Used 2017 Ford C-Max Hybrid Consumer Reviews
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CMAX Meets expectations
First off there are no tax credits available, because it is not a plug in...check out the CMAX Energi....but the first tank of gas lasted to almost 600 miles and accumulated MPGs =41. It is far easier to park with the standard backup camera, and space inside is comfortable in both front & back seat. Cargo space is enough for my traveling gym equipment, musical instruments, & a few filled grocery bags & the retractable cover is handy to conceal contents. Handling the vehicle in driving indicates a quick response to sudden steering changes with stability of holding, reasonable acceleration for merging or lane change or sudden evasive moves to avoid another vehicle. I like the interior lighting around the key entrance, and the turn signal lights on the rearview mirrors gives extra visibility to traffic.
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2016 replacement of totaled 2014 ford c-max
Good handling car with considerable head and leg room front and back, acceleration is great for a hybrid but OK overall. The fuel economy does vary depending on your driving habits (acceleration/braking habits) and use of heater/air ranging from upper 30s to 50 mpg. I averaged just over 43 mpg. I had a 2014 ford c-max which had 23K miles on it when it was totaled when a driver ran a red light and hit the driver side door around 30 mph. I am impressed with design and safety features. The side curtain airbags and driver seat air bag deployed with glass hitting side curtain airbag as opposed to me or my 12 year old daughter who walked away without scratch. The technology is better with synch3 with apps and nav system.
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- SE WagonMSRP: $12,999132 mi away
- SE WagonMSRP: $14,300130 mi away
- Titanium WagonMSRP: $15,998In-stock online
Outstanding Surprise
I was pleasantly surprised after driving this car how it impressed me. I read the so called critics reviews on how the Prius was the most popular hybrid, but I decided to review this C Max myself. I am slightly over 6 Ft and immediately noticed the huge headroom of the C max that dwarfs the other hybrids. The C max is quiet, smooth ride, comfortable, very roomy and incredible view including a much higher seating position. The REALLY exciting feature is the performance. As everyone knows, the Toyota Prius might get better mileage but at the cost of super slow acceleration. Trying to merge on a freeway with a Prius is downright dangerous! However, I took the C max out and trust me when I say this hybrid is night and day faster. It's actually 4 seconds faster from 0-60 than a Prius and actually faster than any other hybrids in its class. I was sold on the other features already ,but the car like handling and performance really sealed the deal. I just bought the Titanium model with the larger 17 inch wheels. If you are shopping for a Prius, please test the C max like I did. No Prius for this guy!
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Excellent Car!
I bought this car 12/8/16. So far, I absolutely love it. The "get-up-and-go" is better than I'd expect from a hybrid. The interior is wonderfully laid out, and incredibly comfortable. The Sync 3 system beats the old MyFordTouch and is intuitive. 3 12-volt outlets and 2 USB ports, plus a 115 outlet means plenty of places to charge a variety of devices. Fuel-economy has been better than expected, so far averaging about 35.6 mpg in about 400 miles. He noise suppression in this car is fantastic. Both my partner and I were amazed at how quiet it is, even at highway speeds. Update: 6/24/17 - I've owned this far just over 6 months now. I've put right about 4,500 miles so far. We still absolutely love it. It's become our default vehicle whenever we go out together. My partner drives a 2011 Kia Soul ! and can't get over how much better, in all aspects, the C-Max is. There are definitely a few tricks you have to learn to maximize electric driving, over and above the usual gentle pedal action, etc. thoroughly impressed by the space inside, it's always been more than adequate! The updated Sync3 system is fantastic. It is intuitive and responds quickly. Control layout is fantastic, though I wish the Hatch Release was in a different location on the center stack. Overall, a great vehicle that I absolutely love! Update 12/17/17 - I’ve owned the car for over a year. Still in love. Needed to change my oil right about the 1 year mark, and had the 10k service done at my local dealer. Fuel economy is still impressive, though running the heater when it gets cold does have an impact. Still amazingly quiet and it handles the horrible roads in Southern Louisiana very well. Would still definitely recommend! Update 6/27/19- still love this car. Can't sing it's praises enough. Buy this car. You won't regret it. Haven't had ANY problems with the car.
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Road Test a C Max before Toyota Prius!
