Thread: First drive review: Ford B-Max 1.4 Duratec Studio

The 1. 4 B-Max makes sense only in basic Studio form, although the three-pot Ecoboost Zetec is the ideal choiceSometimes engine choice can have quite a noticeable effect on a cars behaviour, and in more than the obvious areas of performance and economy. Choosing the B-Maxs entry-level 89bhp four-cylinder 1. 4-litre petrol engine instead of the 99bhp three-cylinder Ecoboost motor does more than just more than simply lose you 0. 6sec in the sprint to 62mph, raise the fuel economy by 8. 3mpg combined and add 20g/km of CO2 emissions. The ageing four-cylinder adds weight and noise to the mix, too. The appeal of this engine lies in its price. The 12,995 Ford asks for a basic B-Max 1. 4 Studio is a fat 2605 less than youll pay for the same engine in the much better-kitted Zetec trim. Another 595 on top of that buys you the Zetec-kitted Ecoboost version, whose smoothly effortless, syrupy power delivery adds a layer of deeply pleasing sophistication to this ingenious car.