Driven: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid SEL

?	2013 Ford C-Max SEL Hybrid, five-door, five passenger compact hybrid utility vehicle
	$27,199 base, $32,699 as tested plus freight
	2.0-litre DOHC four - 141-horsepower, 129 lb.ft. of torque and electric motor ? 118 horsepower and 117 lb. ft. of torque. Total 188-horsepower (see note below), 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, continuously variable automatic transmission
	Transport Canada says (litres/100 km): 4.1 city / 4.0 highway (realized 7.1)
	Competition: Kia Rondo, Mazda5, Toyota Prius, Toyota Prius V
	Length: 4,409 mm Width: 2,085 mm Wheelbase: 2,650 mm Weight: 1,660 kg

Ford is taking the hybrid game seriously. In addition to the Fusion hybrid it now offers the C-Max hybrid to be followed almost immediately by a plug-in C-Max hybrid and a plug-in Fusion hybrid.

Ford is positioning the C-Max with Toyota?s Prius firmly in its sights. The C-Max will be available only as a hybrid in two trim levels with several option packages.

The test car, a top level SEL with most of the optional goodies, is on the east coast for a few months as it rotates through the press core in the region. I was the first to have access and will get it back when it has made the rounds and will keep it for a couple of months to assess how a hybrid functions in a Canadian winter.

This first report will give a look at the overall package and initial impressions; we will get back to you in April with a summary report of how it fared over a few thousand kilometres.

The C-Max is built in Michigan on the same C1 global platform as the new Focus. It has been offered on the European market for more than a year with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines. Ford has brought it to North America intact, changing only where necessary to meet our unique crash standards.

The powertrain basics echo that offered on the previous generation Escape. Instead of the 2.5-litre four used there, it has a new generation 2.0-litre four running on the Atkinson cycle ? the engine is tuned specifically for maximum fuel mileage and minimal exhaust emissions.

This results in less power but that deficiency is filled by a two-motor, continuously variable planetary-gear transmission, one motor sends power to the wheels and the other runs the transmission. The Aisin-sourced CVT transmission used in previous Ford hybrids has been replaced by one developed and produced by Ford. The nickel-metal hydride battery pack used previously has been replaced by a lighter, more compact and powerful air-cooled 1.6 kWh lithium-ion unit, comprised of Sanyo batteries positioned under the cargo floor.

The C-Max hybrid will be joined in a few weeks by a plug-in version with a larger battery pack that offers more electric-only operation and can be plugged into conventional 110- or 220-volt outlets for recharging overnight.

The C-Max Energi, as it will be called, will carry a hefty price premium, but buyers in many provinces, not Nova Scotia, will be eligible for rebates of up to $5,808 which pretty much wipes out the increased cost, making the more efficient plug-in C-Max a very attractive proposition.

The C-Max?s tall profile results in exceptional headroom and very easy entry and exit. The upright seating position also requires less legroom. The front seats are comfy and supportive but the split/folding rears are bench-like. The tall roof also means plenty of cargo capacity. Overall there is as surprising amount of interior space and lots of light and visibility.

Ford does excellent interiors and this is a perfect example. The C-Max is more upscale in look and feel than the competition.

The standard equipment list is extensive: Power door locks, windows and mirrors, remote keyless entry, alloy wheels, dual-zone air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player and steering wheel-mounted controls, cruise control, power glass sunroof, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, leather seats, SYNC (Voice-activated connectivity system) and MyFord with 11-cm LCD screen.

The SEL trim level adds a 10-way power driver?s seat, push-button start, heated seats, leather seats, reverse sensing system, satellite radio and perimeter alarm. The test vehicle has a $2,500 equipment package that brought a nine-speaker Sony audio and navigation system, power lift gate, rear view camera and a self-parking system

There are a number of clever touches like an in-floor cargo system and 110-volt outlet in the second row.

The C-Max bristles with all the latest Ford technology including the latest-generation SmartGauge?with EcoGuide which is designed to help the driver get the most from the hybrid system by informing you of instantaneous fuel economy and monitoring how your driving behavior affects efficiency.

The system includes a 'Brake Coach' which helps you optimize power regeneration and electric-only driving range through the braking system. When you come to a complete stop, the display tells how efficient your brake use was. My scores ranged from 70-97 per cent. There are a series of green leaves on the display to the right of the steering wheel that report on your overall performance.

The more leaves and vines displayed, the more efficient your driving has been. I don?t have a very green thumb! One gripe ? the regenerative braking system is extremely touchy, especially when cold, making it almost impossible to perform a smooth stop.

Driving the C-Max is a straightforward proposition, no special talents or steps are necessary. It behaves like a perfectly normal vehicle with the exception of the silence when it runs on electric power only and the aforementioned tricky brake pedal. Transport Canada rates it at 4.0 litres per 100 km on the highway and 4.1 in the city.

But TC ratings are notoriously out of touch with reality. I averaged 7.1 over several hundred winter kilometres almost equally split between city and highway. While impressive that is not outstanding. I got the readout below 6.0 on a couple of tender-footed occasions, but our hilly roads do not provide much opportunity for that. The impressive part is that the 7.1 number showed whether I was in the city or on the open highway.

Ford is taking the fight to Toyota, making a concerted effort at maximizing the user experience of hybrids. The C-Max makes a significant contribution.

(Note: In hybrid vehicles you cannot add the peak horsepower of the engine and electric motor as both reach their peak at different times.)

Source: http://thechronicleherald.ca/wheelsnews/716874-driven-2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-sel

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