We road tested both the Prius V and the Ford C Max Hybrid SEL. The combined mpg mileage difference between the two is 1 mpg, which would literally take decades to pay off with the price I paid for the C Max. The C Max has both more horsepower and torque, yet less cargo space. I don't use the full cargo capacity that often so it wasn't that big of a deal to me. The C Max is based on the Focus platform and drives a whole lot more smoothly than the Prius. Prius braking is better, but the C Max is much more quiet. The interior is much nicer than the Prius and doesn't feel as cheaply made. I got mine completely equipped for $10k less than sticker. I recently averaged 53.4 mpg on a distance of about 90 miles. I know people flock to the Prius like a Zombie to brains, but do yourself a favor and test drive the C Max before blindly going to the Toyota store. I'm glad I did! Update: February 21, 2019 At just about 17,000 my C Max Hybrid SEL has averaged 41.0 mpg overall. That includes all driving conditions and summers in the greater Phoenix area. There have been no major issues and I have found the car to be reliable and a good driver. I can't believe that FORD buried this platform.
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Great Value
To give a little perspective, I'm 5'7", 155 lbs. and coming from a 2010 Toyota Matrix. I've had Toyotas for years mainly because of their superb reliability. I've had 3 Fords in the past and swore I'd never get another one, again, mainly because of their reliability or, more precisely, their lack thereof. However, Toyota no longer makes a Matrix and its CH-R has horrible visibility and acceleration - two qualities very important to me. The Ford C-Max, by contrast, has both excellent visibility and very good acceleration - 8.1 seconds 0-60 mph according to Edmunds. I was leery about buying another Ford because of my concern with reliability, but given some of the other qualities I was looking for in a car I decided to take a chance on the C-Max. For example, it has very good gas mileage. I bought it on 8-17-17. Back then I was getting 52 mpg driving locally (far superior to the EPA estimate of 42) and 38 mpg on the highway. I live in MA and in the cold, e.g. 10-30 degrees F, the mpg has dipped considerably to about 35 locally and 33-36 on the highway depending on how fast you go. On a trip up the Maine turnpike at Christmas I got 34 mpg going 75 mph; on the way back and going 65 mph I got 37 mpg. Basically, when it was warm I was getting over 700 miles per tankful (13.5 gal. tank) with mostly local driving and now that winter has arrived I'm getting about 460 miles per tankful with mostly local driving. As you can see cold weather and high speeds really knock the mpg down. Another quality is its visibility in both front and back unlike several of the Japanese designed cars. As mentioned above, its acceleration is very good as well. With the Matrix I was fearful every time I had to merge onto a highway with oncoming traffic or get through an intersection with oncoming traffic. Those fears have been allayed with the C-Max. Also, the seats are very comfortable. It has adjustable lumbar support for the driver and the seats sit higher than my Matrix did for a better view of the road, but not as high as an SUV. It is by far the most quiet car I've ever owned and it feels very smooth. Steering is responsive. The brakes are fine. Headroom is terrific for anyone over 6 feet tall. In the snow it's fine. Granted, this car does not have awd, but for a fwd vehicle it's fine. I'm sure the weight of the car helps too. It's very heavy. One can feel it just in the weight of the doors. It weighs 3640 lbs versus 2830 for my Matrix. I'm approaching the 6000 mile mark and have had no problems thus far (knock on wood). Long term reliability remains to be seen, but so far so good. As far as negatives go, I wish the ground clearance was higher. I believe it's about 5.5 inches comparable to a VW Golf, Honda Civic, or Subaru Impreza which means I need to be very careful when going over speed bumps. I also wish it had a spare tire. The battery is located where the wheel well is located for most cars leaving no room for a spare. That means that whenever I travel up north, e.g. through the White and Green Mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont respectively, I have to pray I don't get a flat because the chances of driving into a dead cell are good, thereby making it impossible to call roadside assistance or AAA to get towed. If the lack of spare doesn't bother you, I highly recommend the car. As far as price goes, the sticker price on my SE model with the cold weather package was about 25.5K. I got it for 20K. And the Ford dealer gave me what I wanted for my Matrix in trade - Kelly Blue Book value for a car in very good condition. Why Ford doesn't advertise this car is beyond me. So far it's been a real pleasure to drive. (Update: 6/28/18) I'm currently at the 11,500 mile mark and I recently had a flat. I hit a curb and the rear passenger tire blew. Luckily I was in town and able to make it home to my driveway. It was on a Saturday at 5 p.m.; therefore, all the service stations were closed. I called the Ford roadside assistance number and set up an appointment to get towed to a Ford dealer (Acton Ford) two miles away on the following Monday. Thank God I wasn't in the boondocks somewhere. Because the belt was broken they had to replace the whole tire. So, feeling that I dodged a bullet, I asked the owner's son of Acton Ford if it was possible to get a full size spare. Doughnuts are only good for about 40-50 miles. He was able to find me an after market rim from tirerack.com and was able to mount a cheap Kelly tire onto the rim. It fits behind the rear seats. I went to Walmart and bought a folding lug wrench and a jack. There's a small compartment next to the battery where they fit perfectly. At least now I have peace of mind. I also renewed my membership with AAA. Ford roadside assistance provides towing for only up to 30 miles and when you call they want you to have a smart phone so they can send you a text to arrange service. At least with AAA you can talk with a live person.
