A Compact Car for the Masses: 2015 Ford C-MAX

As the leader amongst the hybrid car lines, the Toyota Prius has been touted for many years as the best hybrid simply based on overall fuel efficiency. Even though the Ford C-Max doesn’t outdo the Prius when it comes to fuel efficiency the C-Max offers a great deal more than the Prius could imagine. As a five-door hatchback the C-Max has room for four passengers, cargo and offers a much better driving experience. By sharing a platform with the Ford Focus the C-Max offers plenty to get excited about for anyone looking for a great drive in a car that offers excellent fuel efficiency.

With some excellent style the C-Max offers owners a great looking car along with the fuel efficiency of one of the best hybrids on the market. Along with a nice look on the outside the interior of the C-Max is well-detailed and extremely dynamic in its performance. With the great performance from the 2014 model, Ford made no changes to the new 2015 for either the hybrid or the plug-in versions of the C-Max.

Driving the C-Max is not just another boring drive in a hybrid car that is only interested in fuel efficiency. Instead the C-Max offers a ride that is smooth, energetic, dynamic and comfortable; all things not normally found in a compact car either. The ride in the C-Max is the result of a very enjoyable suspension that quickly responds to the changing needs of the vehicle when driving along a windy road or navigating traffic through city streets. To go along with this dynamic suspension the C-Max has a steering system that quickly responds to all inputs letting any driver enjoy the great feeling of a car that feels like part of the driver on the road. The cabin of the C-Max isn’t one of the quietest, but any group can enjoy their musical choices while cruising around.

With only one engine offered on the C-Max there won’t be any decision to make in order to purchase this dynamic hybrid. This engine is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor assist. Between the two the net horsepower comes in at 188, which is pretty strong for a compact hybrid vehicle, and the torque offered is 129 lb.-ft. This engine is attached to a very efficient continuously variable transmission to make the best use of the hybrid setup possible. With this powertrain at the helm, the C-Max offers fuel efficiency of 42 city/37 hwy mpg for the hybrid model and 40 city/36 hwy for the Energi plug-in version.

For some, small cars can pack a big punch and the interior of the C-Max is an excellent example of this. The interior appears much roomier than the outside of the car would suggest. All surfaces are covered in highly attractive materials and soft surfaces to give the C-Max an interior feel that is much nicer than anyone would think from the outside. To go along with this higher end feeling the C-Max control panel and technology is exceptional. All of this in just the interior and the C-Max even offers plenty of leg and headroom for taller passengers to feel comfortable even with the smaller size. The C-Max has a great deal of cargo configurations to take advantage of as well, giving owners the ability to haul some odd shaped objects home from the store.

To add to the efficiency of this car the C-Max offers a nice aerodynamics and a large front grill to promote better air flow. Looking more like a fusion than other hatchbacks, the C-Max has the added benefit of being a hatchback that gives the added benefits of extra cargo and pass through that hatchback owners enjoy. With smooth lines and easy to enjoy shapes on the C-Max it’s easy to see why so many enjoy this car. the headlights are large and almost cartoon like giving a wide-eyed look to the front of the C-Max. Add a set of multi-spoked wheels to the ride and this car makes sense for first time buyers, students heading off to school, or anyone who has a long daily commute.

The standard features offered for the C-Max come across the trim spectrum offered from Ford. The base model SE shows up with dual-zone climate control, manually adjustable front seats, a 60/40 split rear bench, 17-inch alloy wheels and a six-speaker audio system with voice recognition and a USB port. Moving up the line to the SEL model adds heated front seats, leather upholstery, push button starting and the MyFord Touch infotainment system with an eight-inch touch screen display. The safety features include seven airbags, electronic stability assistance and Ford’s SOS post-crash alert system. Either of these models can make a great choice with the SEL being one with more equipment to enjoy at the base model.

The C-Max offers plenty of optional features to fully make this car one highly enjoyable drive. The optional equipment list includes a panoramic moonroof with a power operated sunshade, a remote start system; touch screen navigation, a foot activated power liftgate, and an active park assist. These features cover both the Hybrid and Energi versions of the C-Max giving owners plenty to enjoy regardless of which one they choose. The C-Max makes a huge impression in a very small package for every owner to make a great impression in a small car.

As a hybrid car the C-Max wouldn’t be worth the chatter if it came with a huge price tag, thankfully this car does not. The base model Hybrid SE starts just below $25,000 making it one of the most reasonable hybrid cars on the market. The SEL comes in only $3,000 more with the Energi plug in arriving near the $32,500 mark. Regardless which model is chosen, the C-Max offers better driving than the Prius and makes a great choice for anyone who has the lengthy drive or simply wants to avoid the gas pump for as long as possible between fill ups.