Overview

What's New for 2018

Ford produces two trim levels for the C-Max: SE and SEL. SE models come with standard equipment like 17-inch alloy wheels, blind spot mirrors, power windows, power locks, dual zone automatic climate control, cruise control, driver’s seat height adjustment, tilt and telescope steering wheel, voice controls and Bluetooth connectivity via Sync and a sound system with six speakers, CD player and auxiliary input. Optional equipment comes in packages. A Power Liftgate and Rear Park Aid package comes with a powered liftgate, rear parking sensors and ambient interior lighting. The MyFord Touch package comes with the MyFord interface, a gauge cluster that displays information about the hybrid powertrain, satellite radio and more Sync functions. Navigation is available when both the MyFord Touch and Power Liftgate and Rear Park Aid packages are added. A Winter package adds heated side mirrors, heated seats, side indicators and puddle lamps. SEL models come with the same equipment as SE models, including the optional equipment (minus the powered liftgate and navigation system, which come as options) plus automatic wipers, foglights, keyless entry and ignition, heated front seats, power adjustable driver’s seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror and leather upholstery. A Premium Audio and Navigation package comes with navigation plus a Sony sound system with nine speakers. The Hands-Free Technology package adds a backup camera and a powered liftgate that opens if you wave your foot under the back end of the car. A Parking Technology package comes with an automatic parallel parking system and front parking sensors. Standalone optional equipment for both trim levels includes a panoramic sunroof and remote ignition. A Ford C-Max comes with a factory invoice of about $25,000 for an SE model and an MSRP of about $26,500. The SEL trim level adds about $3,000 to the vehicle’s MSRP. Remember that at your Certified Dealer you can expect to experience a straightforward car shopping experience and a no-hassle price with built-in savings.

The Ford C-Max comes with a hybrid powertrain. A 2.0-liter four cylinder engine produces 141 horsepower and 121 pound-feet of torque. The engine works with an electric motor that receives power from a lithium-ion battery pack. Put together, the engine and motor produce a maximum 188 horsepower. The only transmission choice is a continuously variable transmission that sends power to the car’s front wheels. EPA-estimated fuel economy for the C-Max Hybrid comes in at 47 mpg in city, highway and combined driving.

Inside, the C-Max is covered with black surfaces and silver accent pieces. Surfaces are soft to the touch and have an overall feeling of good quality to them. Ford has assembled the interior so everything fits snuggly and nothing rattles when the car hits a pothole in the road. The overall look of the car’s interior is pretty futuristic without being too zany. The touchscreen interface has a flat almost tabletop surface in front of it with some controls that resemble an old arcade video game. Opting for the gauge cluster with the hybrid powertrain means there is only an analog speedometer while the rest of the cluster is digital and so can be customized by the driver. Drivers even learn how to drive for better fuel economy thanks to a visual guide that takes the form of leafs. As is the case in other Ford vehicles, the MyFord Touch system controls are hard to use since they sometimes work and sometimes do not respond to your touch. Not only that, the system is also pretty hard to navigate. Fortunately the optional Sync system helps simplify things, allowing the driver to control many functions by voice instead of having to deal with the temperamental touchscreen interface. Not only that, but the Sync system also allows drivers to customize the menu setup for greater ease of navigation. The overall interior size of the C-Max Hybrid is fairly large. The driver and front passenger both have plenty of space and enjoy a high ride height that rivals compact SUVs. Rear passengers also enjoy a considerable amount of space, despite the car’s smaller exterior dimensions, especially when it comes to headroom. The only real drawback when it comes to space is the large battery pack protruding from the floor of the cargo area. A rectangular section of the battery juts up several inches tall just behind the rear seats, making it difficult to lay large items flat with the rear seats folded down. Still, cargo capacity measures 24.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 52.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.