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Very happy with purachse
We bought this car simply because it was was one of the very few hybrids you could tow behind an RV. Very happy with purchase. Averaging 40.5 MPH overall. Very comfortable seating. Extremely quiet interior. Good comfort. Very happy with purchase.
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better mileage than I expected
I am overall very pleasantly surprised with the quality, refinement and gas mileage - consistently getting over 40 mpg on most trips without crazy driving. The value for the money, particularly when compared to Prius, is incredible. Front seats are a bit hard and can get uncomfortable over longer trips. Noise level is very low, and even the basic stereo is pleasant. Unfortunately, Ford discontinued the model, but I would bu another in a flash!
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It's Sportier Than You'd Expect
I was in the market for a used car and was originally looking at the 2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid. After test driving the Fusion Hybrid, I felt that the car lacked the roominess I was looking for. For the last 12 years, I've been driving a 2005 Mercury Montego Premier which has an incredible amount of space inside the cabin, between the front and rear seats, and in the trunk as well. I had hoped the Fusion would emulate that cabin space and was disappointed at how cramped the car felt overall. I noticed the dealer had a 2016 C-Max Hybrid SEL on the lot, and I was curious at how the C-Max stacked up against the Fusion Hybrid. On initial test drive, I was very surprised at just how much cabin space the C-Max had, especially considering it's relatively small size. The seats were tall and the doors large which made it easy to get in and out of, and overall were quite comfortable with lots of adjustments for the driver. With the driver seat set to fit me (I'm 6'0", 225lbs, with a 32" inseam), it was easy to get in and out from the driver side rear seat. The cabin felt spacious and the controls were easily laid out and easy to get familiar with. The cargo space was definitely small because the hybrid batteries take some significant space, but not terrible. I could easily fit a couple of large suitcases back there, but not much room for anything else. The view from the driver seat was impressive with a clear view forward and around. The moon roof provides a fantastic view for passengers whether in town or out. The headlights provide excellent forward and side lighting in low beam, and great distance on high beam. The thing that really surprised me was the powertrain. The 188hp hybrid motor attached to a CVT felt much faster and more responsive than the 205hp V6 that came with my Mercury Montego. The engine is quick to rev when under heavy acceleration but because of the CVT, it never feels or sounds peaky or revved out. Instead, it provides decent initial acceleration on take-off and when passing. On a curvy road at night in mixed weather (some wet and dry pavement) and uneven road surfaces, I was surprised at how composed and quick the car felt. Accelerating hard out of the corners, the traction control felt neither overbearing nor inadequate, and instead the car remained fairly flat and composed. I drive for Uber and Lyft, and I have received several compliments at the amount of space available for my passengers. As well, I am pleased that spending 5-10 hours in the driver seat doesn't make me feel like I need acupuncture or chiropractic care, unlike my wife's 2006 Mazda 3 Wagon. The overall gas mileage has been impressive as well. On an average Lyft/Uber night, I've seen 42 mpg regularly and up to 47 on several different shifts. Currently, my overall gas mileage has been 44.3 mpg with mixed driving in heavy traffic and on the freeway. So far, I really like the C-Max and I look forward to revisiting my review in a year to see if my opinion has changed.
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Save the Planet and Have Fun Too!
I think the C-Max never found its market niche. Environmental types wanted the Toyota Prius because of its better gas mileage. Families wanted an SUV because it can haul more stuff. Performance enthusiasts wanted a sports car because they craved more horsepower. But the brilliance of the C-Max is that it combines high levels of fuel efficiency, performance, and cargo capacity in one impressive vehicle. Over the past 1100 miles, our C-Max has averaged 42 miles a gallon in combined city and highway driving. Despite this frugality, it is a blast to drive. On the freeway, it rides like a bigger car. On a twisting two lane road, it is a real joy, with nimble handling and plenty of power. On a recent two-hour drive down Vermont’s Route 7, I passed everything in sight! Our previous car was a Saab 9-5 with a 250 hp engine, but the C-Max feels quicker. There is also a surprising amount of space in the car. With the rear seats folded down, I can load up my bike without removing any wheels, add all of our stuff for a long weekend away, and still see out the back window. Pros: - great gas mileage - precise steering and sporty handling - lots of power - surprising storage space - quiet interior - large display screen with SYNC 3 Cons: - the brakes are touchy. For best fuel economy, you need to use them very gently. It took me a couple days to get used to this. - the tailgate is not as handy as it might seem. It opens up automatically if you have the key in your pocket and you swipe your foot under the bumper. But you have to stick your foot pretty far under the bumper to make this work, so it’s a little awkward.
