In-depth reviews

Ford B-MAX MPV (2012-2017) - Practicality & boot space

The Ford B-MAX has a small boot, but unique side doors and a thoughtful design makes up for it

Carbuyer Rating

3.9 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.4 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Practicality & boot space Rating

4.5 out of 5

The Ford B-MAX has a unique party trick: its front and rear doors open away from each other and there’s no central pillar between them. This is said to create an opening 50% larger than what you'll find in the Vauxhall Meriva, making it much easier to hop in and out of the B-MAX.

The back doors slide on runners, so can be opened fully even in a tight parking space. This is especially important for easily and comfortably accessing rear child seats, which can be fitted on the two outer rear seats thanks to their standard ISOFIX mounting points.

You sit fairly upright in the B-MAX, which will appeal to drivers who like feeling higher up, with good visibility of the road ahead. However, long pillars frame the windscreen and there are thick pillars either side of the back window, causing large blind spots. This makes parking sensors a useful addition if you frequently have to negotiate tight car parks.

Ford B-MAX interior space & storage

As well as being able to access the Ford B-MAX incredibly easily through those clever doors, a tall roofline means there’s lots of head and legroom. There’s plenty of storage space inside, too. The glovebox and door bins will easily accommodate a large bottle of water and there are two cup-holders located between the front seats.

Boot space

The boot can hold 318 litres of luggage, which is two more than a Ford Focus but almost 80 short of the Vauxhall Meriva and more than 120 less than the Hyundai ix20. Yet the B-MAX has some neat tricks up its sleeve, such as 60:40 split rear seats that fold flat and a front passenger seat that can fold forwards to allow you to carry items up to 2.35 metres long.

A large hatchback and smooth loading lip make accessing the boot very easy. There’s also an artificial boot floor, which can be moved up to create a flat surface or dropped down for extra space. Sadly, a spare wheel isn’t standard equipment, but a space-saver is a £100 optional extra across the range.

Next Steps

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Most Popular

New 2024 Porsche Panamera – new looks, interior, and Turbo E-Hybrid model
2024 Porsche Panamera front-quarter static view
News
24 Nov 2023

New 2024 Porsche Panamera – new looks, interior, and Turbo E-Hybrid model

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
24 Nov 2023

Best new car deals 2023: this week’s top car offers

Toyota Yaris Cross updated for 2024 – new tech, trim and hybrid option
Toyota Yaris Cross static front-quarter view
News
22 Nov 2023

Toyota Yaris Cross updated for 2024 – new tech, trim and hybrid option

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
20 Apr 2023

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
12 Apr 2023

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors 2022
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors 2022

Top 10 best electric cars 2023
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
15 Nov 2023

Top 10 best electric cars 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
17 May 2023

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
18 Aug 2023

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2023