Ford has heavily upgraded its compact people carrier and the result is a spacious, flexible and economical family car

For many years, the C-Max has been a popular choice for families with up to three children thanks to its practicality and decent fuel economy - but it has now undergone an impressive mid-life revamp.

The new version of the vehicle has been given a stronger look at the front and is visually pleasing from most angles.

Along with its big brother, the Grand C-MAX seven-seater, it has further enhanced Ford's extensive family range. Indeed, this is a car whose image is on the 'cool' side of family transport.

The latest incarnation of the C-MAX benefits from an upgraded interior which boasts higher quality materials and a number of high-tech features.

Improvements have also been made to refinement and ride quality with a revised chassis, body and interior designs.

Behind the wheel, the C-MAX feels pleasantly well connected to the road, giving the driver great confidence in its handling when approaching a corner. It feels solidly engineered and good to drive without having to be driven fast.

The seating position is also spot-on, adding to the feeling of comfort.

There is a new powertrain line-up offering diesel and petrol engines which Ford say reduce running costs with significant improvements to fuel efficiency and C02 emissions.

From the range of engines available, I tested the 125hp version of Ford’s famous 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine, which was the first engine ever to be awarded the International Engine of the Year award three years in a row.

With its turbocharger and direct-injection technology, I found the power to be sufficient for most situations, while the unit also delivers fuel economy that would compare favourably with most diesels.

The Titanium X trim grade, tested here, comes with classy-looking 17” 5-spoke alloy wheels, adaptive lighting with Bi-Xenon signature headlights, rain-sensing wipers and a fixed panorama roof, which brings great light flooding into the cabin.

The C-MAX is also available with a rather clever feature - the hands-free boot that opens and closes with a simple wave of your foot under the rear bumper. This is clearly ideal for when you’ve got your hands full with shopping bags or suitcases.

In the recent cold-snap, the heated front seats were an advantage.

One of the vehicle's most appealing assets is its flexibility. An adjustable system offers a variety of seating arrangements to accommodate up to five passengers. The rear seats fold and tumble forward or can be completely removed.

The car also comes with a range of safety features and has a variety of ways of letting you know if it thinks you're too close to another vehicle or are departing from the lane it thinks you should be in. Depending on your stance you will either find the beeping and flashing warning alerts to be a little tedious or a great help. That judgement is entirely down to personal taste.

Families are clearly the target audience for this vehicle and, from a week behind the wheel of the C-MAX, it appears to compare favourably with the opposition.

THE LOWDOWN

Ford C-Max Titanium X

Price: £22,695 on the road

Engine: 1.0 petrol Ecoboost 125PS

Economy: 55.4mpg combined and 117 g/km emissions

Transmission: Six-speed manual gearbox driving front wheels

Insurance group: 14E - T1

Performance: max speed of 116mph and 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds

Will's ratings

PERFORMANCE: 3

ECONOMY: 5

RIDE/HANDLING: 4

SPACE: 5

EQUIPMENT: 5

SECURITY: 4

VALUE: 4

OVERALL: 4