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Almost a home run
Still great. I’m averaging 40.1 Mpg. I drive it normally and don’t even think about the fuel efficiency. Last winter it went down to 37Mpg for two months. No issues. This car will be hard to replace. This car’s gas mileage is between 42.2 summer and 32 winter driving. You can drive it normally or hard and don’t have to think about it. It has good acceleration and delivers 188hp when power is needed from both gas and electric motors. Handling is like a normal car, with excellent rear visibility. It is both comfortable in front and back, and is easy to enter and exit. It has a higher seating position which I like. It uses a flat kit and not a spare tire. Welcome to the 80s or 70s. lol. I think by putting the battery under the rear seat they might have had room for a spare. The car's front end, like the Prius is low and the plastic bumper parts can hang on those cement stops in parking lots if you pull to far forward. In that event backing up can pull the lower trim parts out. You can push them in yourself, however the plastic bolts used on the the covers attaching them to the under carriage breaks off easily and are some what expensive to replace for what they are. The car because of its excellent visibility in the rear windows, doesn't need any radar because of the blind spots. So this is considered a negative and not really justified. My car has a rear camera and a warning sound if something is too close when backing up. That engine is shoe horned into the engine compartment and is impossible to easily work on. If Ford had had a small turbo charged 4 that was somewhat fuel efficient like on some of these newer crossovers, Ford could of taken off hundreds of pounds of weight, had room in the trunk for a spare, and wouldn't of sacrificed much in fuel economy like some of their Korean competitors have done. I would of probably bought that over the hybrid. Unfortunately Ford was bent on building a “Prius killer” instead of just selling a good practical car. I read at the time of purchase that the top selling Kia was the Soul. They should of done more market research before making the decision just to sell the Hybrid here in the states. Well I have heard that Ford is exiting the car market and still don't understand that this was more of a MPV vehicle then a car. In shopping for this car in 2017, the dealers didn't have a clue on how to sell this automobile and weren’t very helpful. Consumer reports initially blasted it because of the controversy in the way Ford had used a loop hole in the EPA rating system and reportedly rated this car as having a high MPG rating then it did. Then sometime later reversed it's position saying it was a very good car. Unfortunately the damage was done In regards to bad press and miss stated MPG rating. This car was discontinued in 2018. In the latest Consumer Report book they did list the 2016 model in their lineup of best used autos to own. Update I still own this car as of 6/2020. Mileage on the car is 42K. The tires still have good wear left and the car is holding up well. There is some surface wear on the push start button. All the interior materials are wearing well. I actually have been driving the car a little more aggressively and and there is no MPG penalty. It’s somewhat fun to drive. I am keeping an eye on a possible replacement and see none that I like at this point. Update 12/20. I haven’t put much more mileage on the car because of the pandemic. However aggressive driving doesn’t affect its mileage and the car has a lot of zip. I see some of the other hybrid crossovers are starting to give their cars a little more torque as they are running off the electric motor at lower speeds and are quick to get up to 40 / 50 Mph. Update. 55K on the vehicle. Replaced the tires and the rear wheel bearing went. The wheel bearing was covered under Ford’s extended warranty. However it would of been a $600 repair as they replace the entire assembly. Note: My old Prius front wheel bearing went at 80K and cost the same. Safety recall on transmission shifter cable bushing on 7/22. I had to have the rear brakes and rotors replaced at the same time at a cost of $550. The brakes had developed rust on the rotors and other areas and kept the brakes from operating properly. The car had 56,400 miles on it at the time. The USB charging part in the glove compartment once again isn't operational. I bought a cheap Belkin cigarette lighter USB adapter and use that. The Belkin Chinese parts seem to work better than the Ford Chinese parts at a fraction of the cost. lol. I have been driving the car with the ECO mode off and it's a hoot to drive. There seems to be little fuel economy penalty for this. My rear wheels need to be aligned. The info system started to miss behave. No worries, I just had it reinstall itself and this fixed it. The car now has 70K miles on it. It averages 41.1 Mpgs. Everything is still running fine. I am entertaining at getting a new car but can’t find one that is as fuel efficient, still fun to drive, has an upright comfortable seating position, has great visibility with no blind spots, holds a lot of cargo with the same outside dimensions. These vehicles are multipurpose and Ford did a great job. Unfortunately they discontinued it and have exited the car market. I don’t need a 50k Mustang or a larger SUV.
