Ford B-MAX review
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The Ford B-MAX brings the verve of the best-selling Fiesta to the small MPV sector
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The Ford B-MAX is based on the UK’s most popular car, the Ford Fiesta. It manages to maintain the Fiesta’s lively driving characteristics while offering a whole lot more passenger space in the process. The party piece of the B-MAX– despite its name – is that it does away with a B-pillar, which helps further increase interior space.
Rivals for the B-MAX mini-MPV include the Nissan Note, Vauxhall Meriva and Honda Jazz. Very few of the B-MAX’s rivals can offer the same kind of versatility, however, with the absence of the B-pillar allowing for a huge 150cm of open space to access the car – double what you’d normally get.
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As well as being practical, the B-Max is also very well kitted out. There are four trim levels to pick from starting with entry-level Studio. Mid-range Zetec comes next and the flagship Titanium and Titanium X models top the range. Standard kit includes MP3 compatibility, all round electric windows and split/fold rear seats. Zetec trim adds alloy wheels, air con and Bluetooth.
There’s also a good range of engines, whether you’re focusing on efficiency or performance, there is sure to be an engine to suit your requirements. Options include two EcoBoost petrol units, two normally aspirated petrol motors plus two TDCi diesel options.
The engine that strikes the best balance between efficiency and performance is the 98bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol. It’s punchy, refined and able to return up to 55.4mpg with CO2 emissions standing at 119g/km. Every B-MAX also comes with regenerative braking and a gear-shift indicator to boost fuel economy.
Despite its obvious size advantage over the Fiesta on which its based, the B-Max is still good fun to drive. It’s nimble, even at higher speeds, and the ride coasts easily over rougher ground. Its even more comfortable than the Fiesta.
Our choice: 1.0T Ecoboost 125 Zetec
Styling
Ford has been smart with the design of the B-MAX and has removed the structural pillars which usually split-up the front and back of the car.
Instead, Ford has integrated these pillars into the design of the doors themselves, and apart from door-runners in the rear wing panels, Ford hasn't compromised the styling of the B-MAX by using such a clever set-up.
The overall design of the Ford B-MAX echoes that of the larger C-MAX, with swooping headlights as well as wraparound rear light clusters. It's not as appealing to look at as the Ford Fiesta, but the B-MAX still has the edge over the Vauxhall Meriva and Nissan Note.
Ford offers the B-MAX in four specifications - entry-level Studio, mid-range Zetec and the flagship B-MAX Titanium and Titanium X models.
The entry-level Ford B-MAX Studio cars are a bit Spartan, but Zetec versions get loads of kit and accessories, including Ford's My Key system (which lets you limit the volume of the radio or the car's top speed when the driver uses the spare key), 15-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, front fog lights and air-con.
Meanwhile, the Ford B-MAX Titanium gets things like 16-inch alloys, automatic headlights and wipers, heated seats, a start button, climate control and cruise control. Options include a City Pack, which features parking sensors and power-folding door mirrors, while the Ford B-MAX Titanium X Pack gets part-leather seats, heated front seats and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the Ford B-MAX doesn't match the quality of the Volkswagen Polo supermini as the dashboard is rather cluttered with buttons and dials but it's still ahead of the Kia Venga and Hyundai ix20.
Driving
For diesel Ford B-MAX buyers, there is a choice of either a 73bhp 1.5-litre or 93bhp 1.6-litre diesel powerplant.
Of all the engines that Ford offers on the B-MAX range, we'd opt for the award-winning three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost unit with 98bhp, which can get from 0-62mph in 13.2 seconds. The 1.6-litre diesel is cleaner still and great value, but while it really shifts once you get going, it does sound a bit harsh under acceleration. The more powerful 123bhp 1.0-litre EcoBoost is also the quickest, able to hit a top speed of 117mph.
We wouldn't recommend the Ford B-MAX with the 1.5-litre diesel engine – while it's cheaper to buy, its stats show it's sluggish and no more economical than the larger 1.6-litre diesel B-MAX.
We also wouldn't suggest you opt for the automatic Ford B-MAX as it's paired with the unremarkable 1.6-litre petrol engine and severely harms fuel economy.
Reliability
The Ford B-MAX is one of the safest cars in its class thanks to a full five-star score in the Euro NCAP crash safety tests. It scored 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, and 71 per cent in the safety assist category.
