Overview & Reviews

Tall-roofed, space-efficient wagons like the Ford C-Max Energi are very popular family vehicles in Europe but are a rarity in the United States. Add the fact that the C-Max Energi is also a plug-in hybrid and it's obvious this Ford is far from a conventional choice.

Nevertheless, the Ford C-Max Energi has a lot of appeal for families on this side of the Atlantic as well. It's exceptionally fuel-efficient, drives smartly and has a stylish and well-made interior. Its plug-in hybrid design also provides the potential for much lower fuel consumption than other family vehicles you might buy. The main downside is that the Ford C-Max Energi is a lot more expensive than the typical hybrid car.

Current Ford C-Max Energi Specs
The Ford C-Max Energi is a four-door wagon/hatchback with seating for five. It is sold in a single, loaded SEL trim level.

Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition and entry, rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, Ford's Sync voice-activated controls and the MyFord Touch touchscreen interface. Major options include a navigation system (coupled with premium audio), Ford's nifty hands-free power liftgate (bundled with a rearview camera) and an automatic parallel parking system. A panoramic sunroof is a stand-alone option.

Of course, the big story on the Ford C-Max Energi is its plug-in hybrid powertrain. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with an electric motor provides an estimated 188 horsepower. Ford claims the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid can travel up to 21 miles and at speeds approaching 80 mph in all-electric mode. Once that electric driving range is depleted, the vehicle operates as a standard hybrid, using the electric motor only to assist the gasoline engine under certain conditions and to recover electricity generated during braking. Using a 240-volt charging system, fully recharging the battery pack only takes about 2.5 hours.

Electric-only driving range of that magnitude allows the Ford C-Max Energi to deliver one of the market's best overall fuel-efficiency ratings, making this family wagon a very appealing choice – especially for those with shorter commutes. However, the C-Max Energi costs more than similarly sized conventional hybrids as well as traditional wagons, crossovers and minivans that offer more space. In addition, the jumbo-size battery pack eats up a large portion of the wagon's potential cargo space.

Underway and on a fully charged battery, the C-Max Energi typically is propelled only by the electric motor for several miles. The wagon remains blissfully quiet and performance is energetic. You'll have no problem merging into fast-moving traffic or pulling away from a standstill. Only if your right foot asks for more thrust than the electric motor can provide is the gasoline engine awakened to provide support. The C-Max Energi also handles pretty well as hybrids go, though it's not overtly sporty and its regenerative brakes also require some acclimatization.

Once the hybrid battery pack is drained, the C-Max Energi's driving appeal fades slightly. The four-cylinder engine has to do the work of moving the car's bulk (those batteries add quite a few pounds) without the help of the electric motor. If you try to accelerate hard, the engine can get rather loud and you'll likely also hear some unseemly groans. Although this kind of behavior is common in hybrids, it definitely makes you yearn for the next recharge. As consolation, the C-Max Energi achieves great fuel economy, as once it's out of all-electric mode and into normal hybrid mode it rates an EPA-estimated 43 mpg combined.

From behind the wheel, the Ford C-Max Energi feels a lot like a small crossover SUV. There's good legroom and shoulder room up front, and the seats are very supportive. They're also mounted high, combining with a large windshield and side windows to create a commanding view of the road. Although the dash layout can look a bit confusing at first, time and familiarity with the intricacies of the MyFord Touch interface clear up some of the initial bewilderment. Rear seat legroom is good even for adults, and there's an abundance of headroom thanks to the tall wagon profile. Folding the rear seats increases the cargo capacity to 42.8 cubic feet, which is about 20 cubic feet shy of a Toyota Prius V or a typical small crossover SUV. Also, the load floor isn't flat when the seats are folded, due to the battery pack, which creates a high shelf that sits about a foot higher than the load floor.

Used Ford C-Max Energi Models
The Ford C-Max Energi debuted for the 2013 model year. There have been no significant changes since.

