Test drive Ford Focus C-Max 2003-2007 Minivan

All photos of Ford Focus C -Max 2003 - 2007

Trailed car

With a small family mini-van, Ford clearly dragged on. Almost more or less serious manufacturers launched wagons on the market, based on the Class Class chassis C. Europeans, the Japanese and the ubiquitous Koreans offer their variations on the topic of small, but roomy. Finally, one of the latter attached his car to the international composition and Ford.

What is it like to produce a car later than many competitors? On the one hand, it is probably convenient - you can study on other people's mistakes. On the contrary, it is difficult on the other hand: you have to wedge into the already formed market, and for this we need good arguments. What trump cards are displayed by the focus of s -mah to struggle for minds, hearts (but most importantly - for wallets) future owners? Will he, for example ...
... take with charm
Could be so. In order for this most potential buyer to see, gasped, melted and rolled out by bills. Only now it is easier to attract an extraordinary appearance. And mini-wenes, with rare exceptions, are not distinguished by designer frills. More or less pretty, more or less recognizable, but on the spot at first glance they do not fight. S -Mah - one of them: neat, harmonious, proportional, with generic Ford features, but by no means a dazzling handsome man. Daddy Focus with his extreme embodiment of a new face delighted many (and frankly annoyed others). The offspring turned out to be much calmer - the enthusiasm will be clearly less, as, indeed, rejection.
... lull comfort

This is when he sat behind the wheel or on the passenger place, he adjusted the seat, twisted his pens, pulled the levers, put it on the buttons - and realized that I did not want to leave here. And the kids have already mastered the rear seat and have fun with its transformation. And the dearest half is already quietly shining from the abundance of the mess and the immense of the trunk. The main thing is that it is comfortable and, especially for the driver, convenient. After all, this is a big family car.
The S-Max salon enter (it is entered, and not fit) through wide doors and sit on high as a chair. The seats, by the way, are monumental: large and wide, but at the same time quite stringent, they hold the riders tightly. There is no need to talk about cramped in such a spacious car at all. At the workplace of the driver, everything is in order: he sat down and went, not feeling the inconvenience and burning desire to adjust something again. There are three options for configuration, in the list of additional equipment - the most modern devices - for example, a navigator or electronic stabilization system.

The rear seat is initially three -seater, but, removing the middle part into the trunk with one movement and moving the extreme chairs back to the center, we get two, but very spacious places. This option, and even in a rich configuration, will easily turn a spacious family car into a car for transporting quite important people.
But what the new focus does not have is the third row of seats. Want to carry seven in Ford - buy Galaxy.
... amuse ambitions
He pressed the gas, flew by a couple of turns and showed everyone a wide stern - let them know that it was not for nothing that the money was paid ... And this is on a spacious, cozy, folding, family? This does not happen! No, it happens - the press release claims through the lips of the high Ford leadership. Our trailer, they say, not only transport people with comfort, but he is able to deliver true pleasure to the driver. Let's check?
A 1.8 liter gasoline engine borrowed from Mondeo, almost spoiled everything. Started by the environmental norms of the Euro IV, he impressed the cozy, family - in a word, any kind, just not athletic. Judging by the numbers in the technical characteristics, a crazy, sluggish, jogging at low speeds, reports a fair speed and decent acceleration, but, alas, does not give a fighting character.

The position is saved by the suspension. S-Max is based on an improved focus chassis, from which he adopted very worthy behavior on the road. Even by the standards of a passenger car, the new mini-van is stable, not prone to excessive rolls, clearly steer, confidently slows down. Valillia inherent in Van is almost not manifested. There are something hereditary, focus in sensations from driving at s-mah-the car reacts to the driver’s commands quickly and unequivocally, creating a sense of reliability and safety.
But only when a two -liter diesel is under the hood, you understand that this car knows how to drive gambling - here the Ford's ranks were not cunning. The modern motor, created together with the French from Peugeot-Sitro, is so sharp and fast that you want to look under the hood and check whether it is true from compression there. Such an engine is very suitable for both a dense, tenacious suspension, and a clear steering wheel with an electro -hydraulic amplifier, and powerful brakes. It is a pity that they do not plan to supply diesel to Russia yet - there is no demand.
... reliably protect
Anything in life happens - suddenly an accident. It is known that it is wiser not to fight the consequences, but to prevent their cause. Reliable behavior of the car on the road and smart electronics also help to avoid the accident: anti -lock brake system, an emergency increase in braking force, maintaining exchange rate stability. If, despite all the efforts of the driver and the capabilities of the car, the accident has nevertheless occurred, passive safety systems come into business. The body will be deformed not as it hit, but by preserving the living space for passengers, which are fastened with three -point belts with ronacers. Six airbags will prevent dangerous contact with the structural elements of the car. The new design of the steering column and the folding pedal node will reduce the risk of injuries for the driver. In short, the C-Mah is equipped with a complete set of modern safety tools, which, having appeared on high-class cars, surprisingly quickly migrated to more massive and democratic machines.
... defeat the assortment
The buyer's eyes should scatter in front of the counter. Then the seller, taking advantage of confusion, will definitely sell something to him. The new mini-ven will be offered in three trim levels, with three gasoline (1.6; 1.8; 2, 0 liters) and two diesel (1.6 and 2.0 liters) engines. Plus a variety of additional equipment, plus

A sports package, plus ... who is interested in deeper, let him ask questions to the dealers - they are best versed in the intricacies of possible combinations. By the way, they will begin to sell the focus of S-Makh in Russia this year, almost simultaneously with the start of sales in Europe. Preliminary price - from 15,500 to 19 450 euros.

The interior of C-Makh is not distinguished by the originality of stylistic solutions, like that of the basic focus. Here at the forefront of convenience and functionality.

If you remove the middle part of the rear seat in the trunk, and move the extreme seats back to the center, then instead of a triple sofa you can get two very spacious places.

The trunk with a volume of 582 liters can be increased almost three times by removing the rear seat.

The body has high tough for twisting, which helped to obtain decent characteristics of stability and handling.

At the heart of S -Max - a modernized focus chassis. There are an electro -hydraulic steering wheel and new, more effective brakes that position the best cars in this class. Front and rear subframes are finalized, a new reptile stabilizer at the back. Silent blocks of suspension levers and shock absorbers are modernized. Developers shoot at once at two hares, combining a high level of comfort with good running qualities. And they do this, contrary to the saying, quite successfully.

New diesel engines were developed by Ford in the Commonwealth with Peugeot Sitrene. The power is comparable to gasoline motors of the same volume. Traditional diesel efficiency is combined with a tractor torque developed from low revolutions, and a low level of noise and vibrations.