The scores are unsurprising though, as every Ford B-MAX model comes with electronic stability control and traction control fitted as standard, as well as driver, passenger, curtain, side and driver’s knee airbags. Clever safety tech includes brake lights that flash under heavy braking.
Ford, as a manufacturer, was mediocre in the 2014 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey - it finished 25th out of a possible 32 places. The B-MAX, however, was too new to feature in the survey.
Practicality
Practicality is the trump card of the Ford B-MAX, and it's clearly been designed with this in mind. It measures in at 4,077mm long, 2,067mm wide and 1,604mm tall, so it has a larger footprint than a Fiesta and it also weighs around 1,300kg, which varies depending on engine size.
The Ford B-MAX doesn't have a B-pillar, if you open both the hinged front and sliding rear doors, you're presented with a 1.5-metre opening. Tall adults can sit comfortably behind front passengers of a similar build, while fitting child seats is no problem at all.
Folding the rear seats in the Ford B-MAX is simple and increases the boot size from 318 litres to 1,386 litres. However, this is far from class leading – it’s no better than most five-door hatchbacks and lags far behind rivals like the Kia Venga and Citroen C3 Picasso.
The boot in the Ford B-MAX is flat and well shaped, though, and it gets a false floor to hide valuables underneath or drop -own for maximum room. Plus, the front passenger seat folds down to accommodate longer items.
Running Costs
The fuel sipping 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol EcoBoost powerplant found in the Ford B-MAX is an excellent engine.
The 123bhp version is one of the cleanest units in its class thanks to 57.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km, while the smaller 98bhp variant returns 55.4mpg and emits just 119g/km. The 1.4-litre petrol engine is also relatively economical thanks to 47.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 139g/km.
The Ford B-MAX is also available with an automatic gearbox, but it's only offered with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, meaning it's relatively thirsty and returns 44.1mpg as well as 149g/km of CO2.
The 1.6-litre 93bhp TDCi diesel in the Ford B-MAX range manages an impressive 70.6mpg, plus emissions of 104g/km of CO2. The smaller 73bhp 1.5-litre TDCi diesel is almost as strong thanks to 68.9mpg and CO2 outputs of 109g/km. Service intervals for every B-MAX are 12,500 miles.
For an alternative review of the latest Ford B-MAX MPV visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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Disqus - noscript
£19000 for the only Automatic version with a smaller boot than a Jazz, not as roomy as a Jazz, not as versitile, economical or reliable as a jazz. I think it is about time Auto Express got their priorities right in their reviews.
Looked in one today in detail and I can only say what an awful quality. The door handle feels loose and as if you are about to pull it off, the whole concept of getting in the back needs the brain to recalibrate. I personally didnt find it funky or easier at all just a bit of gimmic and to make matters worse, when you close the door it sounds like ford have used their commercial vehicle sliders! Awful really. The instrument cluster was nice, but the radio system is just down right confusing full stop and for 19K i really think someone is living in a dream world somewhere. Clearly a hit for the motobility customers, and I guess a good proportion of that dosh is therefore not paid by them, but for the average retail punter there are much better options out there. That said, the 1.0l engine is spot on, if not slightly rough sounding in first.
The back doors make for great accessibility, providing it isn't cold weather! Rear doors on mine do not close when it is less than 1centigrade! Headlamp clusters and wing mirrors break with the slightest touch. Absolute rubbish. Wish I had never signed up for it!
I love the photographers attempts to try and get a good angle of the B-max....there isn't one! It looks worse than a van...in fact a van would be a better choice. AE way of the mark by the looks of things...it makes you wonder how much influence some of the manufacturers have on these reviews?!
When will Ford put some style into their design?
First look, it looks eerily familiar. Second look, you know its a bloated Fiesta. Is that a good thing? Well, not necessarily.
I don't think many buyers need or fancy sliding doors and pillar-less doors. Compared with the competition, the engine line-up is not half bad though.
No good if you need to get a wheelchair in the boot, so that'd a good chunk of market gone to Vauxhall via Motability. Why on earth didn't Ford Listen to their Customers?
Fat chance of that happening while the AE Gestapo cream over loss making death trap car makers....
"Ford finished 25th out of 30th in our 2012 Driver Power manufacturer ratings survey, with customers finding a huge problem with the reliability of 700-plus Ford dealers." - And yet the car gets 4 and a bit for Reliability? Odd.