2013 and 2014 Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-In Hybrid Drive Review & Road Test

Alex L. Dykes takes the all-new, PLUG-IN hybrid C-MAX Energi out for a drive. We talk infotainment, drivetrain, seating, cargo and give the C-MAX our exclusive Trunk Comfort Index.
Music by Kevin MacLeod
Statistics powered by ChannelMeter channelmeter.com

[@brucefarber9875]

9 months and I have filled the gas tank 4 times. My commute is 22 mi one way, I recharge at work, have only used the 110V charger. QUIET, VERY QUIET. While not a universal car like my previous 2004 Prius, this car is great for anyone with a commute under about 25 to 30 miles. Average MPG over 8000 miles for me is a little under 150 mpg. Cargo room? I can get in a large Costco load with no loss of visibility. Besides, it has a GREAT rear view camera. This Energi trim level is loaded - great stereo, voice command, nav system! - and my net was $28k with California 8% tax, less than I paid for my 2004 Prius new. Great phone app to check charge level, remote start, etc. 6 ft 2 in tall - still have head room while wearing a hat!

[@maxnzr378]

Bruce Farber are you for real??? 4 times???

[@andychampion8494]

The funnel is to refuel using a gas can. Ford's "easy fuel" capless gas tank uses a seal that can be damaged if a gas can spout is inserted into it directly without that special funnel.

[@GlennPearsonDIY]

I love my Ford C-Max Energi. Because of my commute and my driving style, I am able to steadily get 30 miles on EV only. My average right now is 70.8 MPG for the last 547 miles. I'm very happy with the car. And I love that is has plenty of get up and go when I need it. Much more responsive and powerful than my prius was. Very fun car, nothing to complain about.

[@rafacq]

Sad to see Ford discontinue the CMAX. Had my 2014 Energy for 42 months now and just love it! Current MPG average since I bought it is 108.9mpg.

[@sovereignrightbeautiful1960]

I bought a 2013 used and it has 162,000 miles. I got 1300 miles on my first tank and averaged about 108 mpg. So far everything is good. I love this car so far

[@Veronica-yd5dz]

@@sovereignrightbeautiful1960 how did you do that?

[@rjvicious3317]

@@Veronica-yd5dz dive it at 60mph in the highway

[@mhchoudhurymd]

Great review for a great car We have enjoyed our Cmax 2015 with great gas mileage and easy battery and generally smooth driving experience. Thanks.

[@liamselwyn]

I rented a regular CMAX and just loved it. I really don't like the way car makers are shrinking the windows, and the visibility out of the Cmax and the interior design are top notch. It felt really luxe. I have Nissan Leaf now, but my range is starting to decrease and I'm thinking of the CMAX energi as the best compromise from full electric. Thanks - great review.

[@dougmartin9834]

The Volt has an unusable back seat, and sits quite a bit lower than the C-Max. I've test driven both, and I find the C-Max to be zippy and spacious, and the back seat is very comfortable. For me, the Volt's back seat is a deal killer.

[@MrIridium192]

I've never seen better reviews then those which Alex makes... Alex you're THE BEST! Thank you for super informative videos!!!

[@terryseviltwin]

I bought a used Cmax plugin and I love it!!! I don't know why they haven't caught on.... It is far more luxurious than my Prius was.

[@wade_says]

terryseviltwin We have a C Max and 2010 Prius. I hate driving the Prius since we got the C Max. It’s amazing

[@TheBournepriest]

This one is like in the middle of being a Volt and a Prius. I just got one since I like the middle path. Thanks Alex for the detailed review. As a field tech, this will be handy since there is more room for equipment compared to the other plugs/hybrid and I get a carpool pass. With the tax credit ($4007 from IRS), state rebate ($1500 for California), and if you are lucky with cash bonus from Ford ($3k - $4k), this car ends up being $23k - $25k. And if the interest from the initial purchase is higher than you would like, refinance with your credit union. =)

[@rafacq]

Bourne Priest my 2014 CMAX Energi came out to $21,457, after Ford & dealer incentives, Fed tax credit and Texas rebate! Plus Ford 0% financing... no brainer. Also financed the $0 deductible ext warranty, got it too! Love my CMAX.

[@typhoon5000]

FYI, the funnel is for defeating the flapper door in the capless fuel filler in case you have to put gas in it with a jug.

