rfruth Posted March 10, 2015 Report Share Posted March 10, 2015 Am considering a 2016, have heard the turning radius isn't great - I don't expect sports car handing but do need to get in my garage (smallish 1 car townhouse) - also the occasional U turn etc - how would you rate handling ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian_L Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 I have a small carport next to a small alley and have had zero problems so far. I think there was a minor complaint from some members that the turning radius was larger than expected for a small car. Can't say that I have noticed one way or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kostby Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 There are no specs announced for a 2016 US model C-MAX, so it's impossible to speculate what any number might be until the Fleet Guide is released months from now. The 2013 C-MAX Hybrid turning circle is published at 35.8 feet. http://www.edmunds.com/ford/c-max-hybrid/2013/road-test-specs1.html What are you driving now? If it's a recent mid-sized front-wheel-drive car, you likely won't notice a great deal of difference. Front wheel drive cars in general cannot turn as tight as the front wheels of rear-wheel-drive-only vehicles, because the front wheels of front wheel drive cars are connected to drive shafts and CV joints, and just can't turn as tight. My daily driver is a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. The track is about .5 inches narrower. The car is about 2 inches shorter than C-MAX and the wheelbase is also about 2-inches shorter. Turning circle for the Vibe is published at 36.7 feet, yet it "feels" as if it turns about 1 foot tighter than the C-MAX. http://www.edmunds.com/pontiac/vibe/2003/features-specs/ By the time I had driven our C-MAX a few times, I no longer "felt" much difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaDadMiami Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 You will notice the larger turn when you first get your new C-MAX. It's not nearly a big enough deal to warrant crossing the C-MAX off of your list. U-turns are bigger, and you will notice this on small roads. Parking is not an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plus 3 golfer Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 One has to be careful with quoted turning circles. IMO, the important "turning circle" is measured from the outside edge of the bumper not the outside of the tire. When pulling into a parking space between two vehicles, backing out of the parking space, or making a U-turn with cars parked on the street, the bumper clearance turning circle is the relevant one not the curb to curb turning circle. IMO, the C-Max should be rated "unacceptable" in bumper clearance turning circle. :) The C-Max has a 41 foot bumper clearance turning circle compared to my 2008 Nissan Rogue of 39 feet and 2009 Jetta TDI of 37 feet. The curb to curb turning circle for the C-Max appears to be about 38.3/4 feet based on several sites (can't find any Ford spec and I question the Edmund's number of 35.8), My 2009 Jetta TDI has a curb to curb of 35.8. My C-Max doesn't come close to that. hybridbear 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitinuri Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 It's one of my major complaints in this car. In this day most cars are front wheel or all wheel drive and the turning radius of the C-Max is one of the largest. Honestly it is a big deal to me. It makes parking in tight lots more difficult. Even turning around on a two lane highway is a bit of a stretch. adam1991 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obob Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 (edited) You will notice the larger turn when you first get your new C-MAX. It's not nearly a big enough deal to warrant crossing the C-MAX off of your list. U-turns are bigger, and you will notice this on small roads. Parking is not an issue. I agree with all of the above. Plus, I haven't even thought about it for like a year in a half. Edited March 15, 2015 by obob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelleytoons Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Yeah, I agree with the last post as well -- noticed it first when I got Maximis, now never think twice about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedebi Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Yeah, I agree with the last post as well -- noticed it first when I got Maximis, now never think twice about it.I have to do a U-Turn to park in front of my house, so I notice it every day. I have to back up to avoid hitting the curb. My wife has a 2014 VW Passat that clears the curb by 3 feet, and it is a bigger car. I'm not sure why they didn't provide a better turn radius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelleytoons Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 Obviously if there is a particular turn you always make you will notice things -- but I suspect I haven't actually made a U-turn more than twice in the last 20 years <g> (can't say I always know where I'm going, but with GPS I can always find a way to get there :>). I actually think my Durango has a better turning radius but it doesn't seem like it only because the hood is so far out in front of it. I always forget how very short the hood is in front of me in Maximis and am always pleasantly surprised by how much room I have in a turn (whereas I'd have hit something in the front of the Durango). So for me now it's just the opposite of what you experiencing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 my wifes Saturn Vue turns like a bus... my HHR and Prius felt much easier getting into the garage than the C-max and drivinga round the parking garage at work the C-max feels larger than it is in tight parking lots.... this is one failing that US car makers seems to have that our european bretheren have mastered...the tight turning radius... http://www.cars.com/ford/c-max-hybrid/2013/specifications Vue 20Cmax 19HHR 18Pruis 17.