CMAX_owner

Great question, I've asked it a few times as well, and even sent an email to the EPA. No response yet.... The EPA said in the beginning of December that they were going to retest the mileage for the CMAX, so been almost 5 months now. I get 34.9 MPG on my CMAX SEL (15k miles), and I would certainly like to know what the results of the test are. It also seems a little suspect that it's taking this long to get those tests results back. Seriously, what's the hold up?

I actually test drove the TDI Golf and I did like it, and it was second on my list. The Civic hybrid was 3rd. But the Golf was rated low 40's (42 me thinks) for highway driving and the combined was less, while the CMAX was rated at 47 for hwy. This is my first time buying a hybrid, and I didn't do enough research on how the EPA tests these cars, although it seems logical to me that they would have tested highway mileage at actual highway speeds. I also liked the interior design, features and room that the CMAX has. Like I said, it's a very well designed car. But I got my car halfway through October, and I already have over 5,100 miles on my car, since I drive so much on the freeway. Ford has made great strides the past 5 years and they're producing excellent cars. However, for my situation a diesel would have been the better choice economically. My major gripe at this point is that these numbers don’t seem candid to me. I would have gotten better mpg out of a diesel, but that’s not what was advertised.

I think the CMAX is a great car. I love the interior design, the Sony sound system, the navigation the Sync, and especially the ambient lighting inside. But my work is 42 miles away from my house, and 40 of those are on the freeway. I also drive to Santa Barbara about twice a month, wich is a 600 mile round trip, so again, most of my miles are on the freeway. What I'm seeing is that at REAL freeway speeds (65-75 mph), my car gets mid to low 30's for mpg. I've tried driving all sorts of ways, and on my best day, I can get 38 - 40, which takes me about an extra 10 minutes on my commute. I'd rather drive normal and get a few less mpg. If I was getting in the low 40's driving normally, I would be perfectly happy. The EPA annouced yesterday they are going to investigate these claims, but after reading about their test standards, the 47 mpg makes a little more sense. Most notably is that the EPA tests don't drive above 60 mph, and as we all know, the CMAX can drive in EV mode up to 62 mph. So perhaps the real bone to pick here is with the EPA, and why they test at 60 mph, knowing darn well that most highways have speed limites at 65 or 70. And the difference between 60 mph and 70 mph in the CMAX is about 20 mpg. Although I'd like to think that ultimately the manufacturer has some responsiblity to be more candid with their customers.

Sure, but keep in mind ConsumerReports.com, GreenCarReports.com, fuelly.com and fuelecomony.gov are all reporting the same findings (which is what I have as well) of 37 mpg. If that's the case, then that's a 22% difference. So if the Prius is off by 6 or 7 (again, we're talking averages here), then they've done a much better job of advertising accurately. The EPA announced yesterday that they are going to investigate these claiims, so I'll save my final judgement until they give their ruling. But as it stands now, I'm willing to lay equal blame with the EPA for their lousy test parameters (only driving up to 60 mph) as I am with Ford. And BTW, I don't doubt that there are people getting mileage around what Ford advertises, but on average, most of us are getting exactly what all the consumer based websites are showing and ConsumerReports.org and Green Cars has reported, which is 37 mpg.

valkraider, why is it that when people have different perspectives than you, you call them trolls? And btw, if you're spending that much of your time running down every comment you don't agree with so that you can insult the poster, who's really the troll? I'm going off of my numbers, and all the consumer data out there that's available. You have independent agencies that have data show the CMAX does get the advertised mileage? I'd love to see it. Pointing to people's stories on this forum as evidence that this car can get 47 mpg is ridiculous. What matters is what ALL drivers get on AVERAGE, and right now, that number is around 37 mpg. I can get 52 mpg if I'm driving 15 mph, but on the freeway this car gets low 30's. If 1,000 people get 50 mpg in their car, and 10,000 people get 30 mpg, what does that mean the mpg really is? Do I need to dumb this down for you anymore, or did you make it to the 6th grade? If you want to believe there is a conspiracy out there by all the other car manufacturers and their drivers to destroy Ford's reputation, have at it. Or you can get off Fords *explicitive* and accept that the CMAX is a really cool car that gets ON AVERAGE, 37 mpg. And btw, I just spent 35K on my car and maintenance package, so don't be a fool and act like I wouldn't want my car to perform well. Are you aware that when you drive a car off the lot, it loses 20% of it's value? This is common knowlegde, but apparetly you're unaware of this. Because if I could return the car and get my money back I would. Do you want to buy my car for full price? Heck, I'll give you $1,000 off the sticker. If not, then do us a favor and keep quite. The rumblings of the CMAX not getting it's mileage have been around, ConsumerReports is only more confirmation: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1080580_ford-hybrids-fuel-economy-failing-to-live-up-to-epa-ratings/page-2

I don't buy it. No way "pulse and glide" could get you 15 mpg more. I've tried driving this car every way imaginable and get mid-30's. This car has performed great on flat roads at low speeds. I sat in traffic for a 20 mile commute one day and it got 52 mpg. However, for regular freeway driving (65-70 mph), the mileage is going to be way less, "pulse and glide" or not. When I drive this car 70 mph on the flat free way with as little gas as possible and no brake, it gets low 30's. You can say what you want about driving 70 mph, but at the end of the day other manufacturers get much better mileage than the CMAX while doing the same thing. I love everything else about this car, but I'm not happy about Ford's 47 mpg claim. If you want to look at each driver individually and figure out what's wrong with their driving style, you can. But in the bigger picture, other car manufacturers are not missing their marks the same way Ford is (with regard to mpg). http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-ford-inflated-fuel-economy-20121206,0,1964927.story

Nope. I'm getting 35.6 mpg with over 5k miles, and before everyone starts talking about how I don't know how to drive, the underperformance (with regard to mpg) of the CMAX is pretty well document at this point. ConsumerReports.org is one of several agencies to test the CMAX and confirm this. fuelly.com and fueleconomy.gov have enough consumer data to show that Honda, Toyota and VW - on average - get slightly higher than advertised mileage. The CMAX gets - on average - 8 less than advertised, again, right in line with what these reports have been saying. Let's stop pretending that this is about tire pressure, being too heavy footed, having the AC on, etc. Ford has misled people like me by falsely advertising their MPG. The 2012 Civic hybrid gets 48.5 on average (consumer data), while it advertises 44mpg. What's unfortunate is that everything else about the car is great. Extremely well designed, the Sync is awesome, the car drives smooth and handles well (although it doesn't corner that well), the sound system is great, the navigation and other features are easy to use and work very well. But I definitely would have went with a different car if this is the mileage I was going to be getting. Perhaps a Focus or Civic. In any case, I hope Ford does right and compensates its customers like Hundai and Kia did. Otherwise I won't be buying a Ford again.