Used Ford Grand C-Max for sale: everything you need to know

Regular Ford C-Max not quite big enough? Then the Ford Grand C-Max sold between 2011 and 2019 might be the answer, with an elongated body and wheelbase allowing the fitment of an extra pair of seats in the back, as well as a set of sliding rear doors for even easier access to the rear two rows.

Beyond those obvious differences, it has all the same benefits, and a few of the faults, of the regular C-Max, which means it’s a generally pretty decent car that drives better than a small MPV has any right to, and also offers very good value as a used buy, in comparison to less practical small crossovers.

Small MPVs are a shrinking market and the number that’ll seat seven is even smaller, but used alternatives to the Grand C-Max include the Volkswagen Sharan, Vauxhall Zafira Tourer, and Citroen Grand C4 Picasso. And if you think you can live without seven seats, there’s always the regular C-Max.

Should you buy a Ford Grand C-Max?

The Ford Grand C-Max was sold between 2011 and 2019, and while it might not look that different from the regular C-Max sold around the same time, that name holds a clue as to why you might consider it. It’s longer in both body and wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) than the normal C-Max, and as a result, Ford managed to squeeze in a third row of seats, making it a seven-seater. It also fitted sliding rear doors, a practical touch that makes loading kids into the back seats even easier.

It must be said, that extra pair of rear seats is what you might call ‘occasional’, and they’re definitely better suited to kids than adults. But if you find yourself needing another seat or two in a pinch, then the Grand C-Max is ideal, while the rest of the car has all the talents of the regular model.

That includes a driving experience that’s surprisingly good by MPV standards - like many Fords of its era, it steers accurately, handles neatly, and even rides well. You might even call it fun, though we’d advise not testing out this theory with a car full of kids. Smaller engines can struggle a bit, but luckily Ford offered a decent range in the Grand C-Max, so if you regularly transport a car full of people and things, look to the larger engines.

The extra seats do result in very little boot space when all are in place, but fold down the rear pair and you get a touch more room than the regular C-Max. The cabin is well laid out and these cars are well equipped too, though some rivals offer more interesting designs and higher quality.

Those rivals include cars like the Volkswagen Sharan, Vauxhall Zafira Tourer, and Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, all of which also squeeze seven seats into their cabins, though the VW feels more substantial than the Ford and the Citroen is slightly more interesting to look at and sit in. A left-field choice is the Toyota Prius+, which also had a pair of vestigial rear seats, and featured hybrid power from the Prius - worth a look if you’d prefer not to drive a diesel.

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What’s the best used Ford Grand C-Max model to buy?

Extra size and weight means the Ford Grand C-Max isn’t served quite as well by its smaller petrol engines as the regular car. As a result we’d consider the 125PS Ecoboost an absolute minimum, but really you may want to look at the more powerful 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol, or the 120PS 1.5-litre diesel, each of which deal with the car’s weight (and the extra weight you may be carrying) a little better.

Post-2015 facelift models would be our choice too, and Titanium trim strikes a good balance between equipment and value, particularly as later examples will have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, which removes any worries about out-of-date built-in infotainment systems.

Used Ford Grand C-Max fuel economy and performance

• Ford Grand C-Max 1.0 Ecoboost 100PS: Much like the regular C-Max the Grand C-Max range starts with a 1.0-litre Ecoboost three-cylinder petrol, making 100PS. With a six-speed manual gearbox, Ford quoted a 0-62mph time of 13.7 seconds, and 39.8mpg combined.
• Ford Grand C-Max 1.0 Ecoboost 125PS: With an extra 25PS over the entry-level Ecoboost, 0-62mph falls to 11.6 seconds while combined economy is the same at 39.8mpg.
• Ford Grand C-Max 1.5 Ecoboost 150PS: Offered with an automatic gearbox only, the 1.5 Ecoboost with a 150PS output has a 10.5-second 0-62mph time, and combined fuel consumption of up to 32.1mpg.
• Ford Grand C-Max 1.5 Duratorq TDCi 120PS: The 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel was offered with either a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission. 0-62mph takes 12.3 and 13.4 seconds for the manual and auto, and while the manual can do up to 45.6mpg, the auto promises up to 44.1mpg.

What used Ford Grand C-Max trim levels are available?

Ford offered the same trim levels on the seven-seat Grand C-Max as it did with the five-seat C-Max, with a familiar lineup including Zetec, Titanium, and Titanium X trims - each offering a touch more equipment than the last, and the range-topper offering part-leather trim and a panoramic roof.

• The Ford Grand C-Max Zetec features similar equipment to the regular C-Max Zetec, with 16-inch alloy wheels, a radio with CD, DAB, six speakers and USB connectivity, air conditioning, and a heated windscreen. It adds parking sensors and rear electric windows over the regular C-Max, as well as that third row of seats.
• The Ford Grand C-Max Titanium gets a splash of chrome for the front grille, automatic headlights with LED daytime running lights, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and keyless entry with a push-button start.
• The Ford Grand C-Max Titanium X builds on the Titanium’s equipment list with bi-xenon adaptive headlights, electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, a panoramic roof, and part-leather seat upholstery.

Used Ford Grand C-Max dimensions and boot size

The Ford Grand C-Max’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4519mm
• Width: 1828mm (without mirrors), 2067mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1642mm

The Ford Grand C-Max’s boot size is:

• 448 litres with the third row folded down
• 1715 litres with all seats folded down

Used Ford Grand C-Max road tax

VED or ‘road tax’ on the Ford Grand C-Max will depend on whether you go for a pre- or post-April 2017 model, since models registered before this date will be taxed based on their CO2 emissions, making some as low as £30 per year, while models after this date are subject to a flat fee, currently set at £180 per year. 

How much is it to insure a Ford Grand C-Max?

Ford Grand C-Max insurance shouldn’t be too expensive. A Zetec-specification car with the 100PS 1-litre Ecoboost engine starts in group 10 (out of 50), while even a Titanium X with the 150PS, 1.5-litre engine only rises to group 23.

Read our full Ford Grand C-Max review