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Great car....so far
I did a lot of research before we bought this car. We wanted a car that was easy to enter and exit, comfortable, good visibility, good seating, good gas mileage, reliable, roomy, quiet enough, sufficient power, and not infested with technology we wouldn't or couldn't remember how to use (We are seniors who have lived long enough to know we don't need a lot of the gadgetry that automakers stuff in cars.) We just wanted a good car. So far, that is what we have had. No problems at all. With the onset of summer here, we should get even better gas mileage. Average now is about 43 mpg. Mostly we use it for quick guilt free trips around town. Quite satisfied, and hope it will continue to live up to our expectations. Update: So far no problems. Nice being able to avoid gas stations. Update: Absolutely no problems. Glad to have it. Update: No problems. Still avoiding gas pumps. 45 mpg average, mostly city. Just a fine car.
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Ford Hybrid CMax SEL
Really fun car to drive specially around town. Always drove a 6 cylinder car but surprise about this 4 cylinder Hybrid very agile and enough power under the hood. If you are looking for a gas miser...this is the car for you.
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Great Car
Bought this about 8 months ago from dealer. It was sold as a used car as the dealer had used it as a service loaner, but it only had 2300 miles on it, so was almost new. I got a great price. So far I am very impressed. Vehicle is very quiet for its compact size and is delivering at or above the EPA ratings. Handling is excellent. Also, it actually doesn't look ugly, unlike the Prius and Prius V.
Great deal on an excellent city car
Incentives for leftover 2016 CMax were fantastic - I was able to lease for three years with a residual that would bring total purchase/lease price under $20K. The car is lacking some items included in 2017 models (e.g. rear camera) but on the whole, the car is technologically light years ahead of my 12 year old Focus. I'm very pleased with the roomy interior while maintaining a compact profile, particularly the ease of getting in and out of the driver's seat. It fills my needs quite well for getting around in city traffic 95% of my driving time.
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Go Cart C-Max
We had a VW diesel wagon with 40+ mpg on highway and we were looking for a replacement with 40+mpg in the city. We get that and can cruise up to 45 mph in electric mode. C-Max handles, accelerates and is quieter than a Prius. Test drove a Prius found it noisy, slow on to the highway, and lacks handling. 50 mpg is great in a Prius, but not fun to drive especially price you pay. The C-Max is fun to drive with some minor annoyances. Location of gas door release is behind the shifter. The screen layout is not flat and requires awkward touching of screen with fingers. Trunk space is small, but meets our needs. Stay away from CMAX Energy if looking for trunk space. There is no available spare tire. Update: Still happy with CMAX. Fits our needs. Gets about 35 mpg combined in winter and about 40+ mpg in summer. Overall since we bought the vehicle we get 39.2 mpg.
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Much Better Than A Prius
I have driven this vehicle for almost 3 years and have been thoroughly satisfied in every way! I love the higher panoramic view compared to the Prius. I pulled up next to a new Prius at the traffic light and was surprised at how much lower the driver sits in the Toyota! Of course, the performance of the Cmax is so much quicker , which is important when merging or passing! The quality, great mileage and comfortable ride will make me keep this car for many years to come! It's 5 stars!!
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our C-Max
We like and enjoy the car very much. This is the third C-Max we have owned. Its economical, comfortable, and the backup, side and rear vision is very good. We also like the rear carrying space.
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The "C" doesn't stand for comfort! (Knee pain!)
