C-MAX Hybrid Achieves 47 MpgUS City/Highway/Combined Rating

[xcel]

That’s Hot!

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - August 8, 2012

2013 Ford C-MAX -- $25,995 to start (incl D&H) and a 47/47/47 mpgUS city/highway/combined triple. There is already $1,000 on the hood even before it goes on sale?

Ford this morning let loose a PR that is sure to be broadcast far and wide. While Ford is pushing the C-MAX as a Prius v competitor, it is not quite large enough for that but is larger than the base Prius hatch. At 47 mpgUS across the board, it has nearly matched the ubiquitous fuel economy leader too!

The EPA certification is certainly significant and probably has more to do with the top EV/Glide speed of up to 62 mph than anything else. And it is yet another one of the recent "super cars" we cannot wait to take for a drive someday

Like the Fusion and Lincoln MKZh Hybrids, the C-MAX Hybrid is equipped with the beautiful, upgraded and mostly functional SmartGauge with EcoGuide. Another new feature I have not read about is ECO Cruise which is surely a DWL CC similar to that found in the current Honda Civic Lineup under their particular ECO mode.

The C-MAX Hybrid is expected to arrive with a base price of $25,995, including destination and delivery, which is $1,235 more than a Prius hatch and $1,300 lower than Toyota Prius v. According to Ford, the C-MAX Hybrid is currently available to order at select Ford dealerships nationwide.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid Interior

If the C-MAX earned a 47 mpgUS combined rating, I wonder what Ford has in store for the upcoming 2013 FFH

Additional write-ups on the Ford C-MAX Hybrid, PHEV and family can be found in the following:

• C-MAX Energi Becomes America's Most Affordable Plug-In Hybrid
  
• Ford’s Upcoming C-MAX Goes Head to Head with Toyota’s v
  
• Ford C-Max set to best the MPG of Prius v
  
• Ford's C-MAX Hybrid Targets At Least 43 mpg Combined
  
• Panasonic to Power Ford's Fusion and C-MAX HEV and PHEVs
  
• Ford Reveals the CMAX for North America
  
• Ford To Launch C-Max Hybrid Models In Europe 2013

[Carcus]

Prolly sell a bunch of these.

Cmax energi will likely be the best value 'car with a plug' on the market for now.

[herm]

That picture shows an acre of plastic between the windshield and the dash..

[RichXKU]

I'm having trouble sizing up this car. What does it compare to dimensionally? Toyota Matrix?

[PaleMelanesian]

[xcel]

Hi Rich:

The C-MAX Hybrid is rated at 99.7 and 24.5 cu. ft. of passenger and cargo volume respectively.

It is a small midsize inside from the passenger’s perspective (larger than the Prius hatch and Prius v’s 93.7 and 97.2 passenger volumes respectively) and a compact hatch from the cargo cap volume (larger than the Prius hatches 21.6 cu. ft. of cargo volume).

IHTHs?

Wayne

[WriConsult]

Of course we don't know yet the method by which the cargo volume was measured (floor-to-ceiling? Under-the-cargo-cover? Including or excluding under-floor storage?) since the EPA is completely inconsistent about it. Based on the size and shape of the car, though, I'm guessing it's floor-to-ceiling.

Which would make it almost exactly the size of my Elantra Touring. A perfect-for-me size of small wagon that barely exists anymore (especially with the new Elantra GT being downsized to bring it closer in line with the mainstream of 5-door hatchbacks).

I'm sure there are others like me who would like a skosh more room than the Prius liftback, but don't need quite the extra size of the Prius V and don't want its mpg penalty. Combine that with the domestic nameplate and the reasonable-for-a-hybrid price, and Ford will sell quite a few of these to small families who might otherwise buy small SUVs, Subarus or minivans.

[PaleMelanesian]

The thing that concerns me is its relation to the Fiesta. The Fiesta is a cozy little car. To me it feels smaller than the numbers suggest.

Another thing is the cargo space looks to be tall and thin. I'd prefer low and long instead, more like the Prius.

[CRT1]

Andrew, It's built on the Focus platform, not the Fiesta. There is something wrong with the image you posted. The CMax is listed at 68" tall and the V is only 62". Looks like whoever did the image just scaled them all to the same height and this is making the CMax too small, it is not to scale.

Cargo space looks small to me from what I have seen, especially when they are begging comparisons to the V. I think interior volume is inflated do to height of the cabin particularly in the drivers area. Probably seating is more upright, like a crossover compared to these other cars.

I am noticing from the picture you posted that it has a partial camback, not as steep as the Prius liftback, but not as squared out as the V. Must be part of the key to better highway mileage.

[PaleMelanesian]

Ok, that's a little better if it's from the Focus.

I did that picture, scaling them based on wheelbase. (C-max 104" vs Prius 106) I found the images from google so the source images might be off. That is the only C-max profile photo I can find anywhere.

Edit: The C-max is in fact taller than the V, but only 63.9 vs 62.