C-Max hybrid to get 47mpg both city/hwy

Don't think either car can tow or do 4wd. What do you mean by SUV utility. Both have lots of cargo room, the prius v a little bit more.

On technology, the ford display gives you more information and is configurable. The lithium battery and higher horsepower engine with higher glide speed should motivate the c-max better even though its heavier. The multilink suspension is a step up from the system in the prius v.

The c-max has more space for passengers, not sure what numbers you are looking at. I have no idea what is more flexible about the v's seating arrangement, they both have 5 seats with split second row. The v has more cargo space and is shaped like a traditional station wagon.

I'm not sure what the fixation of prius drivers is with second row seats, but I would assume the seats have similar material to the focus. Comfort is a personal thing, If you are spending a lot of time in your back seat, get the seats you like. I'm sure you are better off waiting for your dealer to get one than to speculate.

 

"SUV Utility" was Collector's wording. I'm wondering the same. The C-Max and Prius v both are small wagons. Granted, most people use SUVs as people movers, but no one should confuse these two cars with SUVs.

As I've said before, and I hear you agreeing, I'll need to reserve my own judgment until I see these items. I've not heard the best things about the Ford infotainment, but that may just be a matter of taste. Lithium battery and higher horsepower? More price and higher fuel consumption is my immediate reaction, but what will really matter is real-life economy and performance for purpose. Maybe Ford will get this one right on -- especially if there is a higher glide speed that matches a typical driving speed. I've got no idea about the suspension system comparison.

These are the numbers I'm looking at [From Edmunds:]
C-Max Hybrid

• Rear hip Room: 51.9 in.
• Rear head room: 39.4 in.
• Rear leg room: 36.5 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 55.2 in.

Prius v

• Rear hip Room: 53.5 in.
• Rear head room: 38.6 in.
• Rear leg room: 35.9 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 55.2 in.

What matters most to me is the seating room for the passengers. While both cars have the exact same shoulder room, the Prius v has an additional 1.6 inches in width. Head room in both cars is much better than my current 2010 Prius, and I haven't had anyone complaint about that. Leg room also is great in both the C-Max and the Prius v.

Flexibility? The Prius rear seats move forward and back, which is very convenient when you have young children. Better yet, the rear seats recline, and this is something my older children and adults both would greatly appreciate. It looks like the Prius v has more cargo space, but I'll need to see the C-Max to find out whether it makes any appreciable difference. I KNOW that 1.6 inches makes a difference, because that is half of the difference between the hiproom in my 2010 vs. the Prius v, and my children find it critically larger.

Fixation? Where does that comment come from? As I said, I'll have to compare the real thing to the Prius v. I've compared the Prius v rear seats to my own 2010 Prius, and the Prius v definitely wins out.

 

Dual climate control.

Seriously, most hybrids have come equipped with a higher level of techno goodies than other equivalent car. It has been a selling point since the gen2 Prius. Ford could have chosen the route Toyota did with the Camry hybrid. Offer a trim without all those goodies, but the C-max kept them while staying price competitive. That was the point of the post that started this. Looking for a hybrid with a little more room than the Prius? You don't have to give up the technology.

 

Yep glide speed is 62 mph in the c-max hybrid. YMMV. Since it has a more powerful engine, you can choose to accelerate harder than in the prius v, and might be able to get the mileage down to that level. It is a heavier car than the v, but gets better mileage at least on the test. Only way you can find out if you like the c-max multilink suspension more than the prius v's is a test drive.

I forgot that the prius v rear seats reclined. I guess that is why I asked.

The prius v cargo space is definitely larger. The big difference is when the back seat is up. Folded, the cargo space in both is huge. I was looking at the more leg room same shoulder room. Didn't even notice the hip room was slightly larger in the prius v. You are correct there.

Oh its not you, it seems others on pc seem to sit in rear seats of other cars as the first thing they do. We shoveled 8 adults in a 7 seat explorer on my last trip, so my family may just be a little oblivious.

 

That is an area Ford will win out over Toyota. Toyota is odd about technology. Standard features such as auto/on/off headlights require a top end purchase on Prius. Power seats, same. Sun roof the same. Wheels is another area. 17" nice alloy wheels on Ford. $2,000 option on Prius. Look at all the obsessing over wheels on PriusChat and money spent.

