Editing Ford C-Max (section)

====Fuel economy controversies====
{{update|section|date=June 2014|The section is missing the fuel economy downgrade that took place in June 2014.}}

In December 2012, ''[[Motor Trend]]'' reported that ''[[Consumer Reports]]'' magazine and Green Car Reports have found that the 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid and [[Ford Fusion Hybrid#Second generation|2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid]], which share the same powertrain, do not deliver their triple {{convert|47|mpgus|abbr=on}} EPA ratings in real-world use.<ref name=MT1212>{{cite news|url=http://wot.motortrend.com/we-hear-2013-ford-fusion-hybrid-2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-dont-achieve-epa-fuel-economy-ratings-300391.html#axzz2FqEZN68f|title=We Hear: 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, C-Max Hybrid Don't Achieve EPA Fuel-Economy Ratings |author= Jake Holmes|work=[[Motor Trend]]|date=2012-12-04|access-date=2012-12-24}}</ref><ref name=CR1212>{{cite news|url=http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/12/video-tests-show-2013-ford-fusion-c-max-hybrids-dont-live-up-to-47-mpg-claims.html|title=Tests show Ford Fusion, C-Max hybrids don't live up to 47-mpg claims|author=Consumer Reports|publisher=[[Consumer Reports]]|date=2012-12-06|access-date=2012-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414134501/http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/12/video-tests-show-2013-ford-fusion-c-max-hybrids-dont-live-up-to-47-mpg-claims.html|archive-date=2013-04-14|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=GCR1112>{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1080580_ford-hybrids-fuel-economy-failing-to-live-up-to-epa-ratings|title=Ford Hybrids' Fuel Economy Failing To Live Up To EPA Ratings? |author=John Voelcker|publisher=Green Car Reports|date=2012-11-20|access-date=2012-12-24}}</ref> After running both vehicles through Consumer Reports real-world tests, the magazine found that C-Max hybrid achieved a combined fuel economy average of {{convert|37|mpgus|abbr=on}}, with {{convert|35|mpgus|abbr=on}} and {{convert|38|mpgus|abbr=on}} for city and highway.<ref name=CR1212/> Green Car Reports found that the C-Max delivered {{convert|37|mpgus|abbr=on}} over {{convert|50|mi|abbr=on}} of mixed freeway and urban driving, and {{convert|40|mpgus|abbr=on}} over {{convert|240|mi|abbr=on}} mostly at freeway speeds.<ref name=GCR1112/>

''Consumer Reports'' concluded that the overall fuel economy for the C-Max Hybrid is off by {{cvt|10|mpgus}}, representing a deviation of about 20%. The consumer magazine said that their overall fuel economy results are usually close to the EPA's combined-mpg estimate, and among current models tested, more than 80% fall within {{cvt|2|mpgus}} margin. The largest discrepancy the magazine has previously found was {{cvt|7|and|6|mpgus}} for the [[Toyota Prius C]] and the [[Toyota Prius (XW30)|Prius hatchback]], respectively.<ref name=CR1212/><ref name=LAT1212/> Ford responded in a statement, saying, "Early C-MAX Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above {{cvt|47|mpgus}}. This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions, and other factors can cause mileage to vary."<ref name=LAT1212>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-ford-inflated-fuel-economy-20121206,0,1964927.story|title=Consumer Reports says Ford Fusion, C-Max don't achieve MPG claims |author=Jerry Hirsch|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=2012-12-06|access-date=2012-12-24}}</ref><ref name=DT1212/>

A few days later, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it would review claims that two new Ford hybrid vehicles were not delivering the advertised 47 mpg. Linc Wehrly, Director of Light-duty Vehicle Center Compliance Division at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]], commented that hybrids had far more variability in miles per gallon than conventional vehicles. All vehicles are run through the same EPA fuel-efficiency tests, but they are not administered by the EPA; instead, the automakers conduct the test and EPA often conducts reviews. Most vehicles' real-world gas mileage levels are less than the EPA sticker number, and can often be 20% less. depending on speed, temperature, and other factors. The EPA explained that with hybrids, the gap was much wider, as high as 30%.<ref name=DT1212>{{cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121208/AUTO0102/212080368#ixzz2FwSbbWeI|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122141818/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121208/AUTO0102/212080368%23ixzz2FwSbbWeI|url-status=dead|title=EPA will review Ford C-Max, Fusion 47 mpg claims|author=David Shepardson and Karl Henkel|work=[[The Detroit News]]|date=2012-12-08|access-date=2012-12-24|archive-date=2013-01-22}}</ref>

