Disclosure: TMC was not paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only. Opinions are TMC’s only.
2014 Ford C-MAX Energi
We all want to do good this time of year and help out our fellow man. Normally, I do the whole donation of food, clothing and give money to various charities. This year, I wanted and felt the real need to get involved and do more. Ford asked me to review their C-MAX Energi and incorporate it into their One Tank of Good campaign. It sums up to mean, what can you do with one tank of gas? With the Ford C-MAX Energi it felt limitless!
For three weeks I put out the word with friends, family, co-workers, whoever I could think of that the girls and I were holding a clothing drive to benefit ACTS in Dumfries, VA. In particular, I wanted to give support to their SAVAS and Safe Home programs. The Safe Home helps the women and children who are fleeing a bad domestic situation and SAVAS is for the sexual assault crises center. Both need new clothes for their Essentials Kits and I wanted to do the most I could in such a short time taking care of a few of those needs.
Ford helped out with a VISA gift card that bought underwear, pajamas, shirts, pants and socks. I bought some with the girls and then the rest came from donations from H’s office, our friends, family and parents at the girls school. It was wonderful! I normally avoid Black Friday, but this year I braved it and found some spectacular deals on sweatsuits, kids pajamas, bras, socks and so much more! It was the best experience! I collected it all and last Friday I packed up the C-MAX Energi I had been driving around to collect donations around town and deliver the goods to ACTS.
I felt like an elf packing the C-MAX Energi tight with clothing!
Once the Fifth Element and I picked up the last of the donations and gotten to ACTS we unloaded the goods and surprised the staff with just how much we had collected.
And there was more!
When it was over, I knew I just wanted to do more. The needs at ACTS are ongoing and vary from things like food and clothes to birthday bags and snack bags for kids movie night. I think all of those are ways that my family can continually be involved with ACTS and help out those in our community. It is the least I can do. If places like ACTS didn’t exist to help women in need, I would not be where I am today.
Thoughts on the C-MAX Energi
Now, what did I think about the little car that could aka the C-MAX Energi by Ford?
First, it drove differently from other hybrid cars that I have driven. It is smoother, has more pick-up and comfort while on the road, city or highway. The streamlined design does help with drag and increase gas mileage efficiency without looking like a Prius. It drives better than a Prius, overall. It handles bumps, acceleration and has less road noise. Inside and out the C-MAX Energi is a quiet car. The foot-operated rear liftgate was a lifesaver with all the picking up and unloading I did during the week I reviewed the car. It was so easy and fun to be able to just lift my foot under the bumper and have the trunk open and close. Fantastic when you have a little one with you too!
Inside, the car is easy to navigate and comfortable. It is a small car and not for everyone. I think it works best for one or two people but not a family car. There isn’t enough cargo space if someone is in the backseat on a regular basis. As a commuter car it excels not just because of the comfort and size but because of the gas mileage. I drove it over 150 miles and I used just a quarter tank of gas. It has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor system it is a dedicated plug-in hybrid, there is no other Ford option for the C-MAX, with a powertrain that delivers 195 combined horsepower–54 hp. That gives it more power over its competitor the Prius. You can totally feel it. Anyone who has had a chance to drive both will tell you the same.
What I wish was different about the C-MAX Energi is the look. I get that it reduces drag so the aerodynamic flow has to be there but it looks like a minivan or a funky hatchback and one that would have more storage capacity. I was almost glad I didn’t have more stuff because I would have had to leave Fifth Element with someone else to use her car seat space for loading boxes of clothes. There is virtually no back cargo space except for a tiny shelf that fits one box and a large bag. I missed having a space for the key or my phone in the console area too. There are two cup holders and the storage box which is tucked a bit behind you. Not made for fast accessibility.
Interior front seat
Overall, I liked the Ford C-MAX Energi. It has some kick to it, it averaged about 44 mpgs combined and it was a comfortable ride that performed better than other hybrids in its class. It will run you about $32, 950 MSRP.
Thank you to Ford for allowing me the chance to drive this fun, little hybrid all over town as I collected clothing for ACTS in Dumfries, VA. It was a great way to teach my kids about giving back, helping others and working together as a community and with #onetankofgood!
*Images from autotrader.com, Ford media, and my personal files.