 

My local dealer said that Ford is doing something called a marketing push (or something like that). The factory is sending them one C-Max but the dealer doesn't know which model or options it will have. New releases have all kinds of stories of clueless salespeople regardless of brand.

I use the numbers to help me become better informed but the in-person experience will decide whether I part with my money or not.

 

I will clarify my wording as it seems my comments may have caused some Internet purse-fighting. It will also communicate my wants in a new car.

My present vehicle is a small SUV that I have driven for 12 years and over 200,000 miles. It's been a great car but will need replacement before long. My daily commute isn't too long and I feel like I'm hauling around a lot of steel just for one person. So my need in this regard is good fuel mileage and general efficiency.

Also, I take occasional weekend trips where I have to haul some bulky gear anywhere from 75-150 miles one way. This is usually by myself but I still need some cargo space. Since I can be in the vehicle for hours on end I want comfortable seats, ample drivers room, and good placement of pedals and steering wheel.

Lastly, I like my gadgets. Hybrid propulsion, Satellite radio, Bluetooth speakerphone, stored music integration, voice commands, etc. All that silly stuff gets me interested despite the risk of disappointing failure. It's a weakness that I freely admit.

My interest in the C-Max stems from my perception that Ford is marketing that vehicle for someone with the same wants as me. That will perk up my ears but I have to evaluate the physical product before I lay down my money.

 

I wonder what it would get on a set of 15" wheels instead of those mpg robbing 17s.

 

I don't know what all these fuzz is about regarding c-max shorter than PriusV thing. I still remember the Prius crowd was complaining that the Prius is MID-sized when it is only 175" short instead of a mid-size sedan that is 190" long.... when magazines referred the Prius as a compact car.

 

Once again, fuzz is about Prius and Prius v... Prius v is Prius with extra trunk. C-Max doesnt have extra trunk, it is a lot more similar to Prius.

40% larger trunk size is pretty major, something that cant be worked around with... if you dont need Prius v's trunk, then you look at Prius or C-Max. As simple as that.

Ford is pumping their paper specs by showing wrong competitor. It is nothing unusual to american companies - we just had Buick's new tiny SUV being compared to Ford Escape, which is 3 sizes larger car and Buick was boasting how it had better fuel economy. But I guess some people here see it as valid because they are both SUVs, damn the size.

 

Seems like length is a stupid metric. If your metric is cargo space, then say that. Don't go on about a shorter car.
A Real Car, Not a Gadget

Seats down, where I need my cargo the c-max is a tweener. The prius v is a huge 67.3, the c-max is a still 52.6.

I think worrying about length is a strange statistic.

 

Where did this quote originate? It sounds a bit like one of the C-Max reviews I've read, but I can't place it. I'm assuming you share the sentiment expressed, but I was curious about the origin.

 

car and driver, I just mention the quote because handling and acceleration may be import to some than cargo space. There is a link in the post.
A Real Car, Not a Gadget

 

The Ford C-MAX showed up at Fuel Economy:

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
0	[th]MPG[th]vol ft{3}[th]Hogan (ft{3}*mile)/gal[th]model[tr][td]47[td]124[td]5	828[td]C-MAX	large car[tr][td]50[td]116[td]5	800[td]Prius	midsize

Source: Fuel Economy

From an efficiency standpoint, they are nearly identical. Either one would work perfectly fine. But it will take some 'hands on' metrics to find out how the C-MAX works in real-life. Certainly I would test drive one.

Bob Wilson

 

Thanks, austingreen.

I would appreciate reading a review, though, that was somewhat neutral, at least for a starting point. There's hardly a sentence in the brief article which is not dismissive of the Prius. And, as the entire article is attempting to "compare" the two cars, when the starting viewpoint is that the Prius is not really a car but a "gadget," there's very little guesswork involved in determining the writer's final decision.

As one of my first law professors told me: "If the first sentence of the judge's written Opinion starts with 'The Widow ______ . . .' then you've already heard who will prevail in the case."

