I wasn’t particularly excited about being handed the keys to our long-term B-Max. It’s small, has van-like sliding rear doors and lacks any kind of coolness.

My first trip wasn’t a happy one: a short distance from the office on my journey home, it was clear something wasn’t right. Once I was moving at dual carriageway speed, I could hear the familiar droning sound of a worn wheel bearing coming from the front of the car, so no sooner than I was in the B-Max I was out again for it to be returned to Ford to be assessed.

They confirmed that the nearside front wheel bearing would need replacing, which, although unexpected for a car which has covered little more than 7,000 miles, isn’t something that can be attributed to anything in particular. Annoyingly, it’s just one of those things, and hopefully an isolated incident.

In the first half of 2014, I drove the Ford Kuga which, while I was uninspired by it at first, I grew to really appreciate, so much so that I have considered buying one as a family car (my wife even fell in love with the metallic brown colour).

And I think the same could be true of the B-Max. It may look small on the outside but It has a high quality tardis-like interior, and the sliding doors are an absolute pleasure. If you regularly carry rear passengers, have small children or need to load and unload items, you must try a B-Max (or the larger C-Max) for the sliding rear doors alone.

The comfortable seats offer a natural, slightly higher driving position than most cars, giving a clear view of the road, the infotainment system is simple and intuitve to use and the heated front screen has left a smile on my face on many occasions over the last few frosty weeks.

I still feel that the B-Max isn’t cool and for those for whom appearances matter most, it probably won’t make it to the top of choice lists. But, for those looking for a practical, useable small car, the B-Max has a lot to offer.

Luke Neal