[@goropeza101]

I bought a 2013 Cmax energi,I haul pizzas for a living and my car achieves 425 miles of city driving and uses just 7.8 u.s.gallons! I was going for the Jetta TDI but that car achieves only 27mpg in city driving plus diesel cost more! I wanted to buy and convert the TDI to burn waste veggie oil but that would void the warranty. I love my Cmax!

[@jeromep]

I was lucky enough to rent a regular C-Max last year while on vacation. We had it 5 days and it was a joy to drive, a lot of fun to drive and handled very well. I felt there was more than enough power, and it was much more responsive than my daily driver, which is a Prius. This video/review has been very helpful, especially in showing the differences in cargo area volume on account of the much larger battery. It is nice knowing that it rides smoother because of the extra weight; I do enjoy a smoother ride that you would see out of a larger vehicle. Great video.

[@stannovacki2406]

I bought my C-Max Energi expressly because it isn't a Prius, it's quieter, more comfortable, and can carry more passengers. I drove from DC to Richmond with four passengers and no complaints. As my sister described it, "it doesn't feel like a go-kart" I like it!

[@hasanhepateskan6506]

very nice review, thanks Alex

[@brdavis]

For the question he had of where to put the rolled cover if you have multiple suitcases. It slides under the back seat. That's why the back seat has all that space under it.

[@rafacq]

BR Davis thanks, I ve had my Energi 3 1/2 years, did not know the cargo cover fits under the rear seat! Great tip.

[@bsharporbflat]

I own one for 8 weeks 4000kms, 120$ gas, 3.5l/100km....about 70 miles /galon...love the drive and comfort

[@turbalejo41]

Nice review!

[@turbalejo41]

Hi Kley. Awesome!!! all the best to the family...

[@highlandersh44]

I have a 2017 and get up to 4000 miles per tank of gas (6 months per tank), I'm 6'5" slightly ♿ , I love this car, i've had 18mins and filled the tank 5 times.

[@maxnzr378]

highlandersh44 filled it five times in eighteen minutes?

[@janmcgill]

@@maxnzr378 Pretty sure that was a typo for months.

[@maxnzr378]

Jan McGill yeah thanks for noticing😂😂

[@janmcgill]

max nzr You’re welcome 😂😂😂

[@highlandersh44]

@@janmcgill have to watch auto correct.........I bought my cmax inaug 2017, July of 2020 I have bought 5 tanks of gas and still have half tank of my fifth tank left

[@Jasta1122]

The backseat in my Volt is perfectly fine. It also almost covers my commute in EV mode and costs 1.60 to fill every night. I pump gas very infrequently and the carpool lane sticker saves me an hour a day in traffic. Decent handling, amazing savings on gas, no maintenance, carpool lane stickers and much faster and a better handler than any Prius! Is there anything more to say. Oh yeah, 4900 miles on 16 gallons of gas and not one reliability issue. Try that Prius.

[@passioncoaching]

LOL - love how you popped out of the cargo area!

[@michelsoned]

I have owned the Energi now for a week, and I would say this review is very reflective of my experience so far. I did drive the hybrid and Energi before deciding on the latter, and they do drive a bit differently. Most of my driving is about a 25 mile commute each day, and 5-10 miles for shopping. So far I am almost all electric. In addition to the tax credit on the Energi from the feds, California has an additional credit. You can also get 30% tax credit on the 240 volt home charging station.

[@AlohaBiatch]

love the videos! Videos with lots of detail are always the best!

[@mb013962]

awesome videos

[@The8BitGuy]

Test drove one of these the other day. I was disappointed with the "EV Now" mode because in pure EV mode it has almost no acceleration power. Normal drivers will need to keep in in "auto" mode so the engine can come on and supplement power for acceleration. My Volt could run circles around this thing in all-electric mode.

[@JeffKubel]

I wish GM would do away with or modify the T battery design to allow a three-passenger bench in the rear. The Volt is almost perfect but the fact that it's a four-seater and has a lousy center stack is holding me back from considering it. But likewise, the totally weak electric motor and small pack size on the C-Max almost disqualifies it as well.

[@Volted2012]

***** How many times do you transport five people in a car? Yes, it's a bit of a drawback, but then again, is it worth resisting the Volt? It runs very well. Oh, and I'm up at 250+mpg. The only car that delivers more than it promises. If you use it for its intended driving pattern. Even in RE-mode I get around 43mpg+. So far I can't really tell that exactly because I actually rarely need the ICE.