From the writeup:

With its simple PRNDL gear selector, the Ford eschews a lot of the buttons found in the Prius; namely the EV, Eco, and Power modes, plus the regen-heavy “B” mode in the gear selector. Ford planners thought the Toyota’s various modes were “gimmicky,” says Davis, and unnecessary.​

So . . . You have to have a "simple" gear selector. Presumably, being able to control response and fuel economy using buttons is worthless, and having a smaller gear selector (which leaves space for other things) is not simple enough. I suppose the better point would be that simplifying the gear selector by removing the "P" and creating a separate button for it is too much for a person to handle.

The "gimmicky" statement had me thinking about the point of view espoused by Ford (and the reviewer), but that quickly turned to a hearty laugh when I read the next words:

Instead, the C-Max’s digital cluster “coaches” the driver by providing information with sweep meters on fuel and electricity consumption. Also, as in other Ford eco cars, a creeping-vine indicator tells at a glance how green you’re behaving. The C-Max does have a downhill speed control, which ratios down the transmission for more engine braking, operated with a button on the side of the shifter.​

Apparently "sweep" meters are better at "coaching" than are the Prius' metrics, and the creeping-vine is somehow more valuable than feedback which tells you what and why your actions are helping or hurting fuel economy. Oh, and the creeping vine is in no way "gimmicky," I suppose. Interestingly, the "B" button on the Toyota has no real value, but a button on the side of a more "regular" gear shifter does have such value.

And here is the final opinion:

As with the Focus sedan and hatchback, the C-Max is dynamically proficient and rewarding to drive, and certainly more so than the cars with which it competes most directly.​

I'll admit it sounds good, but it really appears to be from the file of a sales or marketing consultant. Really -- What makes the Focus/C-Max "dynamically proficient" anyway? What does "dynamically proficient" mean? And "more rewarding to drive" means what? It certainly doesn't mean more rewarding in terms of fuel economy or real dollars.

According to Car and Driver, the "more rewarding" C-Max zooms away from the starting line, reaching 60 mph one-third of a second faster than the Prius:

The C-Max:
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 9.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 17.0 sec
Top speed: 115 mph

While the Prius is quite the dog:
PERFORMANCE (MFR'S EST)
Zero to 60 mph: 9.8 sec
Top speed: 112 mph
(Both of these come from first reviews done by Car and Driver.)

I appears that, in the end, if you want a car like good ol' dad had, and horsepower numbers and acceleration matter more than about anything else (so you can be sure your neighbor doesn't think you've become "different"), then you can go ahead and get a hybrid. I get the marketing angle and the use of slight differences to suggest noticeable ones (acceleration), but I'd rather see it in a brochure than from an "independent" reviewer.

​

 

Acceleration is only a small part of what makes a car fun on the road, and most people would only notice when it is too low. Agility and road feel are bigger ones, and is what "dynamically proficient" is likely trying to cover. There are many factors that go into it. Some of which are subjective.

The C-max has wider tires and an upgraded rear suspension compared to the Prii. This should give it an advantage in covering and nimbleness. The old Focus was CR's go to example on how a car's steering should feel. Perhaps that still holds true for the new platform.

The tested numbers can still be close(salom and skid plate), which is where road feel comes in. It's the car's ability to communicate the road to the driver, and steering feel is part of it. It varies from a old land boat to a small roadster. It's the difference between putting a camera on a roller coaster and watching the film, and actually riding the roller coaster. It gets subjective

The reviewer is saying the C-max feels sportier than the Prius. It is one of those things that an individual can only experience in a test drive. Then it might not be a priority even if they agree. My cousin always told our grandmother "you have to test drive before you buy." She wasn't talking about cars though, but the sentiment holds true.

The leaves are gimmicky, but the Smartgauge is the gold standard of hybrid displays for its versatility.

I liked to shifter in my gen2. Out of the way, but at hand for shifting into B. The flying bridge in the gen3 just defeated to point on the non standard shifter. Ford sticks with the standard shifter because it is what the non-hybrid car has. It also has the pluses Toyota found with using it in the c.

I had the EV mode hack. After the novelty wore off, I wouldn't call it a must for a non-plug in hybrid. Playing with it too much can lower fuel economy. According the CR, the C-max does have an Eco cruise mode, but that appears to the cruise control also in the Fusion hybrid. You select to have cruise control not use a lead foot like it does in every other car.

The selector does have a D and L. These, with the hill descent button, can serve the purpose of the seperate buttons on the Prius. D can be normal/eco, L sport, and the hill descent B on the Prius. Just pure speculation until the owners manual is posted.

