0/145		MT	10.9		197			6,4-11.3	1 170 500
	petrol 2.3/161		AT	11,2		194			7,4-13.7	1 285 500
	diesel 2.0/140		MT	10,2		196			5,0-7.7	1 310 500
	petrol 2.0/200		AMT	8,5		221			6,4-11.0	1 384 500
	diesel 2.0/140		AT	11,6		193			5,7-9.7	1 388 500

As you can see, the price of Ford C Max 2019 2020 is presented in a wide range, which allows each motorist to choose the most suitable option for himself. The lowest price tag, as you can see from the plate, is 1 million and 100 thousand. The difference with the most expensive equipment is half a million. It will be possible to do this very soon, since the start of sales of the Ford C Max 2020 is scheduled for the very beginning of the year.

Competitors have grown

In this segment of family cars, the 2019 Ford C Max competitors are Toyota BB and KIA Carnival. Toyota has a stylish, solid appearance, is highly reliable, spacious, roomy interior. Its main disadvantage can be considered poor sound insulation and rather expensive maintenance.

KIA Carnival is no less reliable car. It has a pleasant modern appearance, comfortable interior. Weak points include the brake system, not too good stability on the road, as well as an uncomfortable instrument panel.

Advantages and disadvantages of the "newbie"

The car has a lot of advantages, including:

spacious salon;
excellent equipment with modern options;
profitability;
excellent dynamics, maneuverability;
ideal for our domestic roads;
easy to maintain;
inexpensive spare parts;
excellent running qualities.

Of the negative points related to the car, we can distinguish:

unstable body color;
poor interior heating;
low clearance.

In the life of every man there comes a period when children appear, and emotions with testosterone must give way to reason. As a rule, all this leads to one decision - to purchase a station wagon or MPV. Fortunately, not all of these cars are boring and unpleasant to drive. One of the most unique compact vans is the Ford C-Max. Its design may not be as eye-catching as the larger Ford S-Max, and more like a slightly enlarged Ford Focus II. But after a long communication with the car, he undoubtedly begins to like it.

Model history

Ford Sea Max first generation debuted in 2003. It was the first such car in the range of the brand. Two years later, the compact van received several new engines, and in 2007 the model underwent a slight restyling. In 2010, the assembly line left the last copy of the first generation C-Max, giving way to a successor.

Engines

Petrol:

R4 1.6 16V (100 HP)

R4 1.8 16V (120 - 125 hp)

R4 2.0 16V (145 HP)

Diesel:

R4 1.6 8V TDCi (90 - 109 hp)

R4 1.8 8V TDCi (115 HP)

R4 2.0 8V TDCi (110 HP)

R4 2.0 16V TDCi (136 HP)

All gasoline units are quite reliable and durable. The best recommendations are worthy of a 2-liter engine with a capacity of 145 hp. He is able to deliver the greatest driving pleasure.

True, in 1.8 and 2.0, swirl flaps in the intake sometimes fail. At first they start making noise. In the worst case, they can break off and get into the engine. And in 1.6 Ti-VCT phase regulators sometimes fail.

For diesel lovers, there are also offers on the market, although not numerous. In the general list of possible problems for such engines, number one is not a very hardy dual-mass flywheel. Its resource is a little more than 150,000 km, and it changes along with the clutch kit. All you need is about $600.

The most preferred option with 2.0 TDCi, which provides good dynamics and demonstrates a high level of reliability. Instead of capricious Delphi injectors, piezoelectric VDO / Siemens are installed here. Injector malfunctions are usually caused not by mechanical wear, but by electronic malfunctions. However, such cases are isolated.

Until 2005, the 2-liter turbodiesel complied with Euro 3 emissions standards, and after Euro 4. The engine standard can be found by the VIN code or a sticker in the engine compartment. If the code starts with DW10B, then it meets the Euro-4 standard, if the letter "B" is missing, then Euro-3. In some markets, the engine was equipped with a particulate filter, while in others it was not.

2.0 TDCi sometimes causes oil leaks through oil seals, which is detrimental to the timing belt. Problems with the USR valve were solved by changing the kinematics of the valve and the control program.

Instances with 1.6 TDCi should be avoided - there are turbocharger malfunctions (due to a design flaw in the lubrication system) and oil leaks. Both diesel engines were developed jointly with the PSA concern. A common drawback is the exhaust gas cleaning system and the particulate filter.

The list of proposals also includes a 1.8 TDCi of Ford's own design. Against the background of French diesels, he looks like a pensioner - even the block head is cast iron. The dynamics of a car with such an engine is slightly better than the basic diesel version with 1.6 TDCi. The reason is in program management, the main goal of which is to care for the environment. Typical malfunctions include problems with the injection system, cracking of the rubber elements of the inlet channel and regular oil leaks (from under the timing chain cover and the connection of the upper and lower parts of the block). However, the 1.8 TDCi has a durable combined timing drive (eternal chain + short belt) and a hardy turbocharger.

Design features

The model was based on a completely new platform, which was subsequently used to create the Ford Focus II. MacPherson struts work on the front axle, and a multi-link design on the rear axle. As befits a microvan, the C-Max is front-wheel drive only.

A 5 and 6-speed manual or a 4-band automatic is responsible for the transmission of torque.

In 2008, an automated PowerShift dual-clutch transmission made by Getrag was offered in conjunction with the 2.0 TDCi. However, it is better to avoid this box, because even a new one often caused problems. Failures were usually associated with mechatronics and clutch.

The 1.6 TDCi has been mated with an alternative Durashift CVT since 2004. Its service life did not exceed 150,000 km, and repairs are very expensive.

