FORD really is out to make a splash with the new B-MAX small MPV.

A natural and updated successor to the Fusion, the B-MAX has a distinctive design that does away with the traditional pillar between front and back doors which gives wide open access from the front hinged doors to the rear sliders.

There are nine models in the B-MAX range from under £13,000 to about £18,900 and they use 1.0, 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines or 1.5 and 1.6 diesels with five-speed manual gearboxes or optional sequential automatic on the largest petrol unit. Trim grades are Studio, Zetec and Titanium in line with the familiar Ford ranges.

The 1.0 B-MAX Zetec with its 100ps engine is going to be one of the most popular in the line up and it delights far more than it disappoints.

You might expect a three-cylinder 999cc car to be lacking in oomph, particularly in an MPV model, but it really does surprise the driver with the way it pulls from low revs and through the carefully chosen gearbox ratios.

There is a tendency for the torque to fall away as it moves into the higher rev range and the engine note markedly increases, but it is not an unpleasant sound, just a busy one.

Use the gears wisely and with anticipation and you really can make good progress on country roads or busy town traffic.

The light clutch and slick gearchange make urban use effortless and the steering has a good turning circle if it's a little dead with its feedback. Brakes are good underfoot and the handbrake securely held it on slopes.

While the acceleration figures suggest its not that quick, it certainly felt lively and calculating the economy it achieved 40mpg without any effort to be miserly. It achieved and held the motorway limit without complaint.

From the practical point of view, a number of passengers commented on how easy it was to climb in and out thanks to the pillar-less design.

The rear doors are comparatively light when sliding back and the tailgate opens from bumper height with an easy action but shorter drivers might find it a stretch to reach up and pull shut.

Depending on whether or not you have an inflation kit or a spare wheel and tyre, there is an under-floor rear compartment and the normal bootspace is wide and fairly high if not particularly long.

The seats drop down to give a near flat loadbed and you can select from a list of options various bits and pieces to maximize the space utilization. Long loads can be accommodated by folding forward the front seat-back and dropping down the rearmost backrest.

In the front, the seat adjustment is good and the seats are well shaped to give support and location.

There is good oddments space throughout and the ride quality is surprisingly compliant even over bad surfaces although you can hear how hard the system is working and doing its job to smooth out the bumps.

Major and minor controls are well laid out and easy to use, the heating and ventilation is straightforward and effective and the air conditioning keeps the interior clear and cosy.

Generally the noise levels are low but push the engine and it becomes more obvious how small a capacity it is and the road rumbles are ever present if muted.

Having said that, the B-MAX Zetec 1.0 does a good job when used with up to five people aboard. They can get in and out very quickly, there is plenty of leg and reasonable shoulder room and headroom is particularly generous.

Overall, the new Ford B-MAX is a very comfortable and usable family car with a versatile personality, economical consumption and surprising refinement.

It does a lot of family things very well and could become a favourite.