 

Certainly car and driver has a point of view, and that is "fun to drive". You would not expect that the prius would get high if that is the main critiera. But they do give many of the objective facts and subjective things also. You can only get the subjective things from a test drive, but car and driver and motor trend give you a taste.

I actually agree with them here. That park button needed for the floating bridge makes the prius shifter seem parking like to me. That may be why toyota used a conventional one in the prius c. But that is a matter of what you like better. I would rather have gauges like the ford has than buttons. Many people buy scangages because the prius dash does not give them all the information they need.

Well it isn't simplified, its just kind of dumb if you ask me, and I use park. You have added an extra thing. We have had many threads on this. If you like it that is all good.

Its probably the choice of tires and independant suspension. I bought after market tires for mine to improve on the stock 15s. The prius stock 15s do cost less and have lower rolling resistance though. There is a reason the prius chose to go 15s instead of 14s though. F8L already has posted an opinion that he would like to see 15" tires on a c-max. So this is definitely one of those subjective areas.

I don't think the added hp hurt the mpg at all. The prius might get better numbers with that hybrid drive. As noted the multi-link independant suspension adds costs, so some would rather have it less expensive and are happy with the prius handling. The tires are a trade off with grip and looks versus cost and efficiency. I do know one thing though, the lack of rewarding handling likely makes drivers drive more efficiently which may increase real world mpg.

Definitely you need to test drive the beasts to see if you like the choices. The companies made different ones, but both put in a very efficient psd hybrid drive.

 

Thank you, Trollbait and austingreen, for your considered responses.

I won't say it changes my mind about the level of prejudgment in the article (not to say you were attempting to defend it), but it is good to hear how others may interpret what is being said.

There is nothing that bothered me more in the Gen III changes than the "bridge" with the more prominent "shifter" on it. I preferred the Gen II placement, as it was smaller and out of the way. This is an automatic -- who needs to touch the "shifter" except when starting and stopping the car? I'm very pleased to see the changes made in the Prius v.

The removal of the bridge also frees up usable room in the car.

I have a different feel and handling than most Gen III's, because I drive the V (Package Five) with 17" wheels and 215 tires. This may explain why I have a different feeling about the control and feel of the car.

 

And here we go:

Real world mileage they got was 33 MPG... :-(.

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid Full Test and Video

 

Hey guys ... just wanted to chime in. I currently own a 2010 Prius (pkg V) and previously owned a 2008 Touring Pkg 6. I am pretty sure I will buy a C-Max when it arrives on the showroom soon. Here's why (I don't pretend my situation fits most or all of current Prius owners).

I am basing my leaning toward the C-Max after reading every review written possible and watching every You Tube video possible, but have yet to test drive it so things could change. I enjoy my Prius especially for the fuel economy, but have always longed for something a bit more engaging but did not want to sacrifice fuel economy. Last road trip I took in the Prius I found myself wanting something with just a bit more room especially height-wise. I also recently test drove the Prius V to have some more options in mind as well, but I am basing my decision on "What would I rather have - my current Prius or the new C-Max?"

Versus the Prius it seems the Ford wins hands down when it comes to what I'm looking for overall. A slight bit more space and more spacious feeling inside ... a more engaging drive (read at least slightly more sporty) ... better front seats with more advanced heating option and power setting on the driver's side. More headroom for rear seat passengers ... more cargo space both with the seats down and up. A better quality interior ... more technology or at least equivalent technology ... more horsepower.

Pretty much the only concerns I have (or possible downsides to making the change) include the slight loss in fuel economy (trusting the EPA ... most reviews seem to achieve close to the estimated fuel economy). The lack of HID or LED headlamps in the Ford. The fact Ford might not have quite a great of a reputation regarding longevity and hybrids (at the very least, in perception).

If I were to purchase a new Prius in a comparable manner to the Ford C-Max it would sticker for around $2000 more. I'm having a tough time seeing why I shouldn't make the change overall (except obviously for the money I will have to pay to trade). I understand most people don't care about some of what Ford has to offer in the C-Max versus their Prius, but I am one that does ... and it's OK to disagree. I will wait to make a final decision until I drive one, but I'm leaning heavily toward trading and will report back with comparisons if I do.