Ford Grand C-MAX MPV (2011-2019) - Interior & comfort

You’d be hard-pressed to find an MPV with a better balance of comfort and handling than the seven-seater Ford Grand C-MAX. Long journeys are smooth and pass without any real discomfort for anyone inside. You’ll find more comfortable cars in the class, but their softer suspension means a lot of body lean in corners, which you don’t get in the C-MAX. The car lets very little road, wind or engine noise inside, even when you’re driving on the motorway.

Ford Grand C-MAX dashboard

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If you’ve been inside the current Ford Focus, then the Grand C-MAX’s interior will seem very familiar. It’s smart, made of good-quality soft-touch materials and the driving position is high and comfortable. The instrument layout has been heavily refined over its predecessor, making it much less cluttered than before.

Equipment

The Grand C-MAX does away with Ford’s more basic trim levels and goes straight to Zetec, which is a mid-range specification on other models in the brand’s range. That means the entry-level Grand C-MAX is well equipped, coming with things like a DAB digital radio, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a heated windscreen, 16-inch alloy wheels and air-conditioning.

Step up to Titanium trim and you add 17-inch alloys, USB connectivity, dual-zone climate control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic lights and windscreen wipers and cruise control. The Titanium trim also receives Ford's updated SYNC 3 infotainment system, which features a less cluttered interface. The top-spec Titanium X comes with a panoramic sunroof, bright xenon headlamps and part-leather electric seats.

Options

There’s no shortage of extras available with the Grand C-MAX, but there are a few key option packs that make more sense than just ticking a selection of boxes. The £375 Convenience Pack, for example, comprises Ford’s Active Park Assist automatic parking system and front parking sensors.

The Driver Assistance Pack (£450) includes a lot of electronic safety aids, such as a lane-keeping aid to warn you if you’re drifting across the white lines, automatic lights and wipers, auto dimming rear-view mirrors and traffic-sign recognition to remind you what the current speed limit is.

There’s also an Appearance Pack for the Titanium trim levels, which costs £400 and includes silver roof rails and dark-tinted rear windows.