Used 2016 Ford C-MAX Hybrid

While Toyota’s new Prius hybrid can brag about best-in-class fuel economy, Ford’s 2016 C-Max offers a number of equally enticing reasons to look toward the blue oval. In the areas of interior design, comfort and technology, the C-Max feels warmer than the ultra-modern Prius layout. The 5-door C-Max Hybrid’s tall roof provides excellent accommodations for four adults, plus ample room for their luggage. Fold the C-Max’s rear seats flat and you’ll find a cargo bay large enough to rival some small SUVs. And, because the 2016 C-Max Hybrid shares much of its suspension bits with the excellent Ford Focus, it offers a smoother, quieter ride than most other hybrids, not to mention a more dynamic driving experience.

If you think Ford’s 2016 C-Max Hybrid is only about fuel economy, you have it confused with that other well-known hybrid hatchback. The secret to the C-Max’s success is the spirited way it rides and drives. Ford’s hybrid system performs near-seamless transitions between the gasoline engine and electric motor, so much so that you’ll likely forget you’re driving a hybrid – that is, until the vivid LCD displays inside the instrument cluster refresh your memory. Acceleration is another C-Max virtue, an impressive feat given the battery pack’s added weight. On winding back roads, the C-Max’s Focus roots are clearly evident, delivering a smooth ride, a hushed cabin and an immediate response to even the slightest steering-wheel inputs. We also love the C-Max’s tall roof, expansive glass and raised seating position that provide a commanding view of the road ahead.

Ford’s newfound status as a leader in interior design and material quality is evident in the 5-door C-Max for 2016. The 5-passenger cabin is filled with attractive, soft-touch surfaces that combine to produce a remarkably upscale feel, particularly for this class of vehicle. Ergonomics is excellent, with controls that are user-friendly and easily accessible. Headroom is overly abundant in all seating positions, and rear legroom is suitable for 6-footers. The cargo area offers less space than the new Prius, but is still well within the bounds of what is considered good for a compact wagon.

To fuse aerodynamics with utility, the 2016 Ford C-Max’s exterior design emphasizes function over form. While no less stylish than Toyota’s sleek new Prius, the Ford C-Max features a distinctive shape that associates more closely with a multipurpose vehicle than a hatchback. Although it shares the majority of its underpinnings with the Ford Focus, the C-Max is roughly five inches shorter in length. The C-Max’s taller stature makes it easier for taller drivers to enter and exit the vehicle, while the available power liftgate incorporates a height-adjustable function to accommodate users of all sizes.

MYFORD MOBILE
With the MyFord mobile app, owners can manage the C-Max’s charge times as well as check battery levels right from their smartphones. Even better, the app will display a map of the nearest charging stations, making long-distance travel a little less worrisome.

ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTERS
The more aerodynamic a car’s body, the easier it is to achieve maximum fuel economy. So goes the thinking behind the 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid’s active grille shutters. At highway speeds, the shutters close, redirecting air around the front end and reducing drag for improved fuel economy.

In base SE form, the 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid includes dual-zone climate control, manually adjustable front seats, a 60/40-split rear seat, 17-inch alloy wheels and a 6-speaker audio system with basic hands-free voice recognition and a USB port for portable music players. SEL models add heated front seats, leather seating, push-button start and the new SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch-screen display and conversational voice-recognition software. Safety equipment includes seven airbags, a full complement of electronic stability aids and Ford’s SOS post-crash alert system that activates the horn and hazard lights in the event of an airbag deployment.

Features available for both SE and SEL trims include a panoramic moonroof with a power-operated sunshade, remote-start system and touch-screen navigation with customizable routes from MapQuest. SEL models offer a convenient foot-activated power liftgate that opens and closes by simply waving your foot under the rear bumper as well as an active park-assist feature that makes parallel parking as simple as pressing a button. The C-Max Energi comes in one trim level and offers most of the features available for the C-Max Hybrid.

Every Ford C-Max Hybrid for 2016 features a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine, a gearless continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a 35-kW electric motor to produce a combined 188 horsepower. The Energi boasts a larger version of the Hybrid’s lithium-ion battery pack for an all-electric range of approximately 19 miles. And, unlike the Toyota Prius, the C-Max Hybrid can travel up to 62 mph under full electricity.

2.0-liter inline-4 + electric motor
188 net hybrid system horsepower
129 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 42/37 mpg (Hybrid), 40/36 mpg (Energi)