I don't use Eco Mode

[jackalopetx]

When I first got my C-Max I used Eco Mode but I don't anymore because I can't stand the throttle lag and inconsistent throttle response! Often I need to pull out into a main road, but in Eco Mode I mash the gas and the car sluggishly starts to move. In normal mode, the response is immediate and you get a really nice push of torque from the electric motor. And it doesn't mean you can't drive efficiently. You just have to control the throttle yourself instead of relying on the car to slow you down. I guess in a way it trains you to feather the throttle rather than just mashing the pedal all the time.

 

If you're driving in Eco Mode I recommend trying standard mode!

[raadsel]

When I first got my C-Max I used Eco Mode but I don't anymore because I can't stand the throttle lag and inconsistent throttle response! Often I need to pull out into a main road, but in Eco Mode I mash the gas and the car sluggishly starts to move. In normal mode, the response is immediate and you get a really nice push of torque from the electric motor. And it doesn't mean you can't drive efficiently. You just have to control the throttle yourself instead of relying on the car to slow you down. I guess in a way it trains you to feather the throttle rather than just mashing the pedal all the time.

 

If you're driving in Eco Mode I recommend trying standard mode!

 

You are one of the few people here that has Eco mode on your C-Max, as it is a new feature on the 2016s.

[Kelleytoons]

Hmmm, wonder why they just didn't call it "Prius Mode"?

[fbov]

I vote for" Consumer Reports" mode.

[jackalopetx]

Hmmm, wonder why they just didn't call it "Prius Mode"?

 

You're right, it does make the C-Max feel kind of like a Prius. You mash the gas and it assumes you made a mistake so it accelerates slowly

[Kelleytoons]

That was the thing that first put me off on hybrids.  I drove a friend's Prius for a week and the very first day I nearly got killed as our development comes directly out onto the highway with cars that never slow down, so you need to basically accelerate immediately up to 60.

 

I tried that and was at about 30mph when the first wave of cars beared down on me, swerving and blowing their horns.  I literally could have been killed because the Prius just didn't do anything.  It was so unlike any other vehicle I've ever driven I was amazed, and chocked it up to "hybrids".  So when I took the test drive in the C-Max I couldn't believe how responsive it was.

 

So I guess that's the price you pay -- less mileage than the Prius, but a car that's a whole lot safer (and more fun!) to drive.  Sad to hear they included such a mode on the last model year but that's what happens when you don't understand your market (or your car -- Ford just never quite *got* it with the Max).

[MaxHeadroom]

That was the thing that first put me off on hybrids.  I drove a friend's Prius for a week and the very first day I nearly got killed as our development comes directly out onto the highway with cars that never slow down, so you need to basically accelerate immediately up to 60.

 

I tried that and was at about 30mph when the first wave of cars beared down on me, swerving and blowing their horns.  I literally could have been killed because the Prius just didn't do anything.  It was so unlike any other vehicle I've ever driven I was amazed, and chocked it up to "hybrids".  So when I took the test drive in the C-Max I couldn't believe how responsive it was.

 

So I guess that's the price you pay -- less mileage than the Prius, but a car that's a whole lot safer (and more fun!) to drive.  Sad to hear they included such a mode on the last model year but that's what happens when you don't understand your market (or your car -- Ford just never quite *got* it with the Max).

 

Like the current BMW i3 lawsuit, on the sudden & surprising extreme lack of power when you drive an i3 using it's on board scooter tiny engine, many BMW owners are upset about a sudden drop in performance in heavy traffic.  Reference: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1104072_bmw-i3-rex-electric-car-lawsuit-range-extender-power-loss-alleged

 

C-Max Eco Mode is not available on 2015 models like mine.  The owner's manual does say something about "Eco Cruise" mode (lazy performance when in Cruise Control).  I guess low accelertion in cruise control might be OK, I'll try it.

