Just for perspective, Ford announced back in 2012 that the new C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is expected to travel up to 550 miles on a single tank of gas, exceeding the range of both the Volt (379 mi) and the Prius PHEV (540 mi).  Since the new Prius Prime came out the CMAX is well below on fuel efficiency but comes more equipped than expected.

Serious EV Range

Plus, they guaranteed that in electric-only mode, the C-MAX Energi offers nearly twice the range of the Prius plug-in. Nowadays the Prius Prime is about 24 Miles all EV and with the extremely efficient motor makes it about 30 miles Plus with regenerative braking.

So again, I was skeptical about the car’s purported fuel efficiency.  Yet I love the design of the car so when getting excited to kick the tires, was praying it stepped up its game; Aka being  hopefully be proven wrong.

Wagon-style Body

As Edmunds wrote, the 2017 Ford C-Max Energi plug-in electric hybrid provides a nice mix of fuel economy, refinement and all-around utility. Its tall, wagon-style body offers a unique dimension of passenger comfort and everyday practicality.

The interior of the Ford C-Max Energi 2017 is all leatheresque from recycled plastic bottle fibers across the board. From seats to dash. It is a great looking interior. More importantly, the seats are up high to feel like a large SUV. THEN with an extra large panoramic roof, it felt like being in a Ford Explorer or Escape but not.

Standard
2.0L Hybrid Electric Powertrain

eCVT (Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission)

7.6 kWh Lithium-Ion Battery

Regenerative Braking System

Optional

240-Volt Charging Options

However as Car and Driver wrote, While comfortable and fun to drive, the C-Max’s high EPA-estimated fuel-economy numbers are basically fantasy. A 2.0-liter four, an AC electric motor, and a CVT combine for 188 hp; in our testing, the C-Max hybrid and the plug-in C-Max Energi each got only 33 MPGe on the highway. If a hybrid can’t top a gas-powered opponent’s fuel economy, then why bother? The Energi’s EV-only range of 20 miles is inadequate, too. That the C-Max drives much like a conventional hatchback furthers that point.  

They are correct if they drove it right. LOL

Simply put my weekly test which was a shakedown got 91.7 Miles pee gallon. Why?  I charged it every night. I drove in town on L and on highway in Drive mode. Ford can pull my computer stats when driving. I’m not lying nor do I have anything to hide. 

Although they then turn around and say:

Look folks they added a 7.6-kWh battery pack much bigger than the standard nonpluggable C-Max hybrid’s 1.4-kWh pack—that provides enough juice to take the funky five-door up to an EPA-rated 20 miles on electrons alone. Of course, your mileage may vary. Once the battery pack is depleted, the C-Max Energi performs like a normal hybrid vehicle, delicately sharing or swapping duties between the gasoline engine and electric motors as needed. Recharging the C-Max Energi’s depleted battery pack takes approximately seven hours on a 120-volt charger; better to find a 240-volt unit that can do the deed in a more reasonable 2.5 hours.

So while the C-Max is more athletic than the Prius, it doesn’t come close to Toyota’s fuel economy as a PURE HYBRID.

Yet as Kelly Blue Book reports, Where the C-Max is rated at 41 mpg/city, the latest Prius earns up to 58 mpg. Yet the C-Max has a few tricks up its sleeve, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and a hands-free power-operated hatchback that rises with the swipe of your foot.

So this car has good and bad. It’s mostly all good if you drive, Plugin and Plugin some more.