Purchased new. Have only 20, xxx miles. Pros: MPG Environmental impact Saves money on gas Easy to get in and out of Relatively quick acceleration Infotainment screen (upgraded to Apple Car Play) Entry keypad Quiet Somewhat smooth ride Heated seats Windshield wiper design Safety Rating Auto Headlights Capless fuel filler Styling Fold/pop-down rear headrests help provide a better view when backing up. Cons: Narrow footwell Pedal placement Seats Ergonomics Convoluted climate controls Build quality Lack of storage space When using small tray/shelf in front of infotainment screen for storage, items tend to hit buttons on screen and turn radio/on and off. Engine/CVT Vibration (look up "CVT rubber-band" effect) Uninspiring CVT feel Engine noise Steering is not precise (seems off/overly sensitive) tends to wander right or left No button to open trunk inside car (have to use key fob) My 2013 Escape had a trunk button inside. The sun visors do not have a side extension like my Escape visor's did, and the visors are much shorter, useless when the sun s at a certain point in the sky. Knee pain: The pedals are too close to each other. The brake pedal is too far to the left. It's not directly under your foot like in other cars. To apply the brake, you have to twist/bend your leg and foot to the left and at an angle that causes knee pain/pressure. The accelerator is placed too far forward. This is also due to the narrow footwell. The seat cushion is a little longer than ones I've sat on in other cars. That could also be causing knee pressure. I also drive a Mazda CX-5 and have no pain whatsoever when operating the pedals or when sitting in the driver seat, even after a 3 hour drive. I also drove a 2013 Escape for 4 years and while the pedals and seats were similar to the C-Max, I was able to get comfortable. It is a problem with this car specifically. Driving position: (Will have to update) As one reviewer stated, the seats are mounted too high, making it difficult to find a comfortable driving position. This is also related to the knee pain. I have tried pumping the seat up and down. I have tried moving it forward and backward. I have also tried adjusting the steering wheel. When I pump the seat up it, feels like I am too close to the ceiling, when I pump the seat down it feels like I am too far away from the steering wheel. I am 5′4″ and not overweight. When I do find a comfortable position, my neck and spine hurt. The seats have poor side bolstering, whenever I go around a turn or winding road, I feel myself sliding out of the seat. They don’t hold you in place very well. The climate controls are poorly designed. I have to take my eyes off the road to change the temp and vent position. Dangerous! Why couldn’t Ford just use knobs?? You have to reach over the shifter and all the way to the right to turn the blower on. The power button should be on the left! The climate control buttons are small and hard to see/feel while driving. The blower is also not powerful and the a/c has a mind of its own making summer driving uncomfortable at times. Build quality: About a year after owning the car, the sunglasses holder jammed and would not close or open properly. The dealer said it was due to a defective latch in the mechanism for the sunglasses holder. We drove with a hole in the roof waiting for the part to come in. The interior door trim and window molding have been loose since the car was relived from the factory. The a pillars make a strange popping/expanding sound when going over bumps. I’ve never heard this in another car, my Escape didn’t exhibit this problem. The dashboard is misaligned around the infotainment screen, there are other little gaps here and there. The paint also chips easily. There is no storage space. They could have found room for a cubby somewhere. There is not much trunk space. A full load of groceries is tight fit. Usually have to fold the back seats down. This car was an upgrade (safety and fuel efficiency) from my Escape. I am glad that it helps the environment and gets great gas mileage. I’m sure the C-Max’s fuel efficiency has already saved lots of money! I also like the safety ratings and the fact that it was easy to add Apple Car Play (videos can be found on youtube). Update: 24,xxx: Driver's side seat-heater seems like it is turning on by itself on low (will have to bring it in to dealer). My lower back was never hot when driving the car before.
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Happy Camper
UPDATE 10/2017: 10k and still very happy! The wife and I traded in our 2014 Subaru Outback for the 2016 C-max Hybrid. Originally we wanted family road trips which made the Outback our best choice. 2 yrs later we changed to RV travel and our Outback became a commuting car for the wife. So we started thinking about changing that out for something we could eventually Flat Tow behind us. The C-max is on the 2016 dingy list and being a hybrid just made it even more interesting to us. I'm tall 6'4" so entering the C-max was a concern but I didn't bump my head while getting in nor was I looking directly into the visor. Amazingly the headroom in this car is simply A+ for tall people, I have a fist worth of clearance. My wife is 5', she likes the taller seating the C-max has over the Prius models. Everything adjustable is able to accommodate both our needs, something the Prius couldn't do. Our research showed the 2016 C-max Hybrid can be used as a Dingy (flat towed behind an RV) double bonus for our future plan's, Prius isn't on that list. We did read of a few people with negative experience with their C-max, but that can happen to anyone. Seeing positive reviews outnumbered the negative. we went ahead and purchased however we did go with the extended warranty, just in case. Wanted a nice Hybrid that we can tow behind an RV (Dingy) this meets our needs. So far, I can say this car has been FUN to drive just like all the Video Reviews said. Most liked features, Sync 3, Great visibility from inside, small blind spot mirror, quiet interior and smooth highway ride. We purchased the 302A package only. If I could think of anything I would want to be added, it would be MEMORY SEATING and LUMBAR for the passenger.
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Love It - Smooth Ride and Save Gas
I purchased the SEL and it is the perfect combination of style, performance, technology. Now add to that a big time gas saver and I Love this car!
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Great car but in need of a couple fixes.
I looked at the C-max on and off for years prior to purchasing one. Like everyone I had heard all the tales of Fords reliability. So, I waited and did my research on the car before spending my money. After a year of ownership and 10,000 miles, I am pleased with my purchase. I have consistently gotten over 600 miles to a tank and have enjoyed the features. The only issue I have is with the electrical system. My display screen on multiple occasions has just turned off then rebooted to the Ford screen. I am not sure what that is about but it is annoying to say the least. I have also read a lot of reviews saying it is quiet. In my experience, it is quiet while idle however I can definitely hear the motor while driving. I do most of my driving on I95 and the C-max is louder than my 10 year old Kia Sorento.
