FORD’S family MPV has had a makeover.

The C-Max now wears the same face as the rest of the Ford range and it looks great for it.

Looking nice and modern, the C-Max – and its bigger seven-seater sibling, the Grand C-Max – has had plenty of upgrades.

Take the hands-free tailgate, for one. Wave you foot under the bumper and it’ll open automatically – very useful when your hands are full.

Tech has filtered down from other refreshed models in Ford’s range – park assist is an excellent tool that will place you in a car park bay or a parallel slot without you having to touch the wheel.

And the C-Max now gets Ford’s updated infotainment system, which is a vast improvement on the previous effort and brings the manufacturer back up to date in an area where it had been lagging behind others – although even my Titanium trim tester didn’t have nav as standard, which was a bit of a niggle.

But all cars get alloys, the colour screen with digital radio, Bluetooth and USB, air con, heated windscreen, electric front windows and hill-start assist.

So base spec is good and the Titanium, which is the next model up in a simple three-step range, that I tested builds on that with bits like auto lights, bigger alloys, dual-zone climate control, a bigger (twice as big, actually) touch screen and cruise control.

Top-end Titanium X adds a panoramic roof, some leather and heated seats among other things.

It’s got plenty of practicality, as you’d expect, with lots of passenger comfort and a big boot, alongside rear seats that can be folded flat or even fully removed.

But what might surprise you is how good it is to drive.

Ford’s latest engines are bang on the money, with perky, frugal petrol and diesel units.

I’d avoid the boggo 1.6 petrol, but the 1.0-litre Ecoboost is great, especially in more powerful 125ps flavour, while managing low CO2 and mpg in the 50s.

I drove the 1.5 diesel and it was an absolute gem. It’s got lots of pull, yet returned mpg well into the 50s in real-world driving (claimed is mid-60s) without any effort and the drive is lovely and smooth with the excellent manual gearbox, which is tight, light and easy.

So the new C-Max is a little corker – practical, comfortable, good-looking and genuinely nice to drive.

Prices are from £18,195, rising to £26,145.

The seven-seater Grand C-Max is from £20,295 to £27,615.

Find out more at foraymotorgroup.co.uk