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WheNRG Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 My previous Volvo S60R had a published 42.7ft circle, so the C-max is MUCH better than that car. Even with that one it was a minor inconvenience. Looking at Edmunds data the C-max is better than a Volt or Prius V, slightly worse than the base Prius. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedebi Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 my wifes Saturn Vue turns like a bus... my HHR and Prius felt much easier getting into the garage than the C-max and drivinga round the parking garage at work the C-max feels larger than it is in tight parking lots.... this is one failing that US car makers seems to have that our european bretheren have mastered...the tight turning radius... http://www.cars.com/ford/c-max-hybrid/2013/specifications Vue 20Cmax 19HHR 18Pruis 17..Oddly enough, I believe the C-Max is a European design. But they also have three seats capability over there. Smiling Jack and ptjones 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Steve, I agree that the Cmax is a European design... http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/ford/c-max/turning-circle/the British C-max has a turning circle of 11 meters kerb to kerb... or about 33 feet... which is smaller than the posted at cars .com... ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiling Jack Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) Steve, I agree that the Cmax is a European design... http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/ford/c-max/turning-circle/the British C-max has a turning circle of 11 meters kerb to kerb... or about 33 feet... which is smaller than the posted at cars .com... ????? The European C-Max has a conventional ICE powerplant. A possible explanation for our larger turning radius is that the whole hybrid drive (ICE, electric motor, power split device, etc.) takes up so much more space than does the Euro stuff that it encroaches on the room for wheel, tire and steering gear movement. Now, having said something sensible, I must divert myself by confessing that I actually get some perverse enjoyment from the large turning radius. Having spent a lifetime driving large to huge cars, I am uncomfortable driving small cars. I am, however, entirely comfortable in the C-Max. The unforgivingly large turning radius merely adds to the immense passenger space, expansive glass area, and overly generous headroom to give me the felling that I am driving a huge vehicle again. Edited March 18, 2015 by Smiling Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedebi Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Steve, I agree that the Cmax is a European design... http://carleasingmadesimple.com/business-car-leasing/ford/c-max/turning-circle/the British C-max has a turning circle of 11 meters kerb to kerb... or about 33 feet... which is smaller than the posted at cars .com... ?????That is actually about 36 feet. No way ours is that small. I'd estimate about 39 feet or even more. rfruth 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfruth Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 OP here, thanks for all the feedback ! I currently drive a 2014 Focus and its great (except for the turning radius) so it sounds like I'd feel right at home in a C-Max :drool: C-MaxSea and ptjones 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmax-nynj Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 The turning radius does suck but it shouldn't kill the deal. I do have a gripe about the steering ratio which is too quick for highway use. However, you can expect sports car handling from this chassis. I used to own a MR2, Celica GTS, 07 VW GTI, etc..... and I find the CMax handles really well. I drive on high speed mountain roads every day and have no problem keeping up or even passing expensive sports cars. C-MaxSea 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevedebi Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 The turning radius does suck but it shouldn't kill the deal. I do have a gripe about the steering ratio which is too quick for highway use. However, you can expect sports car handling from this chassis. I used to own a MR2, Celica GTS, 07 VW GTI, etc..... and I find the CMax handles really well. I drive on high speed mountain roads every day and have no problem keeping up or even passing expensive sports cars. I knew about the turning radius and still bought the car. It handles well, although I find the steering a bit too sensitive at highway speeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HotPotato Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 HANDLING is excellent. TURNING RADIUS on the other hand is poor, although that's not unusual in front-wheel-drive cars. The parking space in my building is next to a pole, so I can't swing wide into the adjacent space, which means I have to turn in, back up, and re-enter the space in order to avoid being over the left line. Other than that, the only time it's an issue is when making a U-turn; I have to do those slowly to be sure I'll clear the opposite curb. At this point these behaviors are automatic, so it's not a big deal...a minor inconvenience greatly outweighed by the car's many strong points. C-MaxSea 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obob Posted March 24, 2015 Report Share Posted March 24, 2015 I kind of assumed the reason for the turning radius being so wide was because of lack of space. Bigger wheel wells mean a bigger car which means less gas mileage, or even more of a crapped or angled position for my left foot when driving. I am satisfied with the trade off Ford made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah Harbinger Posted April 22, 2015 Report Share Posted April 22, 2015 I definitely noticed the difference in turning radius coming from my Elantra. Lots of places where I routinely made simple U turns are now 3-point turns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted September 10, 2017 Report Share Posted September 10, 2017 You kind of learn to start your turn farther out than what you are use to doing. Just takes practice. :) Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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