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I average 47 MPG in my 2016
General info: I am older, 5'11", so I have had enough of falling into a car to get in and climbing out to get out. The C-max allows me to ease in and ease out without having to crane my head to the side or down while doing it. I can sit in the back seat, behind the driver seat set at my height, without being all jammed up and plenty of head room in front and back. Seats are comfortable for me to make 10 hour drives and not hurt after or look like a question mark after I get out. Economy: You can't drive it like all gas car, if you want to get the mileage out of it. Do the speed limits, use the cruise as much as possible and coast to slow down to the stop signs and red lights all you can - don't jump on the brakes. After all that's how you get power back in the battery without the motor running. Don't jump on the gas at the green light or leaving the stop sign, unless you have to. Learn how to drive it the right way and 45 - 55 MPG is not hard to get on short hops and around town. Safety: Let's put it this way. I got hit from behind on the hiway by another driver going 90+ mph. I was doing the speed limit, 70. I was in a 2015 C-max - it was totaled instantly. I didn't have scratch, bruise, pain, stiffness the next day or injury one after that. I was fine. The other driver wasn't. I rendered aid to the other driver. I went out and bought another C-Max without a second thought. Wouldn't you?
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Great car!
The fuel economy lacks a little, but still works great as a hybrid vehicle. I haven't found anything that I disliked about the car yet. My only complaint tho is the noise it makes from time to time when it shifts between gas and electric modes.
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Two for the Road!
Earlier this year I took a 2 month 6500 road trip around the USA! My CMax ran the trip without missing a beat, no problems at all and the fuel mileage was awesome. I wish Ford still built these cars instead of hugh trucks and boring SUVs (Updated 11/2022). I have owned two C Max Hybrids, a 2013 and currently a 2016! I enjoy the fuel mileage, the acceleration along with the comfort and quiet of these cars. My 2013 had about 50,000 when I traded it for the 2016. The main difference between the two is the stereo. One thing that wore out earlier than they should have were the Michelin Tires. The ones on my 2013 needed to be changed out at about 30,000 miles. Both cars have average over 42 miles to a gallon. About 1/4 of the miles drive have been with the electric motor. I recommend this model highly. Oh, the hatch and folding seats mean the car can carry lots of stuff. I have even slept comfortably in mine! May, 2023: my car now has 83,000 miles on the odometer and running strong and getting over 43 MPG. All the headlight bulbs have been replaced as one turn single stopped working. The remaining bulbs worked but this hopefully mean that it will be a long time before they need to be replaced. It would be nice if they were still being manufactured but I am looking to getting well over one quarter of a million miles! From the end of July 2023 to mid-September my road trip of 7350 miles went without any problems. I drove to PA, WV, TN, OK, AZ and then home. There was no ZnVH at all. The odometer shows 95,000 miles and my 2016 Ford CMax is running strong. To bad for discontinued this vehicle and decided to build all trucks and SUV's that are inefficient and overpriced and horrible EV's. They lost my business as they are so greedy! As for the high voltage battery it is doing fine!
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Awesome car!
Totally loving this vehicle. I got the energi and have not had to add gas for local commuting. Car is quiet, nice ride, good handling, comfortable, great acceleration. Switchover from electric to gas is seemless. Don’t know why Ford is dropping it. Too bad... this should have been a big winner.
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Great Hybrid
Drive excellent, love the space to get in and out . Don't have to tilt my head to get in the car. Excellent view out . Accelerate fast with spunk.
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Much more comfortable than a Prius
I test drove a Prius and it was okay. Of course its mileage was great, but that was not as important to me as a comfortable ride. I tested the C-Max and I knew there was no competition. The C-Max is comfy, quiet, has great acceleration (which was a surprise) and the mileage I get is anywhere from about 39 mpg up to 47 mpg. The quality of the interior is good- I feel like I am driving a luxury car. The one major complaint I have is that the turning radius is not so great. Other than that I highly recommend.
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Unrepairable
Car purchased in June 2016 at Livermore Ford. It ran less than 40 miles and had to be picked up by a Ford dealership as it would not start. It is now going on seven (7) weeks later and I still do not have the car. Since this happened, both Ford Motor Co. as well as the selling dealership have made many promises. There has been no actual follow-through and I still do not know the exact status of the car, nor have I received any return of payment for the vehicle. It seems that neither Ford, nor the selling dealership, are at all concerned that I paid in full for a vehicle that would not run after 40 miles and that I still do not have after seven weeks. I hope this helps you think twice before purchasing a Ford product! After ten (10) weeks I finally have a car that works rather well. However, the dealership as well as Ford Motor Company made little effort to quickly solve the problem. Adding to the problem, after Ford Motor Company finally resolved the computer-based problem, Livermore Ford did not send the necessary paperwork to enable me to license this vehicle. POOR Service!!