[ptjones]

With 133k mi. I hardly ever use the cruise control, I get better FE without it. :)  I do like the Adaptive cruise on my wife's 2013 Explorer once you get use to it.  Pretty cool for drafting to keep the distance pretty constant. :)

 

Paul

[C-MaxSea]

Soooooooo glad we don't have a 'Prius' button; what a let down that would be - eeeeeeeeek !!!

 

"Eco Cruise", we use it all of the time (AMAP) on the freeway - going miles & miles just tweaking the + or - occasionally.  Smooth, efficient - Fab !

(((48.1 on the Lifetime' badge (46 at the pump) - guess we thrash it too much in the city  ;) )))

 

Nick

Edited May 30, 2016 by C-MaxSea

[Adrian_L]

Hold on guys..........

 

What on earth is everyone talking about?  ECO Mode?   Do you mean ECO Cruise Control?!    The only EV modes on the C-max are those on the Energi (EV now, EV later etc.) and the Hybrid has none.

 

The Eco cruise control is not a mode-- it's a special, economical cruise control and it isn't supposed to be peppy---it's supposed to save gas!    Other members will correct me if I am wrong, but if the ECO switch is turned on (green ECO is lit up) and the cruise control is turned off, the car operates normally.   It is only when the cruise control is actually ON that the benefit (or curse) is realized.

 

Personally I think the ECO cruise is great -- I use it all the time.  But if I need to zip around a slow truck, I turn it off with a snap of my thumb and step on the gas. 

Edited May 30, 2016 by Adrian_L

[Kelleytoons]

I think the OP was saying there is an Eco mode on the 2016 which is not available on any other models, and it's this that slows things down.

 

Eco Cruise is a completely different beast.

[jdbob]

Here's what it says in the 2016 C-Max Owner Manual:

 

EcoSelect is a drive mode for non-plugin vehicles designed to offer the best possible fuel economy with only a slight impact to vehicle performance and comfort.

 

To switch EcoSelect on, press the ECO button. A graphic displays on your information display when EcoSelect is on. Your vehicle will remember the last selected mode whenever you start your vehicle. EcoSelect allows your vehicle to operate more efficiently.

 

You will notice:

• Less aggressive heating and cooling.

• Softer acceleration.

• More regenerative braking.

• Changes in engine behavior.

• ECO cruise control activation.

[jdbob]

I suspect you may also find yourself being passed by Kelleytoons on the highway if you use EcoSelect :)

[Kelleytoons]

:)

 

Or at least in the right hand lane with all the other traffic at your left.

 

(Personally, I like the "less agressive heating and cooling".  I'd have to say Maximis is just so DAMN agressive with the heat and the air.  Why can't it just get along?)

Edited May 31, 2016 by Kelleytoons

[scottwood2]

Interesting.  I too would like the heater control change. 

 

Sometimes the ECO mode would be nice but most of the time I create my own ECO mode when I drive.  Nice thing about me creating my own ECO mode with my driving habits is that I can accelerate instantly when needed without having to worry about hitting a switch. 

[jestevens]

I have a 2013 so I don't have ECO mode.  Eco-Cruise sucks because it does the exact thing which aggravates other drivers on the road - slows down going up a hill and then accelerates right when they are about to pass you.  If I am not in a hurry and traffic is light I will use it.

 

I have used ECO on a Chevrolet Traverse that I rented in Vicksburg MS where the speed limit on the highway was 70MPH, that didn't last long - I hated the car to start with and the ECO setting was purely machoistic.  I also test drove the Prius v - which I hated, it's like they took the regular Prius drivetrain and just added on an extra 1,500lbs.  I kept pressing the ECO and POWER button on that car but it made no difference as far as I could tell - even the sales lady could tell how much I hated that car.

 

The regular Prius sedan (hatchback), although it is certainly not a sportscar has more torque than a lot of people believe, I still think it is one of the best sedans for the MPGs.

 

C-MAX definitely has more power, but it's sort of funny, the speedometer is labeled to 120MPH but was I learned from a bit of emergency driving the max speed appears to be 90MPH.  I guess it makes sense to limit the strain on the transmission, motor windings and battery.

