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Ford C-MAX Estate (2010-2019) running costs and reliability

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Running costs rating: 3.5 out of 53.5

Written by Parkers Published: 13 November 2019

Miles per pound (mpp)

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only, and typical current fuel or electricity costs.
Petrol engines 4.8 - 6.2 mpp
Diesel engines 5.6 - 6.2 mpp
What is miles per pound?

Fuel economy

Low figures relate to the least economical version; high to the most economical. Based on WLTP combined fuel economy for versions of this car made since September 2017 only.
Petrol engines 32.5 - 42.2 mpg
Diesel engines 44.1 - 48.7 mpg
View mpg & specs for any version
  • Dinky 1.0 petrol a good performer
  • Diesels the pick for fuel economy
  • Steer clear of 174g/km petrol

With just three engines on offer, C-Max running costs are pretty easy to digest. The most efficient engine is, naturally, the 120hp 1.5-litre diesel.

When paired with a manual gearbox it’s capable of returning up to 48.7mpg –  a good figure for a car this size. Automatic models return up to 46.3mpg.

However, opting for the much cheaper 1.0-litre, 125hp petrol will only see this figure reduce to an official 42.2mpg, which isn’t too much of a sacrifice especially given the initial cost saving.

2019 Ford C-Max rear dynamic

The most powerful petrol model is the most expensive to run, with a claimed fuel economy of just 33.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 174g/km.

Depreciation is an issue with these cars, as they’re far less desirable than the equivalent SUV – the Kuga, in Ford’s lineup. You can expect C-Max models to retain less than 30 per cent of their value after three years, which is a poor figure indeed and contributes to unimpressive finance figures.

Reliability

Ford’s reliability record is pretty good but we’d steer clear of the six-speed Powershift automatic gearboxes. These have had a very poor showing and numerous owners have reported issues.

The C-Max is protected by the same three-year/60,000 mile warranty as the rest of the Ford range. The underpinnings are Focus-based, meaning maintenance is easy and cheap, plus the vast Ford dealer network should ensure it’s easy to find a garage near you.

Ongoing running costs

Road tax £0 - £255
Insurance group 10 - 27
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