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I examined the C-Max, now, I can forget about it!!

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by parnami, Mar 24, 2013.

  1. parnami

    parnami Member

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    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    We spent yesterday at the Lehigh Valley Auto Show where I got my first opportunity to really give the C-Max a close going over. I have to say I was UNDER-WHELMED! Since it was a car about which I had a bit of buyer remorse over my Prius v5, I, now can state, unequivocally, my concerns were without merit!

    Briefly, I thought the C-Max to be JUNK! Outside, it's ugly, looking like a badly disfigured and out of proportion Prius v. There's not an attractive line on the car! Headlights are cheap, appearing as something off of a turn of the century car. Certainly not state of the art, 2013. Interior, from the driver's seat, seems geared towards flash rather than practicality and function, with displays intended to impress rather than to be of actual value (a growing branch with leaves? GIVE ME A BREAK! What are we children?) The panel itself seems to be intended to impress with it's complexity rather than user friendliness. Controls are scattered everywhere, seemingly with no rhyme or reason for their location. Little seems to have had any serious thought as to its placement.

    Located on the console is a standard appearing transmission selector which, when in the PARK position, obstructs controls! Who thinks of these things, an amateur? The dash is covered with that sticky vinyl covering, about which I keep hearing said, is "much upgraded" over what you get in our cars". They couldn't be more wrong: it's obviously CHEAP both in appearance and in feel!

    Moving to the back seat, it's a bench with just slightly better padding than you'd find in your nearest community park; meaning, virtually none! It's uncomfortable and you sit on it rather than into it. Don't plop yourself down too hard though, doing so will jolt your eyeballs.

    We've all heard about Ford's false and misleading EPA gas mileage claims which are proving to be vastly overstated. I must add to those lies, challenging their stated numbers for interior volume as well. There's just no way there's more room, passenger or luggage, inside this monstrosity of a car than there is in my v. It feels tiny, narrow and with a console that intrudes on driver/front passenger space. Back seat leg room does not compare to what we have in the v! My personal experience with my v is that virtually ever passenger who rides in my back seat comments about how comfortable and roomy it is back there, proclaiming it as being the most comfortable in which they've ridden. There's no way a passenger sitting in the C-Max back seat will feel the same!

    On the plus side, I do wish we had the C-Max outside mirrors with their turn indicators and puddle lights. Oh....and their seat heater controls are much better placed and designed with more variables as to their settings. That's it! Other than those two minor items, this car is NOT ONE TO BE CONSIDERED AS LONG AS TOYOTA HAS THEIR PRIUS V ON THE MARKET AS AN ALTERNATIVE! C-Max would be better named C-MIN. It's nothing at all!

    Any remaining buyer's remorse I had, now, is GONE!!
     
  2. labell

    labell Junior Member

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    Nice to know! So far I am loving every thing about my new v!
     
  3. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    I have a different impression of the styling, driveability, quietness and acceleration of the C-Max than the OP does. I thought positively of the C-max for those items. The things that swung the decision, for me, in the Prius' favor were 30-60% more trunk room, additional real MPG, reliability reputation, and overall usefulness. And since I buy a wagon for toting people and things and a hybrid for MPG ...

    My Ford dealer and Prius dealer are right next to each other. Easy to compare.

    No regrets, not that a Prius v is perfect...no car is.
     
  4. JPP

    JPP Junior Member

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    I didnt find the Cmax that bad. I agree that the interior is poorly laid out. I test drove one when it first came out. It actually has really strong acceleration. On my test drive I reset the trip MPG's and could not get it above 37 mpg and I am a slow driver. If I had bought one I would be more upset about the actual MPGs.
     
  5. labell

    labell Junior Member

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    I just visited the Ford web site to see what the claims for the C Max mpg and cargo space were. I found their Hybrid Games videos appalling. Even if I wasn't already a Prius owner, their juvenile attempts at humor would completely sway me against buying a Ford product.
     
  6. -1-

    -1- Don

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    :)I like the looks of the C-Max on the TV commercial. Saw one this past week when stopped side by side at a traffic light. Didn't look as sharp in real life. With me being new to the hybrid world, Toyota's long experience producing hybrid cars trumped everything.
     
  7. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    I know, it looks amazing doesn't it? ;)

    [​IMG]
     
    JamesBurke likes this.
  8. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

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    I had the opportunity to test drive the C-Max and the Prius v last December and have to agree with your review of the C-Max. My wife, who really is mostly concerned with the capability of the car getting her to the closest mall, hated the C-Max. She didn't like the cluttered dash layout and how the steering wheel blocks half of the instruments.
    I never expected her to favor the center mounted instrument panel on the Prius v since we never had that before.

    The lack of a spare tire and the ridiculous 2 inch bump up on the cargo area floor were major turn-offs for me.

    The thinly padded and narrow back back seat were also major issues since we have passengers in the back seat pretty often.
     
    parnami likes this.
  9. prius_cor

    prius_cor New Member

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    I agree that I think it looks ok in pictures but have not seen one up close