New/Notable:
- Family friendly hybrid seats five
- Ford’s answer to the Toyota Prius V
- 42/37 mpg city/highway
The 2015 Ford C-Max Hybrid is friendly to both families and the environment, combining a practical shape that offer plenty of room for passenger and cargo with an efficient hybrid drivetrain that offers excellent fuel economy.
The C-Max Hybrid carries over unchanged for the 2015 model year. Its styling will be familiar to those who have seen other Ford products of the current generation, especially the Fiesta subcompact. The thin grille is perched atop a large front air intake with thin horizontal bars that gives the front its defining feature. 17-inch alloy wheels and automatic headlights come standard, while a hands-free liftgate and rain-sensing windshield wipers for added convenience are optional.
Power comes from a hybrid system that combines a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor for a total output of 188-hp. The gas engine is connected to a CVT. Fuel economy ratings are estimated at 42/37 mpg city/highway.
Inside, the C-Max Hybrid offers passenger and cargo room similar to that of a small SUV. There is 24.5 cubic feet of cargo room behind the 60/40-split folding second row, which expands to 52.6 cubic feet with the seats lowered. It is also very well equipped for its price tag. Standard features include SYNC with voice recognition, dual-zone automatic climate control, USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, and cruise control. The MyFord Touch system which adds haptic touch-controls to the center console is optional, as are navigation, leather upholstery, satellite radio, and heated front seats.
Standard safety features include seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), antilock brakes, and electronic stability control. Ford also includes its MyKey system, which allows parents to set various limits for teen drivers including maximum speed and volume control settings.
