dannytroy Posted February 3, 2014 Report Share Posted February 3, 2014 I have a Volt that is quickly running out of lease miles. I'm starting to scout for alternatives and the C-Max Hybrid is high on the list. I test drove a 2013 last week and it was very good. Not better, but just different as compared to the Volt. Of course I only had it for about 20 minutes, so there was no way I could do a valid comparison. I did feel it had plenty of power, had a good ride, and was quiet. All of which the Volt has. I like some of the ammenities the C-Max has that isn't available in the Volt, such as power driver seat, and especially the panaromic roof. So, has anyone done an extensive comparision of the two cars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tdefny Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 There are many former Volt owners and I like their perspective, but I would start with posts from Fotomoto. He has had a Volt and currently has a C-Max Hybrid and an Energi. Look for his posts in this forum and on the Energi forum and I think you will find everything you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannytroy Posted February 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Thanks. I'll definitely check that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotomoto Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) Hey Dannytroy, welcome to the forum. Yes, I've owned both, umm, I mean all three. :lol: I'll explain. I loved my Volt, especially the drivetrain and range, but after 10k miles the lack of room in the compact size class car ultimately led me to look elsewhere. I have two growing kids (14&12) and am responsible for all their transportation needs. The CMax hybrid had the room and features that would satisfy all my family needs. And it did very well for the next 9 months but I sure did miss "the plug". :worship: And my wife was coming up with more and more excuses to drive the CMax. So when Ford enticed us with end of the year deals on the CMax Energi, I traded in my wife's car for it and she got the hybrid for her highway commute. So, we are now a 2Max family. :happy feet: To get a similarly equipped car, you'll want the SEL trim line and I highly suggest the 302 or 303 package also. The kick lift gate might seem gimmicky but it's a really feature. The CMax platform is what a lot of Volt owners have been asking for in the Volt 2.0 model: comfort, roominess, better ride height, features, better controls, lower price, etc. My wife also loves the CMax power train (she's a lead foot) and I'd rate it right between the torquey Volt and the anemic Prius (owned one of those too). It's really the goldilocks of the hybrid world right now! :clapping: Any other questions? Please ask away. Edited February 4, 2014 by fotomoto redux and C-MaxSea 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannytroy Posted February 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 Thanks for that info. I am leaning toward the hybrid since I need the completely flat storage area. Also, I've been getting pretty horrible range on the Volt. Like your wife, I have a bit of a lead foot..... plus I only use low gear and "sport" mode. That all adds up to a lot of fun, but crappy range. I suspect I'd have the same issue with the Energi. Can you see a difference in performance between the Hybrid and the Energi? I still have 5k miles left on the lease and have to think about which way to go when that runs out. At .18 a mile the $$ can add up. I can park the Volt and use my spare car (a Hyundai) or find a nicely equipped Ruby Red C-Max SEL. Luckily I have some time to think about all this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotomoto Posted February 4, 2014 Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 L and Sport: Yeah, I get the picture! :shift: :thumbsup: Actually the NRG is a little more peppy/torquey off the line than the CMax hybrid due to more battery/EV performance but they even out after awhile. When they are both in hybrid mode, they are basically identical in performance because although the NRG has a heavier battery to tote around it has a more aggressive gearing ratio. Yes the flat and lower load floor on the CMax hybrid was a major reason for me going initially with it. I carry around a lot of work gear and my son has a huge bass sax instrument case so combined we were scratching up the tall lip on the volt with all the (failed) lifting up and over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannytroy Posted February 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) Now that's funny. A tenor sax is one of the things I regularly carry in my car. I'm retired from my day job, back to my original profession, a musician. Since I do solo gigs I also have to load in an electric keyboard, and the amplification gear. The flat floor makes life a lot easier. I made a flap of heavy black fabric flat that is attached to the inside of the cargo area, that I flip over the bumper for protection. Over two years and over 250 performances and no scratches on the bumper. I'll do the same on the C-Max if that's what I wind up with. I hear you about the additional torque of the Energi. The low end torque of the Volt is pretty addictive, but I was happy with the low end performance on my C-Max test drive, although it was a bit noisier. Good to know there is a great place to get good info here on this forum. I suspect there might be more Volt converts if the 2015 Volt doesn't add some of those cool options. My wife still misses the grab handle missing on the passanger side, and I still miss the lumbar support! Edited February 4, 2014 by dannytroy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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