[@JeffKubel]

electrictroy2010 Ford Focus Electric: 23kWh battery, 5 seats. Nissan LEAF: 24kWh battery, 5 seats. KIA Soul EV: 27kWh battery, 5 seats. Chevy Volt: 16kWh battery, 4 seats. Everyone else has figured out a way to configure their battery to prevent losing out on passenger seating- most with batteries far larger than the Volt's, so I'm really hoping when the Volt II comes along, they will consider their competition when designing the battery layout.

[@krisinman9819]

I own a C-Max Energi and have spent a lot of time driving a Volt which was a company car. To me the EV mode has more than adequate power, probably cause I don't drive like any idiot. And no, your volt can only run circles around it when in EV mode. Overall, the C-Max Energi is faster.

[@paulwblair]

***** My previous car was a 2004 Hyundai Sonata, which has the traditional bench seat of the back, but in ten years of owning it, never carried five people, nor did even even consider it. Squeezing an adult into the middle of a rear bench seat of a mid-size sedan is possible, but not something most people do.

[@prettyblueplanet]

Well done!

[@timskolds2508]

I love driving this car, I can get to work on the other side of town, charge it up, and then drive home and charge it overnight. I live in Colorado and I was driving to Winter Park this summer, and with the braking charge, I was able to drive electric from the top of Trail Ridge Road all the way to Grand Lake.

[@butipasila]

Hi. May I know how much you pay to fully charge the car for the full range of about 20 miles? DC charging come out to be more economical than the l2 charging?

[@timskolds2508]

Ted Schactimera 4$ at the charging stations in our town

[@butipasila]

Tim Skolds so is it safe to say $8 for a 40 or so miles roundtrip per day?

[@timskolds2508]

Ted Schactimera Yes

[@krisschedler]

+Ted Schactimera ... wait, so $8 to charge battery to go 40 miles huh?? at $2 per gallon for gas, that is 10 MPG equivalent... something is wrong here!!

[@lakeseminole]

What a car!

[@yakuzahi]

You can shut the AC vent in the Prius by turning it all the way to the left side.

[@clubonetwo]

Hey turbalejo41: I got this car about 2 months ago. Loving the car pool lane.

[@pioneer7777777]

Not sure how the Volt is overpriced. Compare it to other straight electric vehicles and it's about par for the course considering it's range. Also, it's not just a "hybrid" it's a plug-in electric hybrid. There is a significant difference in terms of powertrain operation.

[@samuelseidel6148]

In Europe these are rated to tow 3500lbs, I was thinking about towing a 2400lb small car with it with a surge braked trailer.

[@bstringf]

Wait, you only tested phones and tablets using the second most popular smartphone/tablet ecosystem? Great video and great review other than that, forgetting about the majority.

[@bladerunner5680]

Where can I look online for a 2013-2015 CMAX hybrid electric car. I live in South Florida. I am retiring at the end of this month and in January plan to replace my junky 2000 honda!

[@IrisMG]

What about the battery drain issue

[@fernsemer]

The biggest problem with batteries is where to put them. Traditional auto companies never seem to learn. Tesla got it right ,,, put them in the bottom of the vehicle. Then there won't have to be so many compromises to be made.

[@brdavis]

The Tesla doesn't have a gas tank to deal with. The C-max is based on gas/diesel C-max they've had in Europe for years so it's not a bottom up design. FYI the diesel gets as good of fuel economy as the hybrid.

[@tropicMTV]

there was an accident , Tesla bump over a piece of metal and baterry exploded check videos unbelievable not lying

[@krecikowi]

and Tesla is DESIGNED to be battery powered (and cost $60000+), those hybrid/plugins are using the same design as regular, non-hybrid cars :).

[@Able_Hotel42]

Honestly has anyone had any problems from their Cmax? I am looking at a 2014 model energi, it has 129,xxx miles on it but looks and seems to run great. I need the vehicle for work only I do a lot of driving averaging 2500 miles (all city) a month. They want $10000 for it.

[@ricardo19851]

Anyone still has the ford hybrid? Looking.at one with 122000km for 8899 certified in Ontario Canada is that a good deal?

[@ronhobyak9902]

I bought a used 2013 CMax Hybrid SEL (No plug-In) in 2021. So far it is only getting 29 to 33 MPG overall. New plugs, New oil, New air filter, Good tires, Average miles. The gas engine kicks in a lot more than I thought it would below 40 MPH and I don't push it hard to go or stop. Last owner bought it new and was a little old lady. It seems to be in great condition and I like the car and how it drives except for the way it brakes it takes getting used to and the MS Sync / radio system had to be rebooted by pulling a fuse as it had stopped working. She even wrote a note about this problem in the owners manual. Any suggestions as to how I can get my MPG up ? I tried premium gas and fuel injector cleaner all ready with minimal results. All in all I am content with MPG as my 2012 4x4 Jeep only averages around 12 to 14 MPG.

