Ford C-MAX Hybrid and Energi

Now, let's talk about hybrid MPVs. Last year, Japan brought two different hybrid MPVs that made to be fuel-efficient and practical for the Japanese families such as the Toyota Prius α and the Honda Fit Shuttle Hybrid. Both of these Japanese hybrid MPVs had the fuel efficiency of hybrids and good for those who are out camping somewhere near any forests in Japan. For an American car company like Ford, they finally responded to what we might refer to it as a killer to the Prius α and Fit Shuttle...

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid

What you're looking here is the blue oval's answer to the Prius α and Fit Shuttle. This is the all new 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid. By the looks of it, the new C-MAX Hybrid looks more like an oversized version of the current-generation Ford Focus and I think that this is quite perfect if you are a mother aged 30-ish. Yep, it's just another car made for the soccer moms. It's just another hybrid car made for the enthusiasts of armpit hair and brown rice. However, unlike the Prius α, the C-MAX Hybrid has other features that the Prius α, especially this cool motion sensor power liftgate thingy as seen on the latest Ford Escape. All you have to do is pretend that your kicking the rear bumper but no. Don't kick it. Lift your foot near the rear bumper and it will automatically open the rear door for you. Convenient if you are carrying tons of stuff you bought from Costco, Safeway, Walmart, or any other store that you and your family went out for some shopping lists.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid interior

Like a five-seater version of the Prius α, the C-MAX Hybrid does accommodate up to five people, you, your husband, and your three kids at the back. However, there's just one thing though. Unlike the Prius α five-seater that comes with the old-school nickel battery, the five-seater C-MAX hybrid comes with the 1.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. With that kind of battery and with the 2-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-Cycle engine bolted with an electric motor, that C-MAX Hybrid provides a combined power output of 188 hp (140 kW).  Top speed in all-electric mode of 62 mph (100 km/h) and the car's top speed in hybrid mode is 115 mph (185 km/h, meaning that this is much better than the Prius α! And fuel efficient as well because while the Prius α has 44/40MPG city/highway, the C-MAX Hybrid can go all the way to 47/47MPG city/highway. Now what would you do with that extra mileage?

Oh wait! Extra mileage! When it comes to continue your journey, better off with this one...

2013 Ford C-MAX Energi

This is a C-MAX Energi, Ford's first PHV MPV made for extended journeys. You can either recharge the batteries at home or fuel it with petrol at the petrol station, like what you normally did on the Prius PHV. On the upside though, the C-MAX Energi PHV has more power than the Prius PHV because 188HP beats 124HP. On battery alone, the C-MAX Energi can go up to 21 miles and up to 85mph on fewer electricity. On combined MPGe, the C-MAX Energi can go all the way to 100MPGe, meaning that it can go 80 miles farther than the the Prius PHV.

What you can see here is an achievement for the blue oval. The C-MAX not only beats Prii by a long shot but I think I really want to have one of these for my long trip ahead.

PRICE LIST:

C-Max Hybrid SE: $25,200 MSRP

C-Max Hybrid SEL: $28,200 MSRP

C-Max Energi: $32,950 MSRP

Photo: Ford Motor Company