nsteblay

I just went out to Ford ETIS to check on the status of recalls. When I enter my VIN it is bringing up the wrong car. I have a standard 2013 C-Max SEL. It is now showing that I have a 2014 C-Max Energi. Does this mean I can exchange if for free? :)

I've been getting great mileage this summer. I've learned it isn't feathering as much you need to know when to go into EV and know when to use the ICE (I think there is a Kenny Rogers song in there somewhere). It's the act of letting up on the gas to get into EV and then riding it as long as possible. When outside of EV I'll accelerate and use the gas engine aggressively to maintain speed. I've been right around 50 MPG all summer with no compromise on speed. As a kid and young adult I rode bikes for my transportation. I got good at knowing when to exert energy and when to coast. It's the same principal with the C-Max. By letting up briefly on the gas I can almost always kick the car into EV mode. I pay attention to grade, traffic, battery charge and EV threshold to determine when to use ICE and when to use EV. It's become second nature now. The other day I tried to drive using my old habits to see what difference it made regarding MPG. I dropped at least 5 MPG so driving technique does make a difference.

Toyota makes good cars. I know many people who have bought the Prius and love it. My sister has a Prius-C and swears by it. Don't expect much acceleration from them though. I'm lovin' the C-Max - six straight 600 mile tanks this summer. Averaging just over 49 MPG this summer - 41 MPG lifetime. Super comfortable, great visibility, more than adequate acceleration and American made. It even talks to me (though I lose every argument). Recalls have been a hassle but I appreciate Ford's proactive approach to addressing these issues. No deaths or injuries due to the recalls - that's the type of proactive approach you've got to appreciate.

I'm seeing two recalls on Etis: 14E02 - POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING14S21 - RESTRAINTS CONTROL MODULE REPLACEMENT

I've experienced the same but never determined the speed threshold. My understanding has been the catalytic converter needs to be at a certain temperature. The engine will kick on to get it to that temperature, apparently once 35 MPH is hit. Not sure why 35 MPH. This is one of the major reasons mileage goes down in cold weather. From the manual ... Engine idle speed after startingThe speed at which the engine idlesimmediately after starting will varydepending on the engine temperature.The idle speed is automatically increasedwhen the engine is cold this is to heat thecatalytic converter. This keeps the vehicleemissions to an absolute minimum.The idle speed will slowly decrease to thenormal level as the catalytic converterwarms up.

http://www.partscheap.com/2013-2014-Ford-C-Max-Ash-Cup-Coin-Holder-p/5l8z-7804810-aaa-c14.htm

Wow. This is awesome. I have but rarely get 60+ on my 21 mile commute - usually when the congestion is heavy on the freeway and only during the spring/summer/early fall. I am working on my fourth straight 600 mile tank. You have the foot finesse like no one else! Good luck.

I think in general the quality of cars has gone up over the past decade. Most modern cars have achieved an incredible state of quality when compared to earlier decades. The C-Max 2013 being a new model I expected a few bumps. The question you need to ask does Ford follow-up when there are quality issues. I would answer a resounding "Yes!" to the question. I've been impressed with the software upgrades, recalls and resetting of the EPA MPG where they even have refunded money. Your dealer will be a large portion of an owners experience when dealing with quality issues. I think the design of the car stands on its own merits and I'm very happy with my decision. Are there things that could be better - absolutely. I think Ford will be a leader in the hybrid space as it evolves.

Thanks. We should assume then an evolution of the C global platform - the "Son of C-Max"!

I believe Ford uses an approach similar to the Lexus versus a true Atkins. What I don't understand is the trade off. If Atkins is more fuel efficient why isn't every engine an Atkins?

Saw this article http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2014/08/21/can-ford-next-hybrid-beat-prius/ Most of the car manufacturers are moving toward global platforms for their manufacturing thereby lowering costs and improving quality outcomes. According to the article Ford will be developing multiple car types on the platform - I would assume the same for the hybrids. Again I hope they have something similar to the C-Max. Focus is too small, the Escape is too big, the C-Max is just right.

I hope they keep the C-Max philosophy alive if not the name. Its the styling - a crossover SUV like ride in a hybrid - that sells most people on the C-Max. I don't think I would buy a hybrid Focus anymore than I would buy a Prius. It is the headroom, visibility, seat comfort, quietness, etc. that sold my wife and I on the car. Hopefully Ford can recover respect for the C-Max name from the Consumer Reports fiasco in the next couple of years. I'm getting a consistent 50 MPG this summer (last three tanks), 41 MPG on some big freeway road trips. At the two year mark I think my lifetime average will be about 41 MPG. If I lived in a warm climate I would be doing much better. I've had the car in a couple of times for recalls but it really hasn't had one major problem. I don't know ... Ford's got something here that is different and good. CR is so off the mark its sad.

