Ford started promoting the Escape Hybrid in the US 4 years after the introduction of the Toyota Prius right here, with manufacturing persevering with by 2012. To interchange it, a Focus-derived MPV that had proven itself in Europe was given a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain and launched as a 2013 model for North America. This was the C-Max Hybrid, and I’ve discovered a kind of first-year vehicles in a Wyoming self-service car graveyard.
The C-Max was the primary American-market Ford mannequin that was out there solely as a hybrid, and gross sales continued by 2018 (after which it was canceled due to being insufficiently truck-like).
The concept was that it could compete for gross sales in opposition to the Toyota Prius, with its comparable price ticket and fuel economy specs.
Just like the Prius, the C-Max had an Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine offering the internal-combustion energy. Whole output with the 88kW electrical motor was 188 horsepower, which beat the Prius and its 134 complete horses. There was a plug-in hybrid model known as the C-Max Energi as nicely.
And the 2013 C-Max’s official EPA gas financial system ranking, whereas not fairly reaching Prius ranges, was wonderful: 47 mpg metropolis, 47 mpg freeway, 47 mpg mixed.
Sadly for Ford, American C-Max reviewers and patrons shortly discovered that their real-world gas financial system was decrease than these numbers. A lot decrease. Litigiously lower, in reality.
By the summer season of 2013, the EPA had backpedaled on its C-Max mileage ratings, dropping them to 45 metropolis/40 freeway/43 mixed. Ford sent rebate checks to all 32,000 buyers and lessees of 2013 C-Maxes in the United States. None of this seemed to hurt C-Max sales an excessive amount of on the time… at first; sales of the 2014 C-Max plummeted a bit later.
The “tall hatchback” MPV physique fashion proved extraordinarily fashionable with European automotive buyers through the 2000s and deep into the 2010s, and I documented fairly a few of those vehicles during my whirlwind tour of English scrapyards final winter. American automotive buyers weren’t fairly as keen about this sort of car, as will be seen by the chilly reception for the C-Max’s platform cousin, the Mazda5.
At the very least the C-Max Hybrid offered higher than the Altima Hybrid and Jetta Hybrid.
Prepare for the Hybrid Video games!
All these Prius V-beating gas financial system claims went out the window quickly sufficient.
C-Max says, “Ha!” C-Max says, “Wheee!” Which is what you get, do not you see?