Ford has been making a lot of noise about the mileage of its Fusion and C-MAX hybrids, claiming that their 47 mpg city/highway/combined mileage easily beat rival Toyota Camry and Prius models.
When tested by Consumer Reports (CR) though, both Ford hybrids' MPGs were found overstated. Actually, that’s an understatement: the publication bashed the two Blue Oval hybrids saying that “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.”
In CR’s tests, the Fusion Hybrid delivered 35/41/39 city/highway/overall mpg, while the respective numbers for the C-MAX Hybrid were 35/38/37 mpg.
Spurred by CR’s findings, an Environmental Protection Agency official who wished to remain anonymous revealed that the EPA will test the two Ford hybrids again.
Consumer Reports, which always buys the car it tests and doesn’t accept ads, said that it drove them 2,000 miles before installing a “precision fuel meter” in their fuel lines.
It then proceeded on to test city driving, which includes a standard course on its Connecticut test circuit, making multiple stops and letting them idle for a predetermined period. Highway mileage was obtained by driving both cars at 65 mph on the same part of highway.
Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood issued the following statement: “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. Driving styles, driving conditions and other factors can cause mileage to vary.”
CR’s auto test chief Jake Fisher said: “Hopefully the EPA and Ford can look into this… Eighty percent of the vehicles we tested are within 2 mpg of EPA estimates.”
He conceded that the Fusion and C-MAX “are still excellent vehicles when it comes to fuel economy. They are not gas guzzlers”, but he pointed out that “they’re certainly not matching the advertised claims.”
Last month, Hyundai and Kia admitted that a “testing procedure error” resulted in them advertising mileage for the majority of their 2012-2013 model year models and offered compensation to owners.
“There is an arms race when it comes to fuel economy”, commented Fisher. “There’s certainly a lot of emphasis on these numbers and getting them as high as possible.”
By Andrew Tsaousis
10 Comments:
I currently drive a 2010 Prius. This is our 2nd one (first being an '07). Both models were $24,000 out the door (tax inc.). In central AZ (lots of mountains and 50/50 expressway/backroads) the '07 averaged between 44-46mpg. The '10 is a bit better with 46-48. When we sold the '07 at 125,000 miles, the only thing we had to do was oil changes, filter changes, and one set of tires. The '10 now has just shy of 80,000 and same maintenance (tires, oil, & filters).
I have said from the beginning of this "hybrid" experience, having grown up in Detroit and spent almost 60 years there, as soon as any of the big 3 can/will make something like this Prius - I'll buy it! That's why I was so excited when Ford came out with their C-Max. Perfect! Plenty of room, great-looking, and comparable mileage...or so I thought until reading Consumer Reports. For over 20 years, I've subscribed to CR and honestly believe their reports to be fair and accurate.
I have praised Ford to anyone who would listen for even a minute for their refusal to get into the "buy-out." (I still congratulate them on that decision.) But, to STILL over-exaggerate these mileage claims BY 10 MPG is very disturbing! It is an outright lie! And if the company will lie about that, what else is being distorted or covered up?
FORD - I am ready to purchase another hybrid within a few months. I would love it to be an American product! Sorry, GM has nothing of interest - out here, I cannot go "all electric." Chrysler - please...they haven't even found the boat. So that leaves Ford. Please show me some "honest" figures and I'm back with you. I've had nothing but Ford Trucks for 40 years - I'd love to not get the bird when I'm driving the Toyota - so you have a customer willing, able, and waiting for some "honesty-in-advertising.
The ball is in Detroit's hands...and I'm ready!
You can go to fueleconomy dot gov and find that Prius owners are reporting in 51.1mpg vs 50EPA.
But C-max Hybrid owners are reporting 39.4 vs 47epa, and Fusion owners are reporting 40.6.
Sonata Hybrid is getting 36.3 vs 36. And Camry Hybrid 41.1 vs 41.
Ford is going to end up revising the numbers down by 5-7 mpg, and also issue refund. There's no way around it.
This article gets more distorted as it spreads.
The original article from Detroit News reported that the EPA is ONLY reviewing the Consumer Reports 'un-official' data and claim.
