First Drive: Ford C-Max Energi

[zete]

First Drive: Ford C-Max Energi
By Anton Wahlman
Wall Street Journal (the Street)


NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Ford (F) C-Max Energi just entered production in October and I got a chance to take it for a very brief city spin a week ago. A more meaningful test, which would involve at least two to three days of highway driving and electric-range testing, will hopefully be forthcoming sooner rather than later.

In terms of its powertrain, the C-Max Energi slots in slightly closer to the Toyota (TM) Prius Plug-In than GM's (GM) Chevrolet Volt. The total size of the battery capacity in the C-Max Energi is 7.6 kW, compared to 4.4 in the Prius and 16.5 in the Volt.

While the Prius will only take you six miles on electricity, the C-Max will do 21, which is still far behind the Volt's 38 miles. Once those all-electric miles are over, the Prius performs at 50 MPG, the C-Max at 43 and the Volt at 38 MPG.

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Because of how differently the Ford operates, the "feel" of the acceleration isn't directly comparable with the Prius. If you force the C-Max into all-electric mode, it is obviously smooth, quiet and efficient, whereas the Prius will engage the gasoline engine whether you like it or not, at that point obviously performing like a regular Prius in terms of acceleration. You can operate the C-Max in that kind of mode as well, and at that point it smokes the Prius -- relatively speaking.

That said, the C-Max is no match for the Volt in terms of the sports department. Not only is the Volt much more powerful with its 111 kW main electric motor, sometimes helped by a secondary 55 kW electric motor. The Volt is also a relative sports car, physically speaking, where you sit low like in a Camaro or Corvette, and have a lower center of gravity. Simply put: The Volt is the sports car of the bunch, with spinning tires at every red light, and exceptional acceleration/response.

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So which one to buy? The Ford beats the Toyota on every metric except the tiny luggage space. This is a deal killer for some, but not for others.

For just a couple thousand dollars more, the Chevy Volt gives you superior electric range (38 miles vs. 21) and much more powerful acceleration and sport dynamics. However, the Volt sits low, and with smaller doors making it relatively difficult to get in and out. The Volt's back seat fits only two people easily if they're shorter than 5'11.

In conclusion, there is no clear-cut winner for every person's needs in this comparison. The Prius wins if you need to transport five people and the most amount of luggage. The Ford wins if you need to transport five large people and can't stand the Toyota's lesser performance. The Volt wins if you want a 2+2 sports car with superior electric car performance.

More at link.

[zete]

A very fair comparison of the three cars. To me the ranking is Volt, C-Max Energi, PIP because I value NVH, handling, performance and the likelihood of me lugging around 5 people or their luggage is pretty much nil. Everyone else's mileage will vary .

[Perian]

The upcoming MCE of the Volt will be absolute make or break for this vehicle.

I am sure that GM is working on making this great vehicle world class...including the adaptation of the new California HOV lane requirements that go into effect on July 1st, 2013.

Let's see if the government follows through with the suggested $2500 improvement in tax deductions.

The future could be very bright for the Chevy Volt; but all the pieces will have to fall into place.

[zete]

The upcoming MCE of the Volt will be absolute make or break for this vehicle.

I am sure that GM is working on making this great vehicle world class...including the adaptation of the new California HOV lane requirements that go into effect on July 1st, 2013.

Let's see if the government follows through with the suggested $2500 improvement in tax deductions.

The future could be very bright for the Chevy Volt; but all the pieces will have to fall into place.

I can't see how the MCE should be that hard since it's mostly there. If GM would put magnetic shocks on the Volt, cooled seats, power seats, a proper, hard cover for the hatch along with more range coupled with updated interfaces for the screens I think it'd be fine.

The bigger thing GM needs to do is get the ELR our as well as a CUV and ultimately an Epsilon II-based vehicle.

[JBsZ06]

That fords a very minivan like appearance. I believe your insights were spot on

Looking forward to the ELR.

[spd98]

Seems to be a decent overall comparison.

[KingElvis]

While the Volt has that melted bar-of-soap look, it's still interesting to look at.

With all the cliched talk of global platforms, it remains the case that cars that take Europe by storm usually fail in the US. Their idea of a middle size and middle price car is still about a size smaller than in the US - to the extent that they can't sell with a decent profit margin.

[KingElvis]

I can't see how the MCE should be that hard since it's mostly there. If GM would put magnetic shocks on the Volt, cooled seats, power seats, a proper, hard cover for the hatch along with more range coupled with updated interfaces for the screens I think it'd be fine.