I generally agree with your analysis. The physical characteristics of the Prius has a tremendous amount to do with it getting more consistent and better gas mileage. My mileage has definitely improved as I've learned to drive the CMax as many would attest on this forum. Having driven the Prius though I believe there are some significant differences in how they've implemented the Power Split architecture. I can't speak from an engineering perspective but from my driving experience only. The Prius seems to strongly govern how you can accelerate. When I drive a Prius I feel like I'm driving an appliance not a car. I've perused the Prius forums and found plenty of technical information regarding Toyota's implementation of the Power Split architecture. The descriptions of the driving modes are different from Ford's descriptions and I am sure the planetary gear systems, electric motors, gas motor, computer modules and embedded software are different in their specific configurations and implementation. There is more than drag coefficients going on regarding the differences experienced between the cars.

Real men drive a Prius

Yes, agree.

The Atkins is probably pretty efficient. I think the reason most get in the low 20's is the weight of the C-Max and its lack of aerodynamics. I believe one of the reasons the Prius performs better from an MPG perspective is because they've kept the weight down, have a smaller ICE, have made the car more aerodynamic and hence, leverage Negative Split Mode more effectively. The C-Max didn't want to compromise on style and comfort so less aerodynamic, and didn't want to compromise on power (larger ICE, EV and batteries) hence the heavier weight. To get the higher MPG they allow EV at higher MPH. Because the CMax can't optimize Negative Split Mode as effectively (ICE size, weight and aerodynamics again) MPG drops off for high speed freeway driving. If the CMax ICE runs a high percent of the time because of driving style or cold weather the MPG falls precipitously - why there is such variability between drivers.

I recently took two trips in the spring. First was 3500 miles from Minnesota to Florida to South Carolina and back. This included all types of terrain including the Smoky Mountains. I averaged just over 41 MPG. Second was 1350 miles from Minnesota to Nebraska, Kansas and then back. Again averaged just over 41 MPG. In both of these trips I used the ECO Cruise Control and went at posted freeway speeds. To put this in context to my regular driving, which is mixed rush hour freeway / city driving, I'm getting 50 MPG this summer. In the cold of the winter I only get mid-30's because the ICE needs to run regularly to heat the car. Highway driving definitely results in lower MPG.

My last tank ...

Hi Sammy, I live in Minnesota (Twin Cities) and have a similar commute to your's. I had been driving a Honda AWD CRV the past 4 years and switched to the C-Max the winter of 2012-2013. I have found it more than adequate in the snow. It is a very heavy car and the front wheel drive provides control in snowy situations. I love the visibility in the car, auto windshield wipers, the heated seats and climate control. I don't miss the CRV in the least. I've been averaging just over 40 MPG a year. In winter the average is 35 MPG, in summer about 45 MPG. I believe my yearly average for 2014 will be closer to 41-42 MPG as I am getting 50 MPG so far this summer (see attached picture of my last tank)! My Honda CRV averaged about 24 MPG for the year so I am saving some significant dollars. You won't be displeased with the C-Max. It does require adopting some driving techniques to get optimal mileage - MPG will be much lower in the winter. This forum provides a community where you can get help on driving technique or any other C-Max topic. Hope this helps, Nick

Had to make if official. If I calculate it out the ICE is only getting 20.9 MPG.

Wow. Fantastic mileage. Awesome narrative and pictures too - thanks. How many MPG's do you think premium gas provides over regular?

Eyeballing fuelly.com the standard deviation is similar between the Prius and C-Max. This could again be directly correlated to environment, predominately temperature. This all suggests that your assertion that dyno coefficient is the major factor in mileage differences between the two cars. My personal experience having driven both cars is mileage is far more variable in the C-Max and is very dependent on driving style. It would be impossible to see this in the data because it isn't measured. It is not just the dyno coefficient but the design, configuration, and algorithms of the power split architectures that differentiate the C-Max and Prius. I'm not saying one is better than the other, just that they were designed with different objectives in mind. The C-Max allows for the variability to support greater acceleration if needed, and enable a physical configuration with better comfort and visibility. If you've watched fuelly.com the average MPG has significantly improved over time for the C-Max. I attribute this to drivers learning how to drive the car using the excellent instrumentation.

I don't know if was wise or not but I bought a 100K 7 yr no-deductible for $1,300. I figured with it being so new and complex I will likely have repairs.