Edited May 31, 2016 by jestevens

[ptjones]

The top speed is higher than 90 mph, I think I have gone 95 mph and someone said it was 103 mph, not sure. ;)  I still think even the 2016 is no match to the 2013 CMAX, it has very little EV Power or Speed and the ICE runs almost all the time. :drop:

 

Paul

[Marc Smith]

personally I liked the eco button on my prius.  bumping around town  slow speeds  no real need for a "warp 10" acceleration or a twitch throttle.  you could drive and get good milage with out having to think about it... 

 

And I am fine with the eco cruise.  I like to camp out in the right lane at 5 or so over the limit  don't really ever have to worry about passing too many cars...

[obob]

I rented a Hyundai accent 3-4 years ago and it had eco-mode and I used it until I almost got into an accident pulling in to traffic.  I learned very quickly if I floor the gas it snaps out of eco-mode.  I would have liked it to snap out with less of a pedal push.

 

I really like Scottwood2's post on having my own eco mode which is kind of what I do, though I never put it into such succinct words.  It adjusts automatically for if I am in a rush, and it adjusts to my moods, and it learns.

 

I kind of understand perhaps why Ford would put an eco-mode in there.  The dealers get customers that drive a car hard.  The customers complain about the mileage. Ford ends up paying for all sorts of stuff and has disappointed customers.  This could be kind of an quick way to handle that.  Eco-mode might be kind of a training mode to some and a more regular mode for people that are just not into all the technical stuff.  But it may need some tweeking.

 

This messages on this board has sure helped me a lot in my own eco-mode.

 

Thanks people.

Edited May 31, 2016 by obob

[stevedebi]

I would probably use ECO mode if it were available on my Energi. Then just turn it off for on ramps and such.

 

But I probably already drive mine in "Pseudo-ECO" mode anyway. I get 45 MPG in hybrid mode when that happens on my Energi.

[Bill-N]

The top speed is higher than 90 mph, I think I have gone 95 mph ...

 

Been there, done that.  And didn't have the pedal-to-the-metal.

[Adrian_L]

I agree with obob.  It's good that we have these options and different drivers will have different preferences.    I do sometimes wonder "why did you buy a C-max"? when I read that people want to drive 85 mph on the highway or drive aggressively in traffic.    You use a hammer to pound a nail, not a screwdriver.

[SnowStorm]

What they should have added was a mode to use up the battery charge (similar to what the Energi has) so you can hit the top of a twisty mountain road with minimum SOC.  Then you have room for regen on the way down.  The way it is now, you go up a twisty road at low speed, the full ICE capacity isn't needed so it charges all the way up leaving you no room for regen on the way down.  It can be very frustrating in mountain driving, manually trying to hit a low SOC at the top, especially if you don't know the road or have traffic behind you.  This "prius mode" seems useless to me - I doubt it is "less aggressive" about HVAC control than I am already.  I bet it was added by the marketing folks because there are buyers out there that think it is a standard "feature" of a hybrid.

[stevedebi]

What they should have added was a mode to use up the battery charge (similar to what the Energi has) so you can hit the top of a twisty mountain road with minimum SOC.  Then you have room for regen on the way down.  The way it is now, you go up a twisty road at low speed, the full ICE capacity isn't needed so it charges all the way up leaving you no room for regen on the way down.  It can be very frustrating in mountain driving, manually trying to hit a low SOC at the top, especially if you don't know the road or have traffic behind you.  This "prius mode" seems useless to me - I doubt it is "less aggressive" about HVAC control than I am already.  I bet it was added by the marketing folks because there are buyers out there that think it is a standard "feature" of a hybrid.

I don't know of any such mode in the Energi. We have an easier time, because there is 5.6 KWH in the battery, so the Energi is more likely to have room to regen.

 

However, on the highway, in what is called EV Later, from what I can tell the Energi drives exactly like the hybrid. If you want to lose SOC on the uphill, you have to do it yourself.

[Adrian_L]

Being able to turn off the HVB charging (going uphill) just to have the satisfaction of charging it going downhill doesn't seem to be worth the effort, in my opinion.