While European families love MPVs for their flexibility and child-friendly interiors, Ford claims that families will make up just 40 percent of the total estimated sales. This leaves me wondering about the other 60 percent. It might surprise you, but a fair number of targeted sales in this segment go towards golden folks. Versatility, extra interior space, and improved comfort and practicality are some of the main reasons.
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| Although the majority of C-Max buyers will probably be between 36 and 45, Ford is hoping to gain respect among the younger crowd with cool styling and fun handling. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
But the biggest driving factor is the ability to feature all these traits in a vehicle that's small enough to maneuver in the city, plus is relatively economical to buy and own, the latter due to low fuel consumption. Ford estimates that the average C-Max driver will be between 36 and 45, but is hoping to gain respect among the younger crowd with cool styling and entertaining driving dynamics.
Like the regular Focus, the C-Max offers a high-quality, innovative interior. But the dash design is fresh, and it's packed with trim detail and upscale features not expected in anything with a Focus nameplate. Soft-touch plastics with textured grain cover the dashboard, console, door panels and switchgear.
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| Like the Focus here in Canada, the C-Max offers a high-quality, innovative interior. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
The dash-mounted gearshift lever may confuse at first, but it makes perfect sense. Rather than positioning it on the floor, it is easy to reach comfortably without stretching. The centre console is simple yet functional, with electronic climate control, and a Sony-designed audio system in plain view. The black plastic interface lights up when turned on, but when it's off it blends in with the black piano lacquer trim on the dash and shifter knob. Aluminum accents found on the steering wheel spokes, short-throw shifter collar and around the instruments, add a high-tech appearance.
What might be most crucial to the success of the C-Max is that it is designed to feel more like a regular car than a mini-MPV. It's true that the seats have been raised 80 mm (3.1 in) over a regular Focus, but thanks to the large windows and car-like driving position the overly-tall feeling that most European drivers despise, and ironically North American drivers adore in their SUVs, has been eliminated.
