If you've been following our news stories, you will no doubt be aware of Ford's brazen mpg claims about the Fusion Hybrid sedan and the C-Max Hybrid minivan, and how both trump Toyota models.
To remind you, Ford states that both the new 2013 Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid deliver "47 city/47 highway/47 combined mpg".
Fueled [pun intended] by the recent discovery that Hyundai and Kia overstated the gas mileage on some 900,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. in the past couple of years, Consumer Reports (CR) put Ford's mpg claims to the test, and the results were far below the 47mpg mark.
"In our tests, the Fusion Hybrid delivered 39 mpg overall and 35 and 41 in city and highway conditions, respectively. For the C-Max Hybrid, we got 37 mpg overall, with 35 and 38 for city and highway," said CR.
"These two vehicles have the largest discrepancy between our overall-mpg results and the estimates published by the EPA that we've seen among any current models," the publication added in a posting on its website.
The report goes on to say that while it does expect some discrepancies, depending on the driving style and conditions of the road, in the case of the two Ford models, the difference is too big to be ignored, as "the overall mpg for these C-Max and Fusion models is off by a whopping 10 and 8 mpg, respectively, or about 20 percent".
So according to CR's tests, while the Fusion Hybrid still beats the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 1mpg on the combined cycle, the C-Max Hybrid loses to the Toyota Prius V minivan, which gets 41mpg versus the Blue Oval model's 37mpg.
As pointed out by CR, it should be noted that EPA fuel economy ratings are mostly certified by carmakers themselves.
CR asked Ford to comment on the results. A Ford spokesman sent the following email:
"Early C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid customers praise the vehicles and report a range of fuel economy figures, including some reports above 47 mpg. This reinforces the fact that driving styles, driving conditions, and other factors can cause mileage to vary."
Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports' director of auto testing said, "Most buyers won't get anything near 47 mpg in the real world," adding, "Even though these two Ford hybrids are very efficient, this big discrepancy may leave customers disappointed."
14 Comments:
Is CU following the testing standards set forth by the EPA?
I am a 2013 owner... haven't seen any trips above 41 MPG... and I am sitting right around 29 MPG City (Cold Climate)
This is my MPG tracking blog http://fusionhybridmpg.blogspot.com/
As much as I dislike CR, I simply can't ignore the difference here.
Nick....thank you for the honest blog. I must say, I really don't like FORD but I do give them credit for finally 'catching up' to Toyota. I say Toyota, because they seem to compare themselves to them alot (who doesn't). I want a Prius V, the baby minivan. That's what it is regardless what Toyota says. But I was considering the C-Max Hybrid because of it's gas mileage. But now!...well, I think you know where I'm going with my next thought.
I have no faith in what CR or what any of the blog sites have to say about hybrid mpg.
Based on CR testing hybrids like traditional gasoline vehicles(what they call real world), the Prius Lifitback only got 35 city, Prius v 33 city and Prius c 37 city.
But actual Prius owners, who know how to drive a hybrid, achieve higher mpg than the EPA mpg, just like actual customers of the C-Max and Fusion are achieving mpg above the 47mpg, but that is only when the consumer drives the hybrid like a hybrid.
So it's no surprise that the C-Max Hybrid based on CR testing only achieved 35 city. CR has been gunning after Ford like a jilted bride. First it's the MFT system that consumers give high marks, and now distorted testing of Ford's hybrid vehicles.
The Ford hybrid cars offers instrumentation to help teach the driver drive more efficiently, by using early breaking for break regeneration to charge the battery, and gradual acceleration to benefit from EV power. And driving below 62mpg on highway to benefit from the hybrid drive.
But if the driver uses jack rabbit starts which uses little EV power, and last minute hard breaking that does not allow for break regen that charge batteries, you negate the benefit/reason of driving a hybrid. Then they want to blame the car.
Maybe a solution would be for CR to actually follow the EPA testing methods, instead of making up their own independent testing methods, that guarantee they will fail in meeting EPA results. But then again, it gives them something to write about in an attempt to sell magazines.
Watch the video and a few things stand out.
One obvious ERROR on the part of CR is that their highway testing mph is 65, when EPA testing is 60mph(over 90% Urban Freeway Speed Limits are 55-65mph), and Ford clearly stated the hybrid drivetrain works up to 62MPH. So CR testing on highway at 65 will guarantee that the C-Max and Fusion Hybrid will not meet the 47mpg hwy number.
CR makes up their own city circuit on their own track. Not driving in a normal city, not even using one of their employes as driver commuting to and from work for a week or so. But their own method on their own track.
Maybe the issue is that CR needs to follow the EPA testing method, instead of making up their own that no manufacturer or consumer will follow.
i love how so many people on so many blogs was bashing on hyundai & kia for cheating their MPG figures and i wonder where they all went now..
In other words, this is what an average driver would get. If I ever got a hybrid, I wouldn't change the way I drive to overachieve MPGs. I want to get from point a to point b without having to worry about if I am pushing the gas pedal light enough. I know someone who just bought a Prius and he drives slower than he ever has, and he used to constantly speed. So I think CR is probably more accurate what says.
With oxygenated gas - driving way faster than most - but making sure to keep the car in tune and tires filled - I have never gotten below 39 in my 2005 Prius. I average 40 - 42 in the winter 42 - 45 in the summer. When I test drove a Fusion Hybrid it never got above 38 even when babying. I think I will keep the Prius. I hate the oxygenated gas. I used to average 44 - 49 in the summer.
Ben, there is a major difference in H & K cheating on the EPA testing process and CR evaluating the Ford using some other, non-EPA process. As the EPA test process is designed to make comparative ratings, not real world ratings. CR opinion/comment means nothing if they did not used the EPA process and analysis the data using the EPA process.
Difference how? Are you comparing CR's procedure numbers to the required EPA procedure numbers? Most logical folks know you can only compare ratings using the same procedure. What CR has done means nothing and should be considered libelous.
A) the epa 60 mph is not reflective of real world speeds on the highway
B) your idea of having a test done in city traffic on public roads is not repeatable and not scientific. The test done on the CR course IS standardized and repeatable
C) CR does its own tests because the EPA tests can be gamed. The old testing had VERY outdated procedures for idle time, A/C use, and stop/starts. The new test is better, but still not reflective of real world speeds.
Since it is hard for some here to grasp, I will kindly explain...
CR says they often get results in their real world driving tests thst are close to or the same as the EPA standard tests, which are done on a dyno.
In THIS case, the discrepancy btwn the CR tests and EPA test results was huge.
CR doesn't run the EPA style test. The run a real test driving the cars in roads, not a dyno.
Breaking is what happens when glassware falls off the counter onto a ceramic tile floor. Braking is what happens when you mash your foot on the left or middle pedal.
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