Comparing the Ford C-Max with Other Plug-In Hybrids

With gas prices the way they are, plug-in hybrids are very attractive. 

The 2014 Ford C-Max Energi is a compelling alternative to the other leading plug-in hybrids – the Chevy Volt and Toyota Plug-in Prius. It offers 21 miles of all-electric driving, 620 miles of total range, and an attractive price. 

The C-Max is considered a small “activity” vehicle and the small wagon-like platform is versatile and functional. It is a small and tall wagon-like compact car. Five-passenger upright cars that squeeze maximum utility from a small footprint are popular in Europe, but until recently have not been available to American car buyers. Ford started selling the C-Max in Europe in 2002, but only began offering it in the U.S. in 2012.

The C-Max you’ll find at Monaco Ford uses the stylistic elements found in other Ford models, most notably an open Aston-like grille, long flowing headlights, raked windshield, and sloping roof line.

The space-maximizing proportions of the C-Max are pleasant and it is a practical and efficient vehicle. It is only available as a conventional gas-electric hybrid, or as the Energi plug-in hybrid. Both are among the most efficient cars on the road.

When stacked against conventional hybrids, the C-Max is considered a much more capable and enjoyable ride. Acceleration is brisk and handling is compliant.

The 2014 Ford C-Max no-plug Hybrid’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and 118-horsepower electric motor combine to provide a healthy dose of 188 ponies. Total output for the Energi plug-in version rises to 195 horsepower because of the larger battery pack’s greater ability to deliver electricity to the motor.

If you are mostly staying within the C-Max Energi’s 20-mile or so real-world all-electric range, and use the car’s “EV Now” mode, you can avoid burning any gasoline and enjoy the telltale driving characteristics of an EV. That means smooth, quick, and quiet acceleration. 

There are a few conditions when you will reach the limits of the EV Now mode: when zooming down the highway above 85 miles per hour, when the state-of-charge of the 7.5-kWh battery pack gets low enough to begin transition from charge-depletion to charge-sustaining, or for the “very rare event” of high battery temperature.

Fortunately, Ford engineers have perfected the art of hybrid smoothness so that it’s barely perceptible if the gas engine is actually on or not.

C-Max Energi drivers can also use the “EV Later” button, similar to the Volt’s Mountain Mode, to save grid-supplied energy for later use – or keep the vehicle in “EV Auto” mode, in which the vehicle operates more like the conventional C-Max hybrid. Regardless of the mode, performance strikes a good balance of power, refinement, and efficiency.

The EPA mileage rating for the C-Max Energi, when using a combination of gas and electricity, is 100 miles per gallon equivalent. After the EV battery is depleted and the C-Maxreverts into a conventional hybrid, the gas mileage is 44 miles per gallon in the city and 41 on the highway, for a combined EPA efficiency of 43 miles per gallon.

The C-Max Energi at Monaco Ford is substantially more capable of driving purely as an EV than others and its technology is an innovative step forward for plug-in hybrids. 

Ford provides an “EV Now” button, giving C-Max Energi drivers the opportunity to go about 20 miles without using a single drop of gasoline.

It is a plug-in hybrid, capable of working like a pure electric car for drivers with a round-trip commute of 20 miles or less, and beyond that, like one of the most fuel-efficient hybrids on the road.

The Ford C-Max Energi’s battery pack is relatively small at 7.6 kilowatt-hours. That compares to the Volt’s 16-kWh pack. A smaller battery means lower driving range, but at the same time, less charging time required to fill up.

In other words, charging equipment in a plug-in hybrid like the C-Max Energi is really not that critical. Even with the relatively slow charging speed of the C-Max Energi’s 3.3 kW on-board charger, coming from a 240-volt home charger, the battery can go from empty to full in less than three hours – thereby restoring 20 miles of all-electric range.

In fact, there is a strong argument for simply using the cord set supplied with the vehicle, plugged into a common 120-volt home outlet, which can easily fill up the C-Max Energi’s battery pack overnight (in about six to seven hours). This allows owners to avoid the expense and hassle of installing a home EV charger. 

The Ford C-Max Hybrid, the basis for the plug-in Energi, has plenty of head and legroom for four tall passengers. It has a high roof, and large windows providing excellent visibility. 

The C-Max Energi performed well on safety tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, receiving four stars overall. It earned five stars in the side crash tests, and four stars in the front crash and rollover tests.

The long list of safety features includes: driver air bag, passenger air bag, rear head air bag, side air bag, four-wheel ABS, break assist, electronic stability control, child safety locks, integrated turn signal mirrors, and traction control.

Check out Monaco Ford in Glasonbury's new Ford vehicles – as well as our pre-owned Fords and certified pre-owned Fords.

Monaco Ford is family owned and operated since 1922, currently employing its 4th generation of ownership. The dealership currently has over 80 employees. It has received Ford’s prestigious President’s Award an outstanding 8 times in the past two decades by surpassing all requirements, proving itself as one of Connecticut’s elite dealers. Visit www.monacoford.com for more about the dealership and the inventory. Our cars and our company are reliable and trustworthy. What more could you ask for?