[@flashoflight8160]

If anything remotely related to SYNC breaks like the backup camera, always factory reset the SYNC before replacing anything. It's because the data bus is slow and buggy and it gets worse over time until factory reset. Congrats on the used Cmax.

[@michaeld954]

No spare tire?

[@FelixPfaltermann]

Crazy For You by Madonna- Great Vision Quest song! Great review. Thanks.

[@littleromeo81]

So plug in cars have no gas tank to put gas it only a plug in for electricity

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Plug in hybrids use both gas and electricity, the pure electric vehicles are known as EVs. It's all a game of words.

[@Grent66]

No, in fact it's only about 2 and a half times as hard.

[@Dave23547]

From what you told us, the C-Max doesn't sound like it is better than a Prius; and you give the impression that the C-Max is not as good as a Volt. So ... I guess, this is not the plug-in vehicle to purchase.

[@DJTEVAdotCOM]

Since when Engineer decided 20 miles is a good average for city plug in?? Is it really that hard to make 50 miles average plug in??

[@Poepad]

Battery cost at the time, compliance cars. At least the Volt was made as a plug in. Cmax was converted.

[@lakeseminole]

I can't fit comfortably in the Prius. I opened the door, sat, looked and exited in 5 seconds. Can't compare to the Ford.

[@WhiteGravey]

3:40 why does that shot creep me out?

[@1989rs500]

FORD is awesomeeeeeee...............they have made a claim that they will become the best value for money automaker in the world, i thinkwith the new set of vehicles they r on track 2 their goal

[@experimentallove]

@jose pedro LOLOLOL the volt?! the most overpriced hybrid on the market. why do you think GM had such a surplus of volts at the end of 2011?

[@DBSpy1]

To many parts to go wrong,and since its a Ford they will. However,the foot open trunk mechanisms is nice.

[@waiteswaite]

You're wrong this is one of the best cars I've ever owned and I've had it for a couple of years now and I have a hundred and ten thousand miles on it. Not one thing is went wrong or broke.

[@lisaputson7116]

How come you yanks get it before everyone else . Electric cars in England are years behind you ...

[@TheBikemaster94]

Prob politic related due to clean energy policies , Diesels are more popular for Europe & UK

[@im1greatman]

No, not at all. They're what I like to call, price gouging.

[@lexxx666777]

What a BS. If i really wanted to have mostly electric car without being worried about running out of charge i would buy VOLT not LEAF not C-max not Prius.

[@seanguerra8934]

I don't love it.

[@mbaxter22]

Sounds like a decent concept. Did they have to make it so godawful ugly?

[@babyoneking87able]

ford can never compete with toyota, everyone knows toyota is more reliable, I will stick with the prius.

[@hunterkyle2021]

In normal gas cars I 100% agree but if you look into Ford hybrid history they are actually generally more reliable than Toyota hybrids (but both are great). The Fusion and Escape hybrids are going 400k+ miles on original everything including traction batteries whereas the Toyota hybrids will require new batteries by then

[@sovereignrightbeautiful1960]

There is no doubt the Prius outsold the Ford C-Max buy a massively large margin. I love the Prius and had three of them at one time. Two of them got wrecked and I'm glad that they are also fairly safe vehicle's for their small size. That being said now I have two Ford C-Max and one of them is the Ford C-Max Energi. We really like these cars also. In fact at this point in time my Ford C-Max Energi is is my favorite hybrid car. I had wanted to buy a Chevrolet Volt but I buy used cars. I bought my 2013 Ford C-Max Energi for a walk out price of 5890 but it had a hundred and sixty thousand miles on it. Unless I'm missing something it's still has a new feel to it and that's true. Maybe the previous owners really took care of it. We'll see and I'll try to keep people posted

[@halaheleu7013]

@@sovereignrightbeautiful1960 How is the c max working out ...Any regrets?

[@a2isha]

@@sovereignrightbeautiful1960 can you give an update? I just got one used and love it. It's sad they dont make them anymore, if something happens to this one i will be devastated

[@marcosramos4596]

Better buy than the Ford Fusion Plug In Hybrid??