Innovation on the outside and under the skin marks out Ford‘s new B-max as something interesting.
Clever sliding doors and the removal of the central B-pillar mean unprecedented levels of easy access to the cabin area (especially handy for anyone strapping children into the rear seats), while under the bonnet, Ford’s latest Ecoboost technology brings a 1.0-litre engine offering 120hp yet only 114g/km of CO2.
The interior innovation isn’t limited to this excellent access to the rear seats, thanks to what are actually quite heavy doors, as the rear seats fold flat, with the cushions lowering slightly when you drop the seat backs. The front passenger seat also drops flat to create a long load area when required.
Despite its upright profile, the B-max is, as Fords tend to be, good to drive, with well-weighted steering, good body control to prevent too much roll, and a pleasant gear shift. Interior quality is also good, as is visibility.
The 1.0-litre turbocharged Ecoboost engine is, Ford claims, 15% more efficient than the next best petrol in its class, and it outpoints Vauxhall‘s Meriva by 25g/km. The little engine does, though, have a slightly unusual soundtrack to it that takes some getting used to, almost like a highly strung sewing machine. But performance is what you’d expect from a 120hp engine, rather than what you’d expect from a 1.0-litre engine, and illustrates the progress being made with petrol power.
The only word of warning about the Ecoboost comes from within the B-max’s own family. The 95hp 1.6 TDCi diesel is a few hundred pounds more expensive but thanks to a combination of better residuals and better efficiency – it’s 10g/km better than the B-max – the diesel actually comes out as slightly cheaper to run. But whichever choice, the new B-max is practical, clever and good to drive, and genuinely offers something new to the supermini-MPV segment.
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