User Reviews:

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  2015 Ford C-Max Emergi - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By Mike - November 19 - 7:55 pm

  I have owned over 35 vehicles in my life. Cars, trucks and everything in between including a Nissan Leaf. This is without a doubt the best vehicle I have had so far. Great interior and comfort. Great stereo system. Room for 4 tall adults easily. Fantastic visibility. Great power and handling. Fantastic gas mileage. I average between 58mpg and 65mpg on my daily drive to work and back. My only complaint is the huge battery takes up most of the cargo area and for the price of this vehicle it should have a backup camera included but it does have backup sensors. This is a fantastic vehicle and I do not understand why Ford does no advertising on it. I hope they are not going to phase it out because that would be a huge mistake.

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  CMax energi 86mpg - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By dree - September 22 - 5:26 am

  Owned Cmax since 1/1/13 you will get this mileage (85mpg and increasing) if you drive less than 40 miles between charges with like 1/2 freeway. If you drive alot more than that a day you will probably do better with another car. Nice drive and havent been back to dealer yet.

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  9-Months and 42,000 miles on the CMAX Energi - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By middleof - September 17 - 3:02 pm

  I purchased my Energi in August 2013. So far the car has been flawless other than some bugs in the "Sync" system that have been fixed by a software update. I typically drive 200 miles per day on Southern California freeways commuting to various construction sites. I often drive into Los Angeles, the deserts and mountains for work. This car is very comfortable at freeway speeds, where I drive with the flow of traffic, often 80 mph. At the speeds I drive and distances between charges, I am very happy with my 42+ mpg. I am by no means a hyper-miler, and I carry hundreds of pounds of gear in the car every day.

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  Great Commuter car with questionable interior qual - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By NAIR - September 15 - 2:08 am

  Leased a 2015 C-Max. One month after the purchase, noticed that the interior trim fit and finish is on par with the late 90s Hyundais. The trim is literally falling apart. Glad that I leased this car instead of buying it. Pros : Roomy interior with a good ambience Sync is not as bad as people say it is. It does its Job and is a decent system My 65 miles round trip has been netting me 55 Mpg (Not too bad but should have been more for a PHEV) Cons Big battery look away what should have been a generous cargo space. (Better than Fusion Energi or Accord Hybrid though) Questionable interior quality NO SPARE TIRE!!! This is my first domestic purchase and will see how it holds up for 3 years!!!! Have had this car for and a half Still love this car Pros + The interior passenger volume of this car is deceptively large as a 350 pound coworker fits in this car with no issues. + Very peppy engine + Massive windshields make for excellent visibility. + Average Mielage of around 50 - 55 Mpg with a total range of 650 - 700 Miles between fill ups + Kids Love the Ambient Lights + Love the rain / speed sensing wipers Cons - Gas only mileage is lower than promised ( 35 actual Vs 47 Promise ) (I had a lead foot though) - Scheduler for charging and AC do not work even after 3 dealership visits (I blame the dealership Autonation ford for this) Over all makes a very good commuter car. Ford please update this car since competitors like Chevy volt and Prius prime makes newer / updated and better products now

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  I love my C-MAX Hybrid - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By new_to_ford - April 22 - 8:36 pm

  This car is everything I hoped it would be. Im really pleased with it. Im a first time Ford buyer and if Ford keeps making cars like this one, Ill buy more.

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  Impresive - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By Adel - March 6 - 6:27 pm

  Have had the C-Max for 18 months now. Its been a great ride, very fun, quick and feels great to drive. A very good job from ford, everything feels great and such a good job of automating the car where lights, wipers and everything is automatic. The car is very well executed, although CVT, it feels right and has good acceleration. Power and handling both are good up to 90 MPH and above that this is not so fun, making it better suited for City and traffic, particularly great electric only ride in heavy traffic with out turning on the engine at all up to 85 MPH. Being in LA, have just done 20,000 miles and looking forward to many more. This is no prius, the higher seating, weight and drive feel more like a cross between a mini minivan and a hot hatchback (which is very heavy at almost 4,000 pounds). My best tank MPG was about 85 MPG, almost 1,100 miles a 12 gallon tank and least has been around 65 MPG. I am due for a second oil change shortly, making it 10,000 interval for maintenance which is always a good bonus. Not much I would fault the car for, maybe a bit higher ride and ground clearance be good but I do like the ride. I got the plug in, but the hybrid only ones were more fun, much lighter and sharper rides. I do have passengers often and the back seat is very comfortable. Ford has a winning formula for the car of the future, size, power and the whole package.

