Formalizing the bragging rights it originally staked out early last month, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid has now been officially EPA-rated at 47 mpg in the city, on the highway and in combined mode. This gives the automaker’s newest hybrid offering a solid advantage on its nearest and most formidable rival, the 2012 Toyota Prius V that presently carries 42/44/40-mpg numbers.
In making the announcement, Ford‘s Vice President of Powertrain Engineering Joe Bakaj noted that in addition to raising the overall econo bar for the class, the C-MAX Hybrid’s mileage stats were particularly notable because most gasoline/electric vehicles are more fuel efficient on the city-driving cycle. Teaming a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery, the new C-MAX Hybrid also is capable of traveling at up to 62 mph in pure electric mode. "We’ve done this with innovation – represented by nearly 500 hybrid patents – while driving costs down 30 percent so we can bring these fuel-saving vehicles to more customers."
As previously announced, this five-passenger people mover will hold a significant edge in pricing as well as in economy. Starting at $25,995, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid opens at $1,300 below the 2012 Toyota Prius V.
