Top 3 things you need to know about the Ford B-Max

By Martin Pretorius

 

Arriving just as the local popularity of MPVs started to evaporate in favour of SUV-crossovers, the Ford B-Max never really had any chance to settle into its niche. Nonetheless, it’s quite a clever and appealing little car in its own right, so if you’re looking to buy one of them second-hand, here are 3 things you need to know.

 

1. It’s really a Fiesta underneath

Because the B-Max is based upon the running gear of a Fiesta, a talented chassis is part of the deal. Sure, it’s not set up to be as sporty as a Fiesta ST, but the B-Max is still one of the most fun-to-drive vehicles in this class. However, because it’s tuned to appeal to families, ride comfort still takes precedence over ultimate driving dynamics, so it’s just as home on dirt roads as it is on the freeway.

This extends to the engine range as well, where Ford’s award-winning 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol found its way under the bonnet. It was available with two power outputs (74 kW and 92 kW), but both of them offered 170 Nm of torque, and sent their power to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission.

 

2. Those clever sliding doors make a big difference

Perhaps the defining feature of the B-Max is its sliding rear doors and absence of a B-pillar (the middle roof pillar, which normally separates the front- and rear doors). As a result, the B-Max has a strongly practical slant, with 1.5-metre long apertures on both sides when all the doors are open.

Not only does this unusual door layout offer a large helping of practicality, but it also eases entry into the rear passenger compartment, and makes the fitment of child seats a breeze. Fortunately, the sliding doors are reinforced to boost the car’s rigidity, leading to exemplary crash safety, with a 5-star Euro-NCAP rating (further boosted by 7 airbags and stability control across the range).

 

3. Practicality is the name of the game

If your main requirement is practicality in a small package, the B-Max has any similarly-sized SUV/crossover beat. It starts with those big sliding doors, and then extends to the myriad of ways in which the interior could be configured. 

Even with all 5 seats in use, there’s 304 litres available in the boot, but with all seats bar the driver’s collapsed, there’s a load bay measuring 2.34 metres in length available in the cabin. That’s quite remarkable for a vehicle as small as this, and puts many larger vehicles to shame. 

 

It’s unfortunate that the Ford B-Max came and went almost unnoticed, because it really offered a great package to city-bound families and adventurous types alike. However, if you’re considering a used one, there are still some nice examples listed right here on AutoTrader. Go try one out for size: it won’t be too expensive, and its unique charms might just bowl you over...