2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid: Great Package, Disappointing Winter Fuel Economy

Hybrid technology has matured to the point where it can now be found in a wide variety of applications, including even sports cars and luxury sedans that make use of battery-assistance in order to enhance performance rather than simply add efficiency. The trickle-down effect to more affordable hybrid automobiles has been slow in coming, but there are now a few compact gasoline / electric options that aim to dispel the dull driving dynamics typically associated with this class of car.

The 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid is one such vehicle, an all-new option imported from the Blue Oval's European operation to do battle with Toyota's popular Prius family of hybrid cars. The C-Max Hybrid falls somewhere between the standard Prius hatchback and the larger Prius V in terms of size, but it eclipses both of its rivals in terms of driving dynamics, style, and features - improvements that Ford hopes will be enough to help lure away at least a portion of Toyota's loyal buyer base.

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Great Looking Compact People Mover - Inside And Out

The 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid takes a decidedly non-boring tack in terms of its sheet metal and its interior trappings. The bold, wide-mouth grille at the front of the C-Max Hybrid SEL that we drove for a week was flanked by inset fog lights and complemented by character lines that stretched back along the sides of the vehicle. The large windshield rears up so as to conceal the sloping roofline towards the rear of the vehicle, and the simple hatch is framed by angular tail lights and large reverse lights. The C-Max stands out in stark relief against similarly-sized hybrids like the Prius V, fitting in better with more dramatic gas-only hatchbacks like the Hyundai Elantra GT.

Inside, the Ford C-Max Hybrid is a revelation in the compact hybrid segment. The dash and door trim, seat covers, and overall design of the C-Max feels far more upscale than one would expect from a hatchback, and were head and shoulders above the plain-Jane elements that come together inside the Toyota Prius. The vehicle's leather seats offered five stages of heating, which was nice because its automatic climate control system had a bit of an issue keeping up with the -30 degree temperatures faced by the C-Max during out time with the car.

The power lift-gate feature on the Ford also couldn't cut it in the cold, for although we were able to use the hands-free, foot-activated feature once, for the rest of the week we had to manually open and close the hatch ourselves - fighting against the reluctant electric motor the entire time. This is too bad, especially given the 52.6 cubic feet of total cargo space to be found back there (despite the tall load floor necessitated by the vehicle's battery pack).

The C-Max perfectly integrates Ford's MyFord Touch digital interface and gauge system, which consists of a large, center-mounted touchscreen and a pair of customizable LCD readouts that flank an analog speedometer directly in front of the driver. The Ford C-Max Hybrid offers additional MyFord Touch enhancements not found in vehicles that aren't battery assisted, including a screen that grows or fades green leaves depending on how eco-friendly your driving style is, as well as several hybrid-specific readouts that detail energy being captured by the braking system or pulled from the battery.

Ford has made an effort to improve the MyFord Touch feature after dealing with complaints from owners when it was initially rolled out last year, and while we still had some trouble navigating menus using the pair of awkward steering wheel-mounted buttons, the system itself was more straightforward and felt like a more natural extension of the car rather than tacked-on eye-candy. The Sync system, which links smart phone and other mobile devices to the vehicle's entertainment and communications system worked flawlessly, as we have come to expect in Ford vehicles.

Love The Power And Handling - But Where's The Fuel Efficiency?

The 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid turns in handling that is above and beyond the expectations of most people shopping for a practical hatchback. The C-Max is a willing co-conspirator when tackling curvy stretches of road at speeds that would have many other small hybrids begging for mercy, and the hatchback even comes with an actual center-mounted handbrake, which is a rarity given the preponderance of electric e-brakes in battery-assisted automobiles. The C-Max Hybrid delivers a total of 188 horsepower from its teamed-up 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and electric motor, and acceleration is better than average (and certainly more exciting than that of the plodding Prius V). A continuously-variable automatic transmission handles the shifting duties for the hybrid drivetrain.

We did have a couple of complaints concerning the Ford hatchback's mechanical bits. First, the C-Max's brakes are extremely grabby - especially just after vehicle start-up - due to the regenerative system that captures electrical energy while the hybrid is slowing down. This may be a necessary evil in the C-Max, but it's one that continually caught us off-guard.

The more pressing issue had to do with our inability to come anywhere near the Ford C-Max Hybrid's advertised 5 L/100 km combined fuel efficiency rating. There are a number of reasons as to why we more than doubled the vehicle's window sticker fuel consumption, such as its inability to remain on battery power alone for any length of time due to the extreme cold we drove it in, as well as the need to keep the heater going for the same reason. Whatever the technical limitations, we were extremely disappointed with how the C-Max Hybrid adapted to winter driving, which will be the daily reality of almost all of the Canadians who purchase this vehicle.

A Competent Hybrid Hatch

The 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid puts all of the stereotypes about affordable battery-powered cars to bed. The C-Max is engaging behind the wheel, is remarkably comfortable on the inside, and features an extensive list of gear that wouldn't look out of place on a near-luxury model. More importantly, the C-Max is an accurate shot across the bow of the Prius V, which offers more interior room but asks drivers to completely forget about having fun behind the wheel.

One thing the Toyota hybrid does do, however, is destroy the C-Max Hybrid when it comes to real-world fuel efficiency. Maybe if it had been warmer the C-Max would have turned in a better performance, but we simply can't ignore the hatchback's inability to deliver impressive fuel consumption figures. With a starting price of $30,000 for the SEL model, buyers will expect to be wowed by their savings at the pump, not cowed by surprisingly high fuel bills.