For drivers living within 8 or 10 miles from work, the 2013 Ford C-Max Energi will most often get them there and back on an overnight charge.
The C-Max was introduced last fall, both as a gas/electric hybrid and the Energi version, which gets extended range with a plug-in electric system.
Ford says the Energi will run up to 21 miles on fully electric power before the hybrid setup kicks in. I drove 20 miles on a fully charged battery pack, then on another charge, at night with the lights and audio on, drove 17.9 miles before expending the all-electric power.
It is quiet and smooth in electric mode, with good acceleration. It paces itself adequately with other traffic away from stoplights.
The battery pack can be recharged in seven hours with a standard 120v outlet or as quickly as 2½ hours with 240v. The car’s plug-in port for the charging cord is in the left front fender.
With the full-electric mode expended and operating in the gas/electric hybrid role, the C-Max carries an EPA estimate of 47 miles per gallon, in city or on the highway; I averaged 42.6 in a combination of both.
The C-Max is a compact wagon, based on architecture of the Ford Focus. More than 100,000 have been sold in Europe since 2010. It is a front-wheel-drive model; all-wheel drive is not available.
The C-Max Energi provided to me is one of 13 plug-in electrics being sold, all in very limited numbers. The C-Max posted the fifth best sales total for June. Chevrolet Volt was the sales leader with 2,698 last month, followed by the Nissan Leaf with 2,225, Tesla S 1,800, Toyota Prius Plug-in 584, Ford C-Max Energi 455, Ford Fusion Energi 390, Honda Fit EV 208, Ford Focus EV 177, smart fortwo EV 53, Toyota RAV4 EV 44, Honda Accord Plug-in 42, Mitsubishi 39 and Chevrolet Spark 27.
Regarding sales of regular gas/electric hybrids, not including the plug-in electrics, the Ford C-Max Hybrid is sixth best seller among approximately 40 on the market. The Toyota Prius Liftback has dominated that market since it was introduced in 2000.
The top 20 hybrid sellers in June were the Prius Liftback with 14,066, Toyota Camry Hybrid with 3,878, Prius C 3,442, Ford Fusion Hybrid 3,057, Prius V 2,987, C-Max Hybrid 2,889, Hyundai Sonata 2,129, Chevrolet Malibu 1,651, Lexus CT200h 1,513, Toyota Avalon 1,394, Lexus ES 1,239, Kia Optima 1,100, Lexus RX450h 900, Lincoln MKZ 768, Buick Lacrosse 619, Honda Civic 568, Toyota Highlander 550, Volkswagen Jetta 438, Honda CR-Z 393 and Honda Insight 384.
Hybrid sales in the U.S. in June totaled 44,924, which accounted for 3.2 percent of the entire new-car sales market for the month in this country.
Performance of the C-Max Energi is very good about town. The ride is a bit rough at times; suspension is firm for the relatively heavy structure.
Seating position is high with fairly good vision. The sharp front slope of the roof creates a small window at the lower end of the A-pillar. The driver’s sun visor is positioned so high, it does little good in the way of sun-block when swung to the side window. In park position, the shifter knob blocks view and some use of buttons and climate controls.
The C-Max is wide and tall and creates lots of room inside. The squeeze comes in the cargo hold, where the electric battery mass eats up lower-end space. It rides on Michelin P225/50R17 tires.
Sticker price on the C-Max Energi SEL climbed to $36,240, with the addition of navigation, premium audio, power liftgate, rearview camera, keyless entry and push-button start.
Notes from e-mail
Q: Your friend, Bud, missed the point of hybrids. It isn’t the 40 highway that is all that different, it is the 36 city. For a lot of people, most driving is either commuting or stop-and-go urban driving. I imagine an all-gas Sonata around town gets quite a bit less mpg than 36. – W.B.
A: The friend wasn’t criticizing the Sonata Hybrid, William, he was pointing out the impressive highway fuel mileage he has attained with the gas version. Unless a Sonata is used only for commuting, as in your point, there is no great distinction in fuel mileage among the Sonatas.
Q: I read your review, Bud, of the Sonata hybrid. I still have my 2003 Sonata, and the main complaint occupants have had about it is the low position of the front passenger seat. Why hasn’t Hyundai changed it? – J.S.
A: I’ll bet, Julie, a power seat will be offered for the passenger side in the 2014 Sonata. It has taken a long while.
Q: Bud, I drive an ’07 Nissan Sentra, and love the keyless entry and ignition with which I can push a button on the door latch to unlock the door and start the car while still keeping the key in my pocket. I wonder what other models offer this convenience. I’m interested in replacing the Sentra with a smaller vehicle, but want to keep that convenience. – T.H.
A: Keyless entry and pushbutton start are offered by almost all carmakers today, Trish. Small cars are good; keep comfort level, too, in mind, though, in selecting that next one.
Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