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Suprised
Love the car & its features, but very, very disappointed in the cheap plastic surrounding the rear view mirror. I cannot put up a sun shade without it falling off. Truly, had I known this would have been a deal-breaker. I'm in TX and need to be able to use a shade.
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Peppy, Well Handling Car
I like everything about it except the lack of interior storage space. I wish there were more trays or cubbies.
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Modern look the c-max hybrid
I love my cmax it is simple , but perfect for me. I love the look with a small front grill good looking manufacturer parts. Leather seats are better than the manufacturers . Got added with buying the car. Also got to choose my color of leather for entire interior. The best sales people in LA.
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Gas Saver Max
45 MPG
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Uncomfortable
I drove this 50,000 miles in 1 year as SF Uber/Lyft driver. Good gas mileage. Roomy interior. Hard to sync Bluetooth. Easy to fill gas (no cap) Heavy passenger doors. Slow power lift gate. Small rear storage. Jumpy car. Slow power to pass. Wheels spin on take off and braking, dry & wet roads. Loud turn signal. Uncomfortable seats. Driver seat too high for correct angle of legs to pedals = back pain. Big windshield for good view. Car feels tippy on bumps = low back pain. Windshield wipers bad timing. Nice loud speakers. Ugly side profile of car. Ugly front view of car. Steerng wheel to front tires feels unstable, insecure, esp on highway. First 20,000 miles brakes made awful skid sound when coming to stop at slow speeds. Dealer said "hot spot, can't fix, not dangerous". Seemed like bs.
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C-MAX rock
Fun, dependable, sporty... the perfect car!
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2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid SEL
This rolling computer delivers 41 mpg. No issues after 7500 miles other than a discovery of the need to maintain 40 psi tire pressure.
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One of the Best
This "orphan" hybrid from Ford is one of the best cars I have owned. It is solid, relatively quiet, fast, roomy and economical.
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fun to drive, comfortable, about 40 mpg overall -
Roomy, good visibility, comfortable with leather seats, very peppy - only big complaint is low beam on headlights seems to point down way too much - would want some driver lights added - not a matter of brightness, just aim - high beams are fine - could see myself enjoying this car on long trips, though not quite as much as my 99 Mustang six -
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The best
The seating is comfortable, easy in and out. Good visibility all around. Kind of like a little mini-van. The ride is quiet. The handling is better than anything else I have driven. Passing power is like a V6. Over 100,000 kms and no issues. Except the 12v battery needed replacing. The mpg may not be as high as a tin-can Prius, but there is no comparison.
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From Fiesta ST to C-Max Hybrid
I actually enjoy driving the car. Not very fast but greatly spacious with all sorts of nooks and hidden compartments. It is however an enjoyable drive, it saves me money, and it's better for the environment than all of my previous cars combined. Went from an SRT-4, to Fiesta ST, to a C-max. lol, never saw this coming but happy to be here and happy to be out of the gas only, 93 oct life.
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Like $25 a month in gas$
Some reporting wrong info. 188 HP fact, raised my electric bill by about $16, that's it... Comfort and so far no real problems at all. Oh one, that gas cap. While all the folks are paying $200 a month for gas in a 130 HP vehicle, not me!
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Our little blue gas saver.
We bought our 2016 C-Max new in September of 2016. Me and my wife tested the SE and the plug in Energi. We opted for the SE with no options on it. It's has saved us a lot on gas. We average around 44 mpg, my wife has gotten 49 mpg a couple of times. It has great acceleration gets to 80 mph easily. The only things we wish it had was a backup camera and a shorter turn radius.
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No problems, but lots of road noise
The vehicle is very reliable, and great on gas, but... it has a lot of road noise. And I find the ride harsh/rough, but it corners great. I don't drive much. At 8 years old, it has just over 25000 km, or about 16000 miles.
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Great Value, Fuel Economy & Performance
Great car, especially for the price. Quiet & comfortable. Nice interior. The right balance of fuel economy & performance. Less mileage than some other hybrids, but far better acceleration and does not have rough shifting dual clutch automatic that many others have. Can save $3,000 or so if you opt for SE and get specific desired options. In non-winter driving I routinely avg over 40 mpg. No spare tire, but you can buy compact one online and put in smallish trunk. I did since I would not go on long trip without spare tire. A very underrated car--an advantage for informed buyer. I am a highly satisfied C-Max owner.
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use no gas!
wow!