The problem lay with EPA's rules that allowed automakers to group similar vehicles and apply the same ratings, which Ford did with the Fusion hybrid and C-Max hybrids.<ref>{{cite web|last=Woodyard|first=Chris|title=Ford lowers C-Max hybrid's mpg rating, offers rebates|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/08/15/ford-cmax-mp/2660371/|work=USA Today|access-date=28 February 2014}}</ref>

Ford Motor Co. officials said the real-world fuel efficiency in the C-Max Hybrid depended on driving style and other factors, and that the company did not expect the car's fuel efficiency numbers to change, as they followed EPA's test guidelines. Ford said they were working closely with the EPA to determine if their hybrid vehicle testing procedures needed to be changed. They  explained that several factors could affect hybrid fuel economy more than that of regular gasoline engines, including speed (as the difference between {{convert|75|and|65|mph|km/h}} could produce a 7 mpg difference in fuel economy); outside temperature (the difference between {{convert|40|and|70|F|C}} could result in a 5 mpg difference); and vehicle break-in (a 5 mpg difference could occur from the difference {{convert|0|to|6|mi|km}}).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121214/AUTO0102/212140426#ixzz2FwWJSPE7|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121123808/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121214/AUTO0102/212140426%23ixzz2FwWJSPE7|url-status=dead|title=Ford stands behind fuel efficiency numbers for C-Max Hybrid|author=KARL HENKEL|work=[[The Detroit News]]|date=2012-12-14|access-date=2012-12-24|archive-date=2013-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/cmax-20121215.html|title=Ford's math on hybrid fuel economy; standing by the C-MAX EPA ratings, acknowledging large real-world variance|publisher=Green Car Congress|date=2012-12-15|access-date=2012-12-24}}</ref>

Due to the criticism and lawsuits, in July 2013, Ford announced it would boost the on-road fuel efficiency of the C-Max and its other two 2013 hybrids through changes in the vehicle control software, in an effort to improve customer satisfaction.<ref name=Upgrade/> The carmaker voluntarily reduced the official EPA ratings in August 2013.<ref name=NewEPArating/> It also announced it would issue rebates to some 32,000 C-Max owners, who would be notified by mail. The payment would be {{USD|550}} to U.S. customers who purchased C-Maxes, and {{USD|325}} to customers who had leased them.<ref name=NewEPArating/>

After the Ford announcement, the EPA stated that it would update the test procedures used to assign fuel economy ratings to cars "to ensure that the requirements keep pace with industry trends and innovations in advanced high-efficiency vehicles." Ford used the Fusion Hybrid test to generate the fuel economy label for the C-Max Hybrid following EPA's rules. These, which date to the 1970s, specify that automakers can use the same fuel economy numbers for similar-sized vehicles equipped with the same engines and transmissions. The EPA requires automakers to test the fuel economy of the biggest-selling model in a specific category. In its midsized hybrid class, Ford tested the Fusion sedan version because it was the top seller, and Ford was allowed to apply the {{convert|47|mpgus|abbr=on}} achieved with the Fusion Hybrid in combined, city, and highway driving to the C-Max hybrid. Ford had no plans to change the fuel economy ratings on the 2013 Fusion hybrid.<ref name=NewEPArating/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/16/business/us-to-bring-gas-mileage-rules-to-era-of-hybrids.html?ref=automobiles&_r=1&|title=U.S. to Bring Gas Mileage Rules to Era of Hybrids |author=Bill Vlasic|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2013-08-15|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> 

In June 2014, Ford found some glitches in their internal tests and had to drop the MPG ratings by 1-2 miles per gallon for a few models like the 2013-2014 Fusion and C-Max hybrids, including the plug-ins. To mitigate customers' concerns, the automaker provided financial compensation. Depending on whether the vehicle was bought or leased, owners got from $150 to $1,050 to help cover the increase in fuel costs due to the new ratings.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pope |first=Byron |date=15 August 2014 |title=Ford Hybrid Sales Bounce Back From Fuel-Economy Adjustments |url=https://www.wardsauto.com/internal-combustion-engines/ford-hybrid-sales-bounce-back-from-fuel-economy-adjustments |work=WardsAuto}}</ref>