In taking aim at the presently premier hybrid on the market, Toyota’s illustrious Prius, Ford again unleashes its capable C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi gas-electric duo for the 2015 model year. Both the Hybrid and the Energi are delivered in compact hatchback garb, and both seat 5 folks in fuel-efficient and fairly comfortable surroundings. And then things get a little weird.
The C-Max Hybrid offers 2 trim levels, the base SE and the up-featured SEL, while the Energi is delivered only in SEL garb. As a traditional hybrid, the 2015 C-Max Hybrid totes a comparatively pint-size lithium-ion battery allowing some 52.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seatbacks folded. The plug-in Energi, on the other hand, lugs a much larger battery pack that lets you carry only 42.8 cubes of cargo capacity with, alas, rear seatbacks that don’t fold quite flat and leave a bi-level space that can lead to awkward loading. Thus, neither C-Max iteration is going to win any prizes for its luggage-bearing volume, but the Energi is especially stingy that way.
No major tweaks are slated for the 2015 C-Max twins, leaving the base Hybrid SE to return with standard 17-inch alloy wheels and a rear spoiler outside, with cloth upholstery, full power accessories, cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering inside. Also along for the Hybrid SE’s ride are such conveniences and creature comforts as Sync infotainment interfaced with Bluetooth hands-free technology, as well as dual-zone climate control and leather and simulated alloy cabin accents. Standard entertainment, meantime, includes a single-CD player with 6 speakers and an auxiliary audio input (USB port).
Moving up to the Hybrid SEL, look for such added standard bling as a power-opening liftgate, leather upholstery, heated front seats with a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a remote garage door opener, rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and an upgraded Sync system featuring improved navigation functions and an 8-inch touchscreen display. Oh, and the SEL also boasts standard satellite radio with 6 months of free service. Of course, features-wise the Energi SEL is a mirror image of its non-plug-in Hybrid SEL cousin.
Noteworthy options in both C-Max variations include HDD navigation, a 9-speaker Sony premium stereo, a rear-view camera, front parking sensors and automated parallel-parking technology. While all of the above available add-ons are delivered in various package deals, a panoramic sunroof and remote engine start are available as standalone options.
Powertrains in both the C-Max Hybrid and its Energi kinsman start with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine and standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). And there the resemblance ends, with the Hybrid packing a gas/electric system that’s rechargeable only via the engine and regenerative braking, while the plug-in Energi can be recharged using an available 240-volt charging system, with a full electrical load taken on in about 2.5 hours.
Look for 188 combined horsepower in both 2015 C-Max variants, with the Hybrid pumping out 121 lb-ft of torque as its Energi co-conspirator puts out 129 lb-ft. Meantime, as mentioned, a 1.4kWh (kilowatt per hour) lithium-ion battery does the job in the Hybrid’s more traditional system, while the Energi totes a king-size 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack that Ford alleges will allow this compact plug-in to travel up to 19 miles on electric power alone.
Finally, besides the usual 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags and dual-row head airbags, both the C-Max Hybrid and the C-Max Energi come with a standard driver’s-side knee airbag. Additionally, both trims boast turn-signal-integrated mirrors, a post-collision safety system and Sync emergency telecommunications. Each SEL trim level, meanwhile, is additionally delivered with standard front fog/driving lights and a remote antitheft alarm.
Test driving a C-Max, it takes 10-15 min for the MPG rating to get out of the teens and into the 30s. But my Prius gets 35-40mpg right from the get-go. I only drive 5-10 min to get to work in the first place, so if the good mpg doesn't happen til later, then I'll stick with a Prius.
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Driver knee airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Bluetooth auxiliary audio input · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Touch screen display radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 6
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.8 · Front brake width: 0.98 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.0 · Rear brake width: .43 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with storage · Dash trim: simulated alloy · Door trim: simulated alloy · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Cargo cover: hard · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Multi-function remote: trunk release · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 115V · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: phone · Storage: door pockets · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: power · Power adjustments: 10
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 2.57
Engine
EV battery capacity: 7.6 kWh · Electric Charge Cord: 120 volt · Electric Motor Battery Type: lithium ion · Electric Motor HP: 118 · Electric Motor Power Output (Kilowatts): 88 · Electric Motor Torque: 117 · Electric motor charger connector: SAE J1772 · Electric motor charging time: 2.5 hours · Electric motor miles per charge: 20 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 141 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 6000 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 129 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 4000
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Rocker panel color: black · Window trim: black
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: motor/generator
In Car Entertainment
Infotainment: SYNC · Infotainment screen size: 8 in.
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 4.2 in. (dual) · Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Manual Adjustments: 4
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Impact sensor: post-collision safety system · Parking sensors: rear · Programmable safety key: MyKey
Seatbelts
Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat manual adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.7 · Turns lock-to-lock: 2.4
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Stabilizer Bar: diameter 25 mm · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Stabilizer Bar: diameter 22 mm · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link
Telematics
Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: with washer