The Ford Grand C-Max is the longer, seven-seater version of the five-seat Ford C-Max. That car is the ground-up replacement for the second-generation Ford Focus-based model of the same name. That model served the firm well as a slightly roomier, easier-access variant of the Focus hatchback. But one which always lacked a seven-seat option.
The Grand C-Max is 140mm longer and 110kg heavier than the five-seater, and straddles the small gap in Ford’s range between the C-Max and the Ford S-Max. It’s also one of Ford’s latest ‘global’ models, conceived and designed to sell on both sides of the Atlantic, and in within a mile or two of driving it you’re aware that this is a model with the US market in mind.
In 2015, the C-Max range was given a facelift, with Ford's latest grille design prominently displayed on the front, sleeker looks, a improved dash and infotainment offering and improved engines.
The car is distinctly softer in the suspension than the shorter model; engineers say it’s as much to give the occupants of the third row a comfortable ride as to meet American tastes. The rest of the car, however, is very European, with identical interior and seat designs to the short-wheelbase model and Volkswagen levels of material quality and finish.
On the road, there’s little beyond the slightly more relaxed ride to choose between the Grand C-Max and the smaller C-Max. They feel identical in steering precision and cornering grip, and you’re barely aware of its extra size and weight.