The EPA is NOT looking to re-test the C-Max/Fusion Hybrid mileage that was Certified by the EPA.
Actually what's happening is that Consumer Reports is being called to the carpet by the EPA.
Simply because Consumer reports created their own testing methods that are in contrast to the Government mandated EPA strict testing, that all auto manufacturers must follow.
For Example:
Consumer Reports test hwy mpg at a constant 65mph, the EPA test is max 60. The result is over 80% of gasoline vehicles tested so car do not reach the EPA mileage numbers, and hybrid vehicles will have an even wider gap when CR does their 'unofficial' testing.
Below is the Detroit News article. Even they distorted the facts in their headline, when the first line of their article makes a correction.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121208/AUTO0102/212080368/1148/auto01/EPA-will-review-Ford-C-Max-Fusion-47-mpg-claims.
Also it's important to remember that Consumer Reports DEFENDED the Hyundia/Kia mileage claims, that the EPA had adjusted and is still investigating.
Consumer Reports has been on the wrong side of the fence on so many situations lately, that it seems the EPA is now investigating them and opens them up for legal action from auto manufacturers who are 'injured' by Consumer Reports 'un-official' testing and claims against automakers.
Consumer Reports just put themselves on hot water. What's actually happening is that the EPA is reviewing the data and 'claims' of Consumer Reports. NOT reviewing the EPA Certified mileage obtained by following the strict/mandated testing cycles.
Consumer Reports is being called to the carpet by the EPA.
CR created their own 'un-official' higher speed testing methods, and do not follow the strict EPA testing that all auto manufactures must follow. Which means their results will always be less. Which is also why over 80% of gasoline cars don't reach EPA mileage numbers based on CR's 'un-official' testing results, and hybrids will have an even wider gap.
This may help with understandiing the impact of CR's 'unofficial' testing compared with EPA testing.
1. C-Max/Fusion Hybrid hybrid drive system works up to 62mph, then the gasoline engine takes over and starts recharging the battery.
2. EPA tests are at a 60mph max. CR's test is a consistent 65mph.
3. Which means CR's 'un-official' testing guarantees that the two vehicles in question will NOT reach EPA hwy mileage numbers.
CR's data would have value if they actually followed the EPA testing methods, but CR does not. So they only provide noise and confusion for the consumer.
Which is why the EPA is not 'reviewing' CR's 'claims'.
Uhm...Bloggin'....get a clue. EPA doesn't have any oversight of CR. They have no jurisdiction, no power. They aren't investigating CR at all.
Take your biased, irrational hate of CR, and your diatribes, and go away.
Perhaps your reading skills are at fault. CR says: "...Eighty percent of the vehicles we tested are within 2 mpg of EPA estimates.”
So these are outliers.
CR's data has value because they've shown that in the real world, over 80% of cars are within 2 mpg of EPA estimates. Ford's C-Max is down by 10. 10 buddy. In a standardized test, that makes Ford OUTLIERS. So either Fords unintentionally get awful mileage in the real world, or Ford intentionally is gaming the EPA test by optimizing for it.
Correct....80% of of traditional gasoline powered vehicles. Hybrids will have a wider variance due to how CR does their 'un-official' testing.
The EPA, which is the Federal Environmental Protection Agency is the ONLY governing body relating to vehicle mileage claims.
2 mpg of EPA estimates is ONLY relating to traditional gasoline powered vehicles. CR's concept of 'real world' is that they just go faster in their tests than the EPA mandated testing all manufacturers MUST follow. So following the EPA testing, C-Max and Fusion Hybrid will reach 47/47/47.
Funny, where was Consumer Reports when Honda was overstating their MPG? Where was Consumer Reports when Hyundai were overstating their MPG?
CU has hated Ford for years, and continues their smear campaign. They have always loved the Jap cars-and they make fine cars-but the bottom line here is that the EPA established the mileage figures, not Ford.CU alleges to never have taken $$, but why is it they always top rate a Honda or Toyota with a new engine, yet a domestic model is always rated "new"? Think about it.
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