B-Max company car tax from 13%

Allied to  sub-120 grammes of CO2, zero first year VED and 13 per cent BIK company car tax, the  engines are credited with 55.4mpg combined (99bhp) and 57.7 mpg (119bhp). With lower CO2 emissions and more frugal yet, a 1.6 TDCi diesel offers just 104 grammes of CO2, and combined consumption of 70.6mpg.

There is a snag, however.

The full engine range comprises older-technology Duratec 1.4 and 1.6 petrol units, the EcoBoosts, and 1.5 litre (75bhp) and 1.6 litre(95bhp) TDCi diesels.

Three B-Max trim levels

There are three trim levels: Studio, starting at £12,995 on the road; Zetec, from £15,600 and the flagship Titanium, from £17,595. But only Ford’s older 1.4 litre Duratec engine is available for the Studio and  only the  99bhp EcoBoost and 1.5 diesel units are  offered on the Zetec. Thus the two best engines in the range, the 119bhp Ecoboost and 1.6 diesel, are available only in the flagship Titanium models.

There are some obvious rivals. Ford itself cites Vauxhall’s Meriva, Nissan’s Note and  the Honda Jazz.  But  at the lower end of the scale, popular high-cube holdalls like Citroen’s Berlingo Multispace and Fiat’s Doblo lie within the B-Max’s snapping range. And at the high end, Ford’s UK MD Mark Ovenden suggests that the B-Max’s stress on a ‘premium’ sector  quality feel , the advanced engines, driving dynamics and space utilisation could well draw in a wider than usual audience.

“We’ve already had confirmation from the forecaster CAP that the residual value at 3 years and 30,000 miles  is 37 per cent, which is £1,250 better than Vauxhall’s Meriva. It’s going to have very broad church appeal. I think 60 per cent of sales will be conquest – from people trading up, from people having a lifestyle change where the family is growing and is moving lout of a conventional B supermini car  – and from people trading down.

“So someone who may have been drive a C or C/D segment car (Focus and Mondeo class) now wants a very flexible, fuel efficient package and this vehicle  gives them everything they’re used to in their C car plus the innovations such as the door system. We really are excited about this and we think it’s got a lot of potential. And people’s priorities are changing. I wouldn’t be totally surprised to see business users trading down out of their BMWs and Audis.”

The Studio base model is expected to account for only 5 per cent of sales, Zetec  60 per cent of and the Titanium  35 per cent Titanium .The EcoBoost take-up is predicted at around 36.5 per cent. “We want to keep the range as simple as possible,” says Ovenden. “We’re, looking at 1 per cent of market or 12,000-15,000 units  a year.  We want to limit the amount of different types that the dealer can order to ensure that the stocking is as lean and efficient as it can be. “

What’s hot?

• Unrivalled access via the pillarless body system
• Those 1 litre EcoBoost engines. Up to 57.7mpg…..
• …with  the lusty torque of a 1.6
• “SYNC” voice-activated connectivity
• Surprisingly sporty to drive
• Low BIK company car tax and VED rates
• ‘Premium’ aura claims not far-fetched
• On sale now
• Launch PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) rental for Zetec version at £209

What’s not?

• Best engines, 119bhp EcoBoost petrol and 1.6 TDCi diesel, only available on Titanium models
• Less rear legroom and rear load space than some rivals
• Rearward vision a challenge
• Poor front seating support