The Ford C-MAX is an automobile manufactured and marketed by the American carmaker Ford Motor Company between 2003 and 2019. It has a five-door compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) design. The Ford Grand C-Max has a longer wheelbase. Ford introduced the C-Max in the United States as its first hybrid-only line of vehicles, which includes the C-Max Hybrid, released in September 2012. Although the C-Max was initially available only in Europe, the first generation was partially available in New Zealand.
History of the Ford C-MAX
First Generation Ford C-MAX (2003–2010)
The Ford Focus C-Max is preceded by the eponymous show car, which was designed by Daniel Paulin and unveiled at the 2002 Paris Motor Show. C-Max Mk I was the first product to use the Ford C1 platform, also used by the Ford Focus Mk II and the compact MPV Premacy/Mazda5. Its internal code name is C214. It seats five passengers and has a large amount of cargo space, which can be increased by folding the rear seats flat. Some models feature diagonally sliding outer rear seats. It also shares the control blade independent rear suspension from the Focus.
Facelift
In December 2006, the facelifted version of the C-Max was revealed at the 2006 Bologna Motor Show and went on sale in late spring 2007. The pre-facelift version of the car (2003–2007) was called the Ford Focus C-Max. The name change to C-Max is attributable to Ford's MPV strategy of creating a 'Max' branded line of MPVs, starting with the Ford S-Max, launched in 2006. The facelift brought the car in line with Ford's 'Kinetic Design' design language, evidenced by its twin trapezoidal grilles, large wheel arches, and angular headlights.
Second Generation Ford C-MAX (2010–2019)
A very practical C-segment family car, the Ford C-Max offered new levels of style to the Multi-Activity Vehicle market. The new C-Max was designed to bring enhanced comfort and safety with the latest technologies available. Offering seating for 5, the C-MAX was a sporty small MPV appealing to a broad age range.
New for 2010, Ford introduced the 1.6-liter EcoBoost unit that provided a good fuel economy compared to larger gasoline engines that produced similar power. Both the exterior and the interior design were created using Ford's kinetic design form language, the same that was used for the successful Fiesta, Kuga, and Mondoe. The high driving position provided amazing visibility, while the high-mounted gear knob and center console were easy to action. With an impressive array of top-notch technologies that were usually found in more premium vehicles, the C-Max could be equipped with numerous features that enhanced practicality and safety.
2014 Update
Ford didn't seem to understand by 2014 that the MPV market belongs to the French. One after another, apart from the VW Sharan and its siblings, everyone else failed. But Ford didn't give up and tried again with the C-Max. Based on the successful Ford's Global C platform, which was also used for the compact car Focus, it developed an MPV with claimed car-like abilities and very spacious. The powertrain range comprised two diesel engines and two gasoline units, mated to either a 5-speed manual for the base units, a 6-speed manual, or a 6-speed automatic (dual-clutch) for the more powerful engines and upper trim levels. But if the first generation was sold in over 1.2 million units, the second did not perform too well. And in 2018 the sales stopped for C-Max in the U.S. and in 2019 in Europe.
Hybrid Ford C-MAX
Ford developed the C-Max Hybrid with the aim to become "America's most affordable hybrid utility vehicle." The gasoline-electric hybrid model base pricing starts at US$24,995, including destination and delivery.
Price
In 2018, Ford Motor Company retailed the Ford C-MAX with a starting original MSRP of $24,995 for the base SE model, rising to $28,150 for the top-spec Titanium variant.
- SE - $24,995 ($29,619 in 2022)
- Titanium - $28,150 ($33,358 in 2022)
Features of the Ford C-MAX
Exterior Features
The egg-shaped unibody MPV kept some design cues from the Focus range. It had a bold styling, a mix between a hatchback and an MPV. In addition to the overfenders for the wheel arches, the Ford stylists made a median ascending line end into a more rectangular shape of the taillights.
Interior Features
The 2018 Ford C-Max hatchback has a 5-passenger interior, as does its plug-in hybrid sibling the C-Max Energi, an aspect that distinguishes it from the 4-passenger Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. This Ford hybrid's voluptuous exterior design pays off inside, where headroom is generous for front- and rear-seat passengers. At 24.5 cubic feet, the cargo room behind the 2nd-row seats is commendable and just shy of the Prius' roominess. The C-Max Energi, however, has roughly five cubic feet less and an awkward hump that hides its larger battery pack. Both have folding rear seats for added cargo versatility. Up front are comfortable, well-bolstered seats.
Specs and Performance of the Ford C-MAX
Every Ford C-Max Hybrid features a 2.0L Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine, a gearless continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and an electric motor to produce a combined 188 horsepower. The Energi boasts a larger lithium-ion battery pack for an all-electric range of approximately 19 miles. The standard C-Max Hybrid doesn't need to be plugged in, as its hybrid system works behind the scenes. Just fill the car with gasoline and you're good to go. You could do the same with the C-Max Energi, but you wouldn't get the vehicle's ability to travel all those miles on electricity only. For that, you'll need to plug it into an electrical outlet. Ford pegs approximate recharge times at 2.5 hours on a 240-volt outlet or seven on a standard 120-volt outlet.
Release Date
Ford Motor Company first released the Ford C-MAS in 2003. Ford of Europe announced that it would end production of both the C-Max and Grand C-Max in Germany by the end of the second quarter of 2019.