Ford began selling the Escape Hybrid in the United States four years after the introduction of the Toyota Prius here, with production continuing until 2012. To replace it, a Focus-derived MPV that had proven itself in Europe received a hybrid powertrain with petrol-electric drive and introduced as a model for North America in 2013. This was the C-Max Hybrid, and I found one of those first-year cars in a self-service junkyard in Wyoming.
The C-Max was the first Ford model for the US market to be available only as a hybrid, and sales continued until 2018 (after which it was cancelled because it didn’t look enough like a truck).
The idea was that it would compete for sales with the Toyota Priuswith a similar price tag and fuel consumption specifications.
Like the Prius, the C-Max had a Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine that provides the combustion power. The total power with the 88kW electric motor was 188 hp, which beat the Prius with its 134 total horsepower. There was a plug-in hybrid version called the C-Max Energi also.
And the 2013 C-Max’s official EPA fuel economy was excellent, though not quite on par with the Prius: 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined.
Unfortunately for Ford, American C-Max reviewers and buyers quickly discovered that their real-world fuel economy was lower than those numbers. Much lower. Process-oriented lowerin fact.
In the summer of 2013, the EPA backtracked on its C-Max fuel economy ratingsbringing them down to 45 city/40 highway/43 combined. Ford sent rebate checks to all 32,000 buyers and renters of 2013 C-Maxes in the United States. No this seemed to harm sales of the C-Max too much at that moment… in the beginning; Sales of the 2014 C-Max dropped slightly later.
The “high hatchback” MPV body style proved hugely popular with European car buyers in the 2000s and well into the 2010s, and I’ve documented quite a few of them. few by That cars during the day Mine whirlwind tour by English scrap heaps last winterAmerican car buyers weren’t as enthusiastic about this type of vehicle, as evidenced by the cool reception given to the C-Max’s platform cousin, the Mazda5.
The C-Max Hybrid at least sold better than the Altima Hybrid And Jetta Hybrid.
Get ready for the Hybrid Games!
Soon, any claims about the Prius’ fuel economy surpassing the V-Class went out the window.
C-Max says, “Ha!” C-Max says, “Wheee!” And that’s exactly what you get, don’t you see?