MPG-o-Matic 2013 Ford C-MAX SEL Hybrid Review Summary: While it falls short of the mark in cold weather and high speed fuel-efficiency, the Ford C-MAX dominates on every other front. Controversy aside, the C-MAX rolls a respectable level of performance, a solid ride, plenty of comfort, ample technology, and a remarkably roomy interior in a compelling package. Ford touts that the C-MAX is “the fastest-selling hybrid ever at launch, with 8,030 sales in its first two full months on the market in October and November.”
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2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid Gas Mileage Testing Notes
I’m in the midst of an extended two-week test of the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid. Given all the brouhaha in the press lately, I decided to post our fuel economy testing notes, with details on each of the driving segments.
I picked up the C-Max in New York City on the evening of Monday, December 3. The first test run left Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel to the New Jersey Turnpike South to Route 78 West to Route 287 North to Route 202 South, before hitting local streets. I didn’t discover the EcoCruise setting until the highway segment was complete.
1) 12/3 NYC -> Home / Evening – approx 60 miles, 41.8 MPG HVAC on driver + 2 passengers EcoCruise off Target Speed 68, mix of cruise/no cruise, headlamps
The next day, I set out to replicate the high MPG back road/small town cruise that scored exceptionally well with the 2012 Prius C earlier this year. I was able to echo those results.
2013 Lexus GS450h Hybrid Review
MPG-o-Matic 2013 Lexus GS450h Review Summary: With a starting price of $58,950, the 2013 Lexus GS450h is targeted at the more affluent among the eco-conscious crowd. This elegant hybrid sedan makes a design statement unlike anything else on the road, with a positively scrumptious bamboo-trimmed interior. The GS450h’s stirring performance and a combined EPA gas mileage rating of 31 miles per gallon (MPG) is clearly intended to make those who might be shopping the Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec and new Audi A6 TDI clean diesel sedans stop to consider the alternatives.
Why Does Gas Mileage Get Worse in the Winter?
It’s no secret that the fuel economy of any given vehicle will be worse in the winter. It’s not just about the extended warm up time, as some might think. While it’s easy to blame it all on Old Man Winter, there’s a range of specific reasons why we experience lower MPGs at this time of year.
As luck would have it, I’m driving a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid this week. When the news hit the wire today about Consumer Reports failing to hit the official gas mileage estimates, I took it all with a grain of salt. They had similarly poor results with the Prius C earlier this year. Part of the reason why they fared even more poorly with the C-Max may have to do with the time of year. (I’ll address the Consumer Reports issue in a subsequent post.)
The Ford C-Max Hybrid: An Ideal Taxi?
While I’ve seen plenty of Prius taxis in New York City, they always seem to be greatly outnumbered by the traditional Ford Crown Victoria. Landing on the other coast last month proved to be an eye opener. I was taken aback by the sheer number of Toyota Prius taxis gliding about the streets of San Francisco. They were everywhere. Now I’ve never thought of the Prius to be well suited to taxi work from a passengers standpoint, but it’s easy to see the appeal from the fleet owner’s perspective. It comes down to dollars and cents. The drastic improvement in fuel economy between a gigantic sedan with a V8 engine and a (relatively) smaller and lighter vehicle with a hybrid drive train is undeniable.
