Nakkers

If it's simply a SUV you are looking for and Hybrid isn't needed, my vote is for the Subaru Forester. Ultimately, it really comes down to what ever floats your boat. All will get the job done. It really comes down to what you want to drive and sit in the driveway or garage. The Subie has the best outward view IMO. It's a solid drive, best in class resale value if that is important. And while you may not need AWD, it achieves decent fuel efficiency compared to others in the same price point and class that are only 2wd.

I think for people that can commute and plug in at their destination and then EV back home, they can go a very long time without using too much petro. I know a fella that has achieved just shy of 1900 miles (3000 kilometres) before needing to fill up his Volt. But, that is for his specific circumstances. For me, I travel 250 miles or farther in one trip on a regular basis. Personally, the C-Max cabin is miles ahead of the Volt in terms of comfort and convenience. The tall hatch, better seating etc. But, the Volt can be advantageous under the proper conditions.

The Volt is a great car. I considered it but, it’s configuration didn’t work for our family and the C-Max layout works best for us.

OP, There is a warrenty for the Hybrid system for 8 years and 100k miles. That is definitive. Not all vehicles experience transmission failures and you can’t expect them to replace what isn’t broken. You are now financing $28k for another vehicle. Don’t get me wrong. I love the Forester. However, it’s not a Hybrid and I can tell you from experience, you will only experience the fuel consumption figures if you drive it like a Hybrid. I regularly experience 23-26 mpg with 80% highway averaging 75 mph. Great cargo space. The AWD is nice and ride is excellent. So, definitely a nice vehicle. Congratulations.

I’m new to the brand. Not a ford employee. Live in a cold climate. Regular driving, I’m achieving 39.2 MPG, Temp is 32 F with a wind chill making it cooler and the wind itself has been a challenge. Definitely need to get the ICE into operating temps before you see any true efficiency. I would expect short trips would take it’s toll. At the same time, our regular ICE vehicle have siimilar issues with fuel consumption. Sure, we can get 30 MPGs from larger vehicles in the summer and on the highway but, around town and short trips and during the winter? Don’t think so. I’m no Ford Fan Boy or brand loyalist. And my impressions are based on a VERY short time of ownership. However, I can see how there are some techniques to adopt to achieve increased results. And even if you choose to ignore them, I would expect minimum 36 MPG in the winter driving like a regular vehicle. And I write this because the C Max does instinctively change my driving habits from mildly assertive to more like gingerly conservative as I look to gain more EV miles. Looking forward to mild temps. PS. My C Max is very low mileage for it’s year. Approximately 37,000 miles. The service records indicate no brake work and the pre sale inspection passed with flying colours. I would be upset if I needed brake work and tire replacement as often as mentioned and definitely wouldn’t want to own a Ford product either.

I’m interested too. Has anyone retro fitted say 2018 C Max head lights to a 2013/2014? Would it be a straight swap?

Thank you Plus 3

Thanks Frank. We did look at the Prius V. Mind you, it was in the same age bracket and price point. From a drivers’s point of view, my goodness! It’s a soulless machine. I also spend time on the road and take calls for work. The Prius is a tin can. Sure it has Blue Tooth connectivity. Unless you are stopped, it’s rather useless. The centre placement of the instrument cluster. I guess some diehards see past this while flying the Toyota flag high with pride. Maybe it does perform better in fuel efficiency for those that simply drive it and don’t change their style. During my maiden voyage, achieved 42 MPGs. Tire pressure was 38 psi, temp 50 F, 70% freeway. This was driving it while learning. I tried the ecocruise. While holding a steady 65 mph, the ICE was running continuously. I turned the cruise off, sped up 5 mph, and then dropped the speed down and could use EV mode for several miles at the same 65 cruising speed. Made some adjustments to the tire temps and topped up the fuel and going to work on making some more improvement to the result. Also, need to find an owners manual. It has the quick reference guide but, need to figure out some other things. This is my first Ford in 8 years. Lots of things have changed. Can’t seem to activate the rear hatch with kick motion? Can use the flob and interior release, no problem. Paul, I’ll send you a pm, I’m close to the boarder and can pick up shipments in Buffalo/Niagara Falls if you have any grill covers available?

Hi Paul, Great vids. Very helpful. Not sure how diligent I'll be pursuing fuel efficiency but, at least buying a C Max is a step in the right direction. While I understand the best methods to get the most mileage is with driving technique, I was wondering if you care to share how you constructed the modifications to your C Max? Namely the wheel covers and front lexan grill covers? Maybe I should post in the modification section? I did search but, maybe my skills are lacking? Figure if there are some things I can do to help improve the overall results that are not dependant on adapting a driving technique from both myself and wife, I'm willing to give it a try. Meanwhile, I do plan to see how I adapt my driving and use the information from the vehicle to improve fuel consumption. Still pretty cold up here in the north so, not expecting very much out of the gate. Cheers! Sean

Thanks Paul. I took the VIN and called a local dealer because there are some differences between American and Canadian warrenty. Confirmed the power train warrenty is in place until the end of December. Since the car isn’t in my name, they would’t disclose any service records due to privacy. I should have said I just purchased and I’m the new owner but, didn’t think of it. I called a different dealer and they confirmed the name of the servicing dealer but, the system isn’t linked for service records. Just recalls and bulletins etc. I did mention to the wife, the Energi and other options. We do regular trips to HD/Walmart/Costco and getting the kids to places but, the vast majority of driving is freeway. We looked at the math for the price difference and fuel savings between the two (Hybrid vs Energi) and also looked at newer models and even new to take advantage of government incentives etc. It was quite the exercise. In any event, I think we will stick with the low mileage older unit of the Hybrid. Will firm up the deal in a week or so.

The reality is, we’d rather buy used as the price point for new would put us in the territory for payments. While that isn’t bad for many people, we rather avoid having a monthly payment. We also drive in excess of 25k miles (40k kilometres) annually. The options of Hybrids and other configurations open up for new vehicles as well. This C Max appears to be in excellent condition and at a price point that we can purchase outright and enjoy the fuel savings. Thank you everyone for the kind words and input. Much appreciated.

Hello from St Catharines ON Canada. Great forum with lots of info. Haven’t purchased yet but, it’s looking very much we will. Believe the transmission was repaired/replaced but, not sure if that means the issue is resolved or just buys it time until it goes again? We drive a lot and want to keep fuel expenses low. The transmission issue appears related to highway use and that is what we do. Quiet car, great room, drives very nice. Also researching cargo solutions for occasions we go camping or road trips with our kids and dogs. Likely getting a hitch mount cargo tray or Thule enclosed box and possible a roof rack depending on how crazy we get. We know the effects of putting stuff on the roof so, starting behind the car but, not sure if that will be enough? 90% of the time, it’s single driver so any exterior cargo solutions are very occasional. For the most part, the family and dogs can make the trip to the beach a few minutes away. Camping is only a handful of times so, not too concerned about the hit on MPGs. Been checking out the pics of members here and much appreciated. Very helpful!