Ford C Max 1 from the very beginning offered two versions of the parking brake - a classic mechanically operated lever and a more sophisticated electromechanical one. The latter is a relatively cheap solution that does not use servomotors in the calipers, as in Audi or Volkswagen. The C Max has one large servo motor that pulls the cables. The electromechanical brake relied only on more equipped versions for an additional fee.

Typical problems and malfunctions

Ford C-max is one of the least problematic models not only in the range of the brand, but also among cars in general. The suspension is strong enough. As a rule, after 80-100 thousand km, only small things (struts and stabilizer bushings) have to be changed. However, the situation is complicated by poor quality roads, which significantly reduces the service life of the silent blocks of levers. Repair of the rear suspension is complicated by corrosion of threaded connections. However, it does not require too high maintenance costs.

The starter and generator do not differ in durability - they often require repair. In addition, there are failures of the electro-hydraulic power steering pump ($ 300). Sometimes the parking sensors and the electric parking brake fail. Sometimes the ABS with ESP also stops functioning (due to sensors or the ABS control unit).

Ford C Max owners complain about poor workmanship: plastic interior elements and door seals creak. In the latter case, regular lubrication or replacement of seals with new ones saves. The quality of the base upholstery of the chairs, which gets dirty very easily, is also upsetting. Traces remain even after raindrops that have entered through an open door or window. It is not difficult to guess what the upholstery of the rear seats will look like, on which children have been transported for several years. The plastic of the trunk walls is too delicate and scratches easily.

Sometimes the instrument panel fails - the arrows of the pointers remain at zero, and various signaling devices light up for no reason. Several dashboard options were used. A new shield is quite expensive, refurbishment is much cheaper.

One of the serious drawbacks of diesel versions is the inefficient heating system. Unfortunately, Ford did not serially install an autonomous interior heater.

As for corrosion protection, the C-Max is better protected than the first Focus or the third Mondeo. However, against the background of rivals, corrosion resistance is not exemplary. On older copies, you should carefully check the condition of the thresholds, the lower part of the doors and the rear wheel arches.

Conclusion

Despite minor shortcomings, the Ford C-Max is a good car with superbly tuned suspension and precise steering. It may not be as roomy as the competition, but in terms of handling it is perhaps one of the best representatives of the class. Another advantage is high reliability (gasoline versions). Picky people may be disturbed in places by the poor quality of some elements, especially in the interior. The cheapest samples of the first years of production today can be purchased for approximately 200-250 thousand rubles.

Specifications Ford C-Max

Version	1.6 16V	1.8 16V	2.0 16V	1.6 TDCi	1.8 TDCi	2.0 TDCi
Engine				turbodiesel	turbodiesel	turbodiesel
Working volume
Cylinders / valves
Max Power
Torque
Dynamics
Max speed
Acceleration 0-100 km/h
Fuel consumption	8.5 l / 100 km	9.0 l / 100 km	10.0 l / 100 km	5.5 l / 100 km	6.0 l / 100 km

The second and current, at the moment, generation of the Ford S-Max was released in 2015. Despite the relatively recent date, the manufacturer, as part of the reduction of the model line of the European division, decided to abandon the release of a new generation and this car as a whole. This is due to a drop in demand in this market niche. Previously, the model, along with its sister Galaxy, found up to 85 thousand buyers a year, and in 2018 only 36 thousand. However, a much longer life cycle was laid down in this generation, and it was economically unprofitable to write it off at that moment. The manufacturer decided to warm up the fading interest with the help of modernization, which is officially the first planned restyling. Updates have taken place before, but purely technical, associated with some change in European legislation. Thus, the procedure for measuring fuel consumption was revised. The WTLP cycle was taken as the basis, as a result of which the manufacturer revised the composition of the engine range and switched to a different type of transmission. As for the officially updated version, first of all, it received a more modern and aggressive design. A new bumper with a larger hexagonal grille catches the eye. She lost thin horizontal ribs and consists of large plastic honeycombs. A pronounced splitter lip appeared at the bottom of the front bumper, and the fog lamp sections also changed. Instead of large round blocks, there are more compact double elements.

dimensions

Ford S-Max is a compact car with the possibility of installing a third row of seats. Its overall dimensions are: length 4796 mm, width 1916 mm, height 1658 mm, and the distance between the wheel pairs is 2849 mm. The second generation is built on a platform from the Ford Mondeo sedan. She has a completely independent chassis. In front, there are independent McPherson struts, connected to the subframe by means of rigid levers and with an anti-roll bar. At the rear is a fully independent multi-link system. By default, the cabin is able to take on board up to five people. For an additional fee, you can order an additional third row with two full seats. In this case, the size of the luggage compartment, when loaded under the top shelf, is reduced to 285 liters. As much as possible, if you fold the second and third rows of seats, you can get up to 2200 liters of usable space.

Specifications

Due to the transition to a new measurement standard, the Ford S-Max powertrain palette has been significantly reduced. The petrol engine is now only one. This is the 1.5-liter version of EcoBoost, developing 160 horsepower and 240 Nm of torque. The diesel line is composed of three versions of the EcoBlue turbodiesel inline-four. Three versions are available: 150, 190 and 240 horsepower. As for the transmission, the basic options are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox. For an additional fee, you can order a classic hydromechanical automatic machine with eight gears. Versions with diesel engines can have a plug-in all-wheel drive system, combined only with automatic transmissions.

Specifications Ford S-Max

station wagon 5-door

width 1916mm
length 4 796mm
height 1 658mm
ground clearance 128mm
places 7

Engine	Fuel	Drive unit
2.0D MT (150 HP)	DT	Front
1.5 MT (160 HP)	AI-95	Front
2.0D AT AWD (190 HP)	DT	Full
2.0DAT (240 HP)	DT	Front