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The Escape defaults to Normal every time you shut down.

The dash is a little busy; too many numbers. Analog displays work better, so I focus on EV Assist in real time. You can ignore the shifter half the time; it auto-parks. Same with the parking brake. This car does a lot of things for you. As to the mileage.... Frank

Just looking back at my achieved tank mileage... Lifetime Tank MPG vs Time.pdf I immediately notice an undulating pattern that levels off as mileage increases. That's seasonal variation when I commuted, leveling off after retirement. The first winter, 2013-14, I took the highway and got >35 MPG. The next winter, I took back roads and did better, ~40 MPG. Both summers, I was routinely in the 50-55 MPG range. One long summer trip drops to 38 MPG... due to setting cruise to 72 MPH. I'd say Ford's response wasn't far off, except they both made a mistake, and did something unreasonable qualifying the C-Max using Fusion data. FWIW, my first tank in the Escape went 500 miles (37.3 MPG). The second is looking like 550 miles, the only changes being 91E0 fuel and Eco mode as soon as I remember to press the button twice. Not sure Eco does anything unique. It does shift the regen/EV break point toward greater regen, and make it a little easier to keep throttle low, but practice does that in Normal. Have fun, Frank

Neither was I. We inherited the C-Max in 2013 from my in-laws. My wife had gotten tired of her old Volvo and shopped new cars just a couple years earlier. She wanted a hybrid (the in-laws had a Prius at the time) but talking with knowledgeable people, the consensus was what you suggest; get an efficient conventional drivetrain. We got a Hyundai Elantra... the only other car to have it's EPA mileage numbers downgraded. In fairness to that Elantra, I was able to achieve EPA Highway rating when driving without the car's owner. Then we started to see Li-ion HVBs, and the landscape shifted. The electric side was now as reliable as the gas side, and with sizable electric motors, cars like the C-Max can be very efficient AND very fun to drive. The wife traded the Elantra for a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited. Conventional 6-speed transmission with a low-speed motor and belt-driven generator, rather than a power-split eCVT. Variable valve timing allows the engine to use "Atkinson mode" when that's beneficial. This is a hybrid that does better than C-Max on the highway; their super-low Cd claims might be valid. Have fun, Frank

If you're concerned, you can get undersized snow tires. In general, narrow tires have advantages in snow. I put on 215/60-16's, a near-exact size match, and I'd have suggested it for you, too. I could even sell you a set! In your case, consider a 215/50-17 or 215/55-17, both sizes available in Michelin X-ice 3. They bracket the OEM diameter, about +/- about 1.5%, so I'd go undersize, to get added clearance in two directions. Normally, this advice is BAD, because a smaller tire has a lower load rating. However, X-ice3 are "extended load" (XL) rated, so the smaller of the two tires is "95H XL," which exceeds OEM load rating (93V). I use the Michelins as an example because of long-time familiarity, but the same ideas apply to any snow tire. Have fun, Frank

Let's be fair. If you make enough of anything. you'll eventually get a bad one. This is an early failure (38.3K) in an Energi, which were not implicated initially. It might be something different. Frank

So heat is less an issue. And you're level 1 charging overnight, using a mix of EV/ICE, and not discharging too deeply. Hard to do better.... Frank

The resource you want is batteryuniversity.com. Where do you live? The key life stressors are heat and high SOC. Heat during use is under your control; lower power demands run cooler, so your strategy of EV on side streets, ICE on the highway is sensible. Charging at level 1 is also sensible. Heat during storage may depend more on where you live than anything else. And heat sensitivity increases with SOC; storing a fully charged Li-ion battery at high temperature is the worst case. Someone living in Arizona who stores the car plugged-in in an unventilated garage, but only drives every other day, will see high, permanent range loss. Someone living in Minnesota will lose range every winter, due to electric heat, recovering in temperate seasons. HAve fun, Frank

What, no love for the Honda CR-V Hybrid, either? Must be a Ford man.

I'm assuming Toyota will use Ni-metal hydride battery technology in the plug-in, since that's what's in the hybrid RAV4. NMH batteries wear out. Li-ion, not so much.

Not in OEM... only the -17 and -19 sizes. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Ecopia+H%2FL+422+Plus+(Original+Equipment) You're looking here. https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Ecopia+H%2FL+422+Plus Screwy, I know.

Toyota treats Prius like a brand, not a car model that can disappear. Ford treated C-Max like a cash grab that went south when the EPA issues broke. Remember how well they promoted it? I think we saw 1 or 2 ads.... Up to three now for the Escape... base car. Frank

All the plug-ins get 18's. Bridgestone doesn't make an "OEM" Ecopia in 225/60R18? Frank

Only if you have a C-Max Energi, the model name of the plug-in. If you have a C-Max Hybrid, you'll find no plug in the left front fender. Frank

See if the dealer's technicians know what a torque stick is. Frank

If you want your hybrid to be a small SUV, get the 2020 Escape. I don't recall anyone who wanted to put oversize tires on a C-Max. However, if all you're looking for is some sidewall length, I can suggest a -1 fitment of 215/65R16 tires on undersize rims as one combination that fits. They're my snow tires. Have fun, Frank

You didn't get a lug nut wrench. Or a jack. Or a spare. You should find a funnel.... Ford gave you a tire repair kit and pump, so if goo-n-go doesn't fix it, you call a tow truck. As for the lug nuts, find a garage that doesn't overtorque. I replaced front rotors due to corrosion, but my lug nuts never swelled. In the meantime, get a breaker bar, or a length of pipe to extend your lever arm. Much better than standing on it. Have fun, Frank

The car is based on the Focus platform, so you could look for a Focus lift kit? Frank

You may be discovering the reason the car was for sale...

I doubted tires, too, until I put the snows on and the sound went away. Energy Savers have a reputation for singing. And remember, sound can be impossible to localize in a reflective environment like the inside of a car. Frank

Anyone else notice that the Prius V owners report 42 MPG? It "...gets an excellent 41 mpg overall in our tests." No mention of MPG in the C-Max write-up, just a complaint about battery size with no non-hybrid basis for comparison. Typical CR. Frank

They're testing the AWD SE Sport with the "premium" package plus accessories, down to floor mats and privacy screen. A comparable Titanium is about $38,300, and has HUD (bundled with sunroof). Have fun, Frank

There have been problems attributed to the car's noise suppression system, which uses the radio's speakers to add "out of phase" sound so engine noise is not as loud. The fix is to disconnect the microphone; look it up on the forum. It was my first thought, but I don't see how it could affect the radio's operation so I didn't reply. Snow's mic comment says maybe it is related. Have fun, Frank

... who's been listening! Nice summary. The good news is there's really nothing else to worry about. Frank

I want to point out how nice it is to have a forum member whose willing to do this for those who post questions. Thanks, Plus3. Frank