Ford C-Max Suffers MPG Downgrade Deja Vu
Ford is reducing the fuel economy rating on its C-Max hybrid for the second time since the car’s introduction as a 2013 model year vehicle.
The US automaker today announced that results of an internal audit show that the car is actually only capable of a combined fuel economy rating of 40 MPG, a downgrade from the 43 MPG claimed as of last August.
Previous to that number Ford has initially said the C-Max could achieve 47 MPG combined thanks to a 47 MPG city and 47 MPG highway rating. As of today that number has been lowered a total of 15 percent with new city/highway ratings of 42/37.
During the initial downgrade Ford admitted that it hadn’t done its homework and simply used the EPA numbers for the Fusion Hybrid – which shares the same powertrain.
In an effort to combat the bad publicity Ford announced a slew of upgrades to help the car’s fuel economy, including everything from new engine oil, a more efficient transmission drive ratio and numerous aerodynamic tweaks.
During the announcement last August Ford offered $550 to owners in compensation. Today owners will be offered a (presumably) additional $475 goodwill payment.
In addition to the C-Max, Ford has donwgraded the fuel economy ratings on five other models. A complete chart of those adjustments can be viewed below:
| U.S. EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy Label Ratings and Goodwill Payments* | ||||||
| Model Year | Vehicle | Powertrain | Revised(City, Highway, Combined) | Previous(City, Highway, Combined) | Lease Customers | Purchase Customers |
| 2014 | Fiesta | 1.0L GTDI M/T | 31 / 43 / 36 | 32 / 45 / 37 | $125 | $200 |
| 1.6L A/T | 27 / 37 / 31 | 29 / 39 / 32 | $150 | $250 | ||
| 1.6L SFE A/T | 28 / 38 / 32 | 30 / 41 / 34 | $275 | $450 | ||
| 1.6L M/T | 28 / 36 / 31 | 27 / 38 / 31 | Combined MPG not affected | Combined MPG not affected | ||
| 2013-14 | C-MAX | Hybrid | 42 / 37 / 40 | 45 / 40 / 43 | $300 | $475 |
| Fusion | Hybrid | 44 / 41 / 42 | 47 / 47 / 47 | $450 | $775 | |
| MKZ | Hybrid | 38 / 37 / 38 | 45 / 45 / 45 | $625 | $1,050 | |
| Model Year | Vehicle | Powertrain | Revised**(Charge Sustaining, Charge Depleting, EV Range) | Previous**(Charge Sustaining, Charge Depleting, EV Range) | Lease Customers | Purchase Customers |
| 2013-14 | C-MAX Energi | Plug-in Hybrid | 38 mpg / 88 MPGe+ /19 mi EV range | 43 mpg / 100 MPGe+ /21 mi EV range | $475 | $775 |
| Fusion Energi | Plug-in Hybrid | 38 mpg / 88 MPGe+ /19 mi EV range | 43 mpg / 100 MPGe+ /21 mi EV range | $525 | $850 | |
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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Guarantee that Ford will do it again, either lying MPGs again or reducing its often inflated MPGs again.