The bigger thing GM needs to do is get the ELR our as well as a CUV and ultimately an Epsilon II-based vehicle.

But the problem with electric cars is that all of the power stuff eats into your battery's range. I'm warming to the Volt - I saw two last week in NW Chicago - and they are a rare sight indeed. They are compelling. I think they need to play up the 'exotic' angle - clearly the Volt's niche - as seen in this very article - is of the cool and sporting image at least in comparison to the phone-booth like EVs it ostensibly competes against.

[XCR440SP]

One other thing to put into the equation is service and sales. I believe you can buy the Volt an Prius from any franchised dealer. The Energi will only be available at EV certified dealers (Focus Electric). I just looked and there I do not find any EV dealers in Iowa for example, so buying one would require a long drive, and if traveling and need repair in Iowa, I think this will be an issue as well.

[spd98]

I don't think the Volt needs MRC. Most of the people that buy them coulnd't care less. There is no justification to dirve the price up.

[MechEng]

I don't think the Volt needs MRC. Most of the people that buy them coulnd't care less. There is no justification to dirve the price up.

I agree. The ELR however needs MRC.

I thought the comparisson was fair as well. If you need the space and can live with the shorter EV range and less performance the C-Max is a decent vehicle. But the Volt is just one heck of a car.

I think this should give GM more incentive to build the MPV5. I'm hoping a MPV5 like vehicle is in the works for the new D2 platform (Volt 2.0 is confirmed on this platform). This will demonstrate how far ahead GM is over everybody else with Voltec.

[Bigbee60]

The C-MAX Hybrid seems to be selling well as I've seen many more of them from two months on the market than the Prius V which has been out much longer. As to whether the Energi is worth the premium, I'd say yes compared to the PIP, but no compared to the Volt. And to be brutally honest, how many people need to carry five adults and their luggage period? I'd guess you'd buy a different hybrid vehicle like a Lexus RS400h if you need that capacity regularly. In a pinch, the Volt can carry four easily and the C-MAX five, although both may have some luggage issues. The PIP has less interior volume 115.3 cu ft than the C-MAX 118.9 cu ft, but does have 21.6 cu ft behind the seats versus 19.2 cu ft in the C-MAX, so I'd say that unless the reviewer confused the Prius V dimensions with the PIP deimensions, he is really grasping at straws saying the PIP is more spacious for cargo as the difference is the size of a woman's purse.

[Ed753]

.......The Volt is also a relative sports car, physically speaking, where you sit low like in a Camaro or Corvette.............

While this has its advantages, its a long-time bug-a-boo of mine, with many GM small/mid-sized cars.

I call it the "fall-in" "roll-out" syndrome, the N-Body (Grand-AM, Malibu, Alero, Skylark) and Cavalier/Cobalt/Sunfire are a few that come to mind, I think early W-Bodies also suffered. (sitting so low to the ground)

That was one thing, that I noticed the Cruze kind-of broke free from of the Cobalt, having a more right-sized and up-right seating. does the Volt sit lower than a Cruze?

I can't see how the MCE should be that hard since it's mostly there. If GM would put magnetic shocks on the Volt, cooled seats, power seats, a proper, hard cover for the hatch along with more range coupled with updated interfaces for the screens I think it'd be fine.

It's mostly there, except for the things it really needs, (the things you mention are superficial and not going to drive sales much more than different exterior colors) What the Volt needs, is a combination of lower cost/higher efficiency.

Who thinks they'll be alive when the 100 mile battery that fits in a suitcase, with 1 hour recharge time and doesn't cost $9,980 more than the battery in a Cruze comes out?

[richmond2000]

at this point there are 3 choices for 3 different buyers so to an extent they do NOT compete but the "dark horse" so to speak is the much cheaper non PIP Prius that sells in the 200K range mostly on the much lower selling price

[Railfan]

So will a volt-type CUV by Chevy ever show up? I e-mailed Chevy with this question, telling them that I had just looked at the C-Max and really was intrigued with it. Chevys response was that as far as Customer Service was concerned there was no information available, but that they would forward my inquiry to the appropriate "cubical" (my word not theirs).

So I guess its anybodys guess whether or not Chevy or GM has anything coming out to compete with the C-Max in the near future....or even the mid-term future, especially in the USA. My lease is up on my Malibu next fall, and while I like the Malibu, the taller sitting, five passenger, five door, electric hybrid C-Max definately has my attention.