Ford’s Goofy C-MAX Hybrid Commercial

[xcel]

Cute? Yes? Factually correct? Sort of.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 4, 2012

2013 Ford C-MAX advert - $25,995 to start and a triple 47 mpgUS city/highway/combined rating across the board.

Ford created a commercial that first targets the hybrid universe and then the Prius v via a classic animated television character in a new advertising campaign that begins airing tonight.

The new ads use a familiar cartoon style to showcase C-MAX Hybrid’s “real-vehicle” performance, technology and value to new buyers.

The C-MAX is Ford’s first dedicated hybrid lineup that includes both the current C-MAX Hybrid and future C-MAX Energi PHEV.

In the Ford campaign, the character is being frustrated by the limitations of the Toyota Prius v, such as the lower amount of horsepower featured in one of the spots. Saying that, I am not sure I have ever heard of an owner frustrated by a lack of HP although I know many that wish there was more.

With artistic license, maybe Ford is exaggerating the facts. Or maybe not?

Once behind the wheel of a Ford C-MAX Hybrid, the animated character happily finds his place traveling at a normal speed down the highway.

The last time I drove a Prius or Prius v, they both drove down the highway and could easily break the PSL by a factor of 2 in many places so I am not sure where Ford was heading with this?

Plenty of opportunities exist for Ford to position itself in a positive way against Prius but this seems more like make believe than fact?

Prius vs. C-MAX vs. Prius -- Ready … Fight!

Make	Model	Price ($USD incl. D&H)	Engine	System HP	Fuel Economy (mpgUS) city/highway/combined	Passenger Volume (cu. ft.)	Cargo Volume (cu. ft.)	Cargo Volume – seats down (cu. ft.)	Total Volume (cu. ft.)
Toyota	Prius v	$27,345	Atkinsonized 1.8L	138	40/44/42	97.2	34.3	67.3	131.5
Ford	C-MAX	$24,795	Atkinsonized 2.0L	188	47/47/47	99.7	24.5	52.6	124.2
Toyota	Prius	$24,795	Atkinsonized 1.8L	138	51/48/50	93.7	21.6	TBD	115.3

One area where the C-MAX quite literally buries the Prius Hatch and v is the interior quality.

For example, as the first Ford hybrid to achieve equal city and highway fuel economy figures, C-MAX Hybrid’s 47 mpg city/highway/combined rating is 5 mpg better than Prius v’s combined.

However in real world testing completed by one of our members just two days ago, the C-MAX at 55 mph barely broke 45 mpg. In his second generation Prius rated at 48/45 mpgUS city/highway, it offered 60 mpg at the same speed on the same day just moments later?

C-MAX Hybrid Display(s)

The C-MAX SmartGauge with EcoGuide incorporates a dual-screen LCD design that allows you to tailor the vehicle information to meet your needs with four levels of customizable information.

The all-new 2013 C-MAX Hybrid is currently America’s most affordable hybrid utility vehicle with a base price of $25,245 with the $750 rebate, including destination and delivery, which is $450 higher than the Prius hatch ($24,795 incl. D&H) and $2,100 lower than Prius v ($27,345 incl. D&H). C-MAX Hybrid is currently available at Ford dealerships nationwide.

C-MAX Energi is currently scheduled to be priced at $37,495 incl. D&H before any federal tax credit is applied if you qualify.

[rfruth]

I agree it is goofy but most commercials are

[NeilBlanchard]

Remind me please about the pack size and/or all-electric range on the Energi?

[xcel]

Hi Neil:

The C-MAX Energi has a 7.6 kWh pack (I suspect that is the actual pack capacity with usable around 5 to 5.5 kWh but I am completely guessing here???) and it is begin touted to have a 20 to 21 mile all-electric range. Then again, it is a 7-hour charge off a 120V circuit so maybe the 7.2 kWh is usable with maybe a 10 kWh pack actually installed?

While those figures are neat and all, its the 85 mph EV mode limits that has me glad to see that one coming. That really does mean high speed highway for some shorter distance vs. the Prius PHEV that brings the ICE online at 62 + mph.

Wayne

[RichXKU]

Originally Posted by xcel

However in real world testing completed by one of our members just two days ago, the C-MAX at 55 mph barely broke 45 mpg. In his second generation Prius rated at 48/45 mpgUS city/highway, it offered 60 mpg at the same speed on the same day just moments later?

I really hope that was a fluke. The C-Max has seriously impressed me, but falling short of the EPA would be a huge turn off as I'm used to exceeding that rating by 20% or more while going about 60.

[rmcmast]

I'm on my second tank on my C-Max. The first tank was 41.5mpg, but I'm doing significantly better at 300 miles into my second tank: 46.7mpg. My last 3 trips to/from work were: 50.4, 50.1 and tonight the return trip was 46.7mpg. This is 28 miles each way, mostly highway.

-- Rick

[300TTto545]

rmcmast - what is your speed on the highway? What is the ambient temp? Have you boosted the tires?

I'm sure the energi is loaded but wow $12k more?

[waltermlee]

That's really disappointing to hear that the Rmcmast is experiencing real world Ford C-Max fuel efficiency that is lower than the EPA rating especially since the C-Max are using Li-ion batteries.

Rmcmast: what's type of tires did Ford give the C-Max? What's the recommended tire pressure? Did you increase the tire pressure or are you sticking with the recommended tire pressure for testing purposes? Do you think the fuel fall change or driving temperature might have to do with the MPG drop? For example, my 2010 Prius MPG has dropped about 4 mpg from about 71 mpg to 67 mpg since the last week of September - it's a tad colder outside and I suspect the new winter reformulated gas is now being sold too.

[rmcmast]

Originally Posted by 300TTto545

rmcmast - what is your speed on the highway? What is the ambient temp? Have you boosted the tires?

I try to keep my speed around 60mph on the interstate and 50 to 60 on about 10 miles of 2 lane highway with hills. Temps have been 50's and 60's the last couple of days.

I have not increased tire pressure yet.

-- Rick

[rmcmast]

Originally Posted by waltermlee

Rmcmast: what's type of tires did Ford give the C-Max? What's the recommended tire pressure? Did you increase the tire pressure or are you sticking with the recommended tire pressure for testing purposes? Do you think the fuel fall change or driving temperature might have to do with the MPG drop? For example, my 2010 Prius MPG has dropped about 4 mpg from about 71 mpg to 67 mpg since the last week of September - it's a tad colder outside and I suspect the new winter reformulated gas is now being sold too.

The tires are Michelin Energy Saver A/S. I'm at 38psi which is the recommended pressure and I'll push that up later.

Right now I'm trending up and only on my second tank, so I'm not disappointed yet. It's only got 750 miles on it.

-- Rick