Ford C Max, Prius killer?

I bought the Prius V and love it but frankly it is very under powered especially when going up hill. I thought they could have designed it to have about 160 hp with a slightly larger engine. Last week a friend let me drive his 2012 Camry hybrid and it is so much more powerful and smooth and I was getting about 45 mpg with after 30 miles. If I have to do it again I still buy the Prius V over the Camry because I want the versatility of the hatchback but the lack of power seriously pushed me closer to the Camry Hybrid.

I think the C-Max will not be a Prius Killer but it will be a formidable competitor and I believe it will take maybe 20 to 30% of potential Prius sales.

I want to see a C-Max in person before I make a decision. The UK press has fairly favorable reviews of the non-hybrid C-Max. The 2012 Camry Hybrid we bought has really spoiled me, it is a great powertrain and a pleasure to drive. Right now, the contenders for my next car are the C-Max, the Prius V, or a second Camry in the family. I might also look at the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Whether I buy a C-Max or not, its nice to see Ford innovate in this space and provide some competition. Until we bought the Camry we had Hondas for years (I still have a CRV). They are great, reliable, cars, but Honda is not keeping up with the market and is way behind on hybrids. I hope to see many more choices in the years to come.

The thing about it is that you know the 2nd generation Prius V is going to be absolutely incredible (will be powerful and fuel efficient like the new Camry Hybrid). I also am really bothered by the issues with rear visibility with the current Prius liftback, and I'd love it if they'd change that design next time around. There may be a 2-3 year window where the C-Max Hybrid hits the sweet spot between those two cars.

Gosh, I just don't want to invest that kind of money in a Ford though. Is there any chance it would last as long as a Prius?

What are people's takes on the C-Max vs. the Prius V aesthetically?

The 2013 Ford C-MAX | View Full Gallery of Photos | Ford.com

My bottom line is I wouldn't buy a car on its first model year. Gotta let it play a few years for them to improve on the kinks.

Everything else being equal, that is a sensible approach. The problem is that buying a new car is often determined by outside events. When forced to replace the 88 Camry with a cracked engine block (not an expected Toyota characteristic) back in 2001, the choice was between a Prius and a Corolla. What a great decision I made going with the first model year car, the 2001 Prius.

That is certainly something I will consider, although technically the Prius V is a first year vehicle as well for 2012, and the C-Max has been sold in Europe for several years, albeit without the hybrid powertrain.

It shouldn't be that bad. As mentioned before the CMax has been available in Europe for some years now, and the drivetrain is an evolution of current Ford hybrid technology. Also, let's not forget that Ford and Toyota have worked together on their hybrid technology.

The Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybrid have been great cars so I would assume the C-Max will be too. I bet the dash display will make the v's look like an old Atari console. LOL

Killer? I don't think so, but it's going to take a very nice bite of the Prius market.

Its success will guarantee a US-built Gen 4 Prius.

I take it you're the type of person who depends heavily on the rear-view mirror rather than using the sides? You're not alone, but I certainly don't agree. Be happy HSD is offered in a variety of flavors.

Personally, I don't like the looks of the C-Max. The interior is cramped looking and the lines are not clean like the v.
I love my v and have a good deal more confidence in it's build quality than a Ford.

c-max is some ugly. imo.

Its going to make the "Hybrid" label what it always was, just another worthless selling tool that means as little to educated consumers as "Corinthian leather". All that matters is the form factor you desire, and how MPG factors into your TCO. Believing the masses will sacrifice their time and work (as represented by money) for a nebulous feeling of superiority and moral justifications failed in the USSR already.

Which means, it will be a success and pull sales from the Prius, and other hatches. People who sacrificed acceptable power for the great gas mileage will gladly LEAP at a vehicle with more usable power, at a tiny cost in fuel. It wont effect the Prius v because thats a different market. People who need the space, for family or work, will settle for the prius v or Mazda5, or just step up to a mid size suv.

I doubt the Cmax will get the same mileage of a v in the real world. It is heavier (3,986lbs v. 3,274lbs), has a worse drag coefficient (0.30 v. 0.29)*, and has a larger frontal area (1.9" taller, 2" wider), all of which have a negative impact on drag (rolling and aero).

The thing that really helps Ford's hybrids on the EPA test is that they can run on battery power up to ~60mph instead of ~40mph (maybe lower). On the short 11 mile EPA test, that means that the C-max will use the battery more than the Prius does, which does give it better gas mileage on that 11 mile test. At some point, though, the piper must be paid and the gasoline engine will have to recharge those batteries where the mileage will drop, with the C-max not being a plug-in hybrid.

Either way, competition is good. It will make Toyota continuously improve the Prius v.

*The C-max has less cargo space (24.9 cu.ft v. 34.3 cu.ft) but more overall passenger volume (100 cu.ft v. 97 cu.ft).

Let's not forget that v already is improved already in Japan.

There's a model which features a Li-Ion battery. That in itself should deliver a small bump in efficiency. There is another point of interest too... it's located between the two front seats.

Knowing Toyota is trying alternative configurations is great!

The different place for battery was a must, as the EU version is 7 seater. The missing bridge and some storage space is a tax for that.

Well, they focused a lot of research on aesthetics that's for sure. They didn't want this to be a boring car.

But naming it c-max? Almost sounds like carmax the used car dealer.