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  Give it a Test Drive, 2015 Ford C-Max Energi - 2015 Ford C-Max Energi
  By Max - December 13 - 7:00 am

  I own a 2015 Ford C-Max Energi, it now has 20,000 miles. The C-Max only needs one oil change per 10,000 miles that cost around $40. Rides and handles good with peppy acceleration. The power adjustable leather driver’s seat is super comfortable. The dealer convinced me to buy the premium extended warrantee because it’s a $32,000 car. But some of us in CA get $10,000 in credits so the C-Max Energi only cost me $22,000. So for driving comfort, handling and reliability I give it 5 stars. The only thing I dislike is the NAV and clunky radio interface. In the 2017 models they have a better system. I looked at the Nissan Leaf, low range and lower crash test. The Chev Volt is more of a sports car, low to the ground and only seats 4, the 2017 seats 5 if your passengers are small. The C-Max is higher like a Honda CRV and has lots of head room for tall people. Short people will like that driver’s seat will adjust way up. The backup camera works good and it’s nice to be able to swing your foot to open the power lift gate. The key fob is big but it never needs to leave your pocket or purse. The trunk space is small but you be amazed at what you can fit in the C-Max. I can fit 2 adults, 3 kids, large cooler with drinks and snacks, 5 folding beach chairs, 1 beach tent and umbrella, 5 beach towels and 3 foam boogie boards. The C-Max Energi is only cost effective if you get good rebates and have cheap electricity under .15 per Kilowatt. Otherwise your better off just buying a C-Max Hybrid or Fusion Hybrid. I use one tank of gas per month at $33. I plug-in whenever the car is in the driveway so I can do all my local driving using the electricity from the solar system. I was getting ripped off and paying .40 kwh, but now I have solar so it’s about .09 kwh. I also installed the 220V charger so it only takes 2.5 hours for a full charge. I can go 18-22 miles on only electric. The yearly cost for 15,000 miles, based on $2.60 for gas and .15 kwh, 60% Highway & 40% Local is about $800 for gas and electricity for the C-Max Energy. The cost for the C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid is about $1000 per year. My fuel cost using Solar is about $396 for Gas and $240 for electric, or $640 per year.

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  Best hybrid weve had - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By jhoxy - November 27 - 11:59 pm

  Have been driving this car for about 6,000 miles without a problem. With the federal tax credit and CA rebate, the cost is the same as the regular CMAX hybrid. Nice seating position, pleasant interior, good pickup, and after figuring out the battery limitations, getting about 80-90 mpg in my daily 25-30 mile commutes. The car is very quiet and reasonably pleasant even on 400 mile drives (although only get about 38 mpg on gas alone @ 70 mph). The extra battery does limit space and may be a deal breaker if you have a family of 4. Much nicer drive than our prior Prius and Camry hybrids. hybrids

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  Ford does not solve the many problems this car has. - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By nymphfisher - November 21 - 1:03 am

  The Ford "Sync" feature does not work properly. The voice recognition feature does not understand anyone I know. Ford is aware of the problem and has installed several software updates, it still does not work. This makes the GPS feature useless. If GM "On-Star" is a "10", I would rate the Ford Sync a 1. It is very frustrating to try to use. The car has just stopped running on two occasions and required towing back to dealer. I was told there was a "computer glitch". The car has NO SPARE TIRE!!!!! No jack or lug wrench. They put a can of "fix a flat" under the seat and if that doesnt work, you will need to be towed!!! How stupid is that????

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  LOVE LOVE LOVE my C-Max Energi - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By rlt7020 - November 15 - 5:02 am

  Stepped out of an 11 Prius lift gate into the C-Max Energi. No comparison. Build quality on the Energi is superb, not the tin can experience I left behind. Dont get me wrong; the Pri was a great car, but this car should have a Lincoln badge on it. C-Max feeds data and info to me I have craved. Ive learned to finesse the pedal to maximize range & you will, too. More mass with this car equals better coasting and a solid solid feel. I catch myself having qualms about being in a mini-SUV b/c of the higher seating position, then remind myself its OK - the seating position and view is awesome. Interior quality is upscale. I thank Ford for giving us in the USA a taste of the European Focus.