2013 Ford C-Max Energi – A second assault against the Prius

San Francisco, California – Ford is taking Toyota head-on in the hybrid vehicle market, which has been the Japanese manufacturer’s uncontested territory for years. Just three months after launching the C-Max Hybrid to challenge the Prius and Prius V, Ford is releasing the C-Max Energi, a plug-in hybrid that will, of course, take on the Prius Plug-In Hybrid.  

In this game, numbers talk. According to Ford, the C-Max Energi has a combined output (gas engine and electric motor) of 195 horsepower, compared to the Prius Plug-In Hybrid’s 134 horsepower. The C-Max Energi can reach up to 137 km/h in electric mode, while the Prius only gets to 100 km/h. Its electric range is 34 kilometers compared to the Japanese vehicle’s 10 km. And finally, the C-Max Energi’s fuel consumption rate is 100 mpg, which is 5 more than the Prius’.

Now, here are the numbers we obtained after a quick 75-kilometre test drive from San Francisco to Olema, California. First, our C-Max Energi’s battery was drained after 16 miles (26 kilometres, not 34). Second, the fuel consumption was 50.1 mpg (4.7 L/100 km) and not 100 mpg (2.35 L/100 km).

Three electric modes

These mixed results are not surprising, as hybrid and electric vehicles tend to be more efficient on paper than in actual fact. That said, the C-Max Energi does offer a unique feature: it allows the driver to decide when to use the electric-only mode, unlike the Prius Plug-In or the Volt, both of which drain all the electric energy before activating the combustion engine.

In fact, the C-Max Energi comes with three different modes. The first, called EV Auto, is the default start-up setting and lets the vehicle decide which source of energy is most appropriate for the driving conditions. Meanwhile, EV Now only allows the electric motor to be used and EV Later saves the electric energy for use at a later time. Charging takes two and a half hours with a 240-volt outlet. Note that Ford has struck a deal with Best Buy so that you can have a charger installed in your garage for $1599. You can also charge the C-Max Energy using a 120-volt outlet, but that takes seven hours.

On the road, the C-Max Energi’s handling is seriously affected by the vehicle’s weight (1,768 kg). This explains in part why the C-Max Energi is equipped with a 7.6 kW battery that is five and a half times as powerful as the 1.4 kW battery found in the C-Max Hybrid. But having such a large battery also cuts in on the Energi’s cargo space, which is a lot more limited than the Hybrid’s. In this vehicle, you’re best off with relaxed, flexible driving, as more inspired driving will quickly test the vehicle’s limits. That said, it’s more dynamic than the Prius Plug-In. The C-Max Energi also scores points for its quality assembly and equipment level – both of which outshine the Prius Plug-In. As a result, driving the Ford seems like less of a compromise than driving the Toyota.

The C-Max Energi costs $36,999, nearly $10,000 more than the C-Max Hybrid. Residents of Quebec, however, are eligible for a $5,830 rebate from the provincial government. The C-Max Energi is expected to hit Canadian dealerships near the end of 2012.