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2018 Ford C-Max review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise

Ford C-Max highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • Comfortable cabin
  • Great cargo capacity
  • Accelerates quickly

Cons

  • Lacks driver-assistance features
  • Unimpressive design
  • Outdated platform

Mileage (EPA estimate)

42 city, 38 highway, 40 combined

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

Price
Year

Wagon space with a hybrid powertrain

The 2018 Ford C-Max is a wagon that runs on a hybrid powertrain and offers a smooth, quiet ride with lots of room for cargo and passengers. It's a practical choice for families, first and foremost, but it's also quite fun to drive thanks to the quick acceleration and great maneuverability. Ideal for driving around town and on the daily commute, the 2018 Ford C-Max is an ideal option if you appreciate versatility and function.

All Ford C-Max years

What is new for the 2018 Ford C-Max?

  • The C-Max is available in a variety of new trims, including the SE and Titanium.
  • The SE Energi and Titanium Energi trims have been discontinued for 2018.
  • Heated Steering Wheel and Sunroof(s) features are now available as options on select trims.

2018 Ford C-Max trims

Curious how Ford C-Max trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

SE:

  • 188-hp, 129-lb-ft of torque 2.0L
  • Power Seats
  • Cloth Seats
  • Cruise Control
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Mirrors
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Side Airbags
  • View our Ford C-Max SE inventory

Titanium:

  • Includes all features available on the SE
  • Parking Sensors
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Leather Seats
  • Remote Start
  • Smart Key
  • Sony Sound System
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay

SE Hybrid:

Titanium Hybrid:

5 reasons to buy the 2018 Ford C-Max

1. Good gas mileage 

Since it's a hybrid, it's only natural to expect good gas mileage from the 2018 Ford C-Max. The base model comes with a thrifty powertrain consisting of a 2.0L four-cylinder engine that's paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission in combination with two electric motors and a battery pack. With this powertrain, the 2018 Ford C-Max gets an EPA-estimated 40 mpg combined. 

2. Comfortable interior 

The 2018 Ford C-Max comes with a roomy cabin with nice materials, offering a comfortable ride for passengers in both rows. It can seat up to five people, with front head- and legroom measuring 41 inches and 43.1 inches, respectively. In the back, passengers get 39.4 inches and 36.5 inches of headroom and legroom, respectively. The 2018 C-Max comes standard with cloth upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, along with a power-adjustable driver's seat. 

3. Virtually no road or engine noise 

In addition to being spacious and elegant, the cabin of the 2018 Ford C-Max offers a quiet ride, too. That's thanks to the hybrid powertrain as well as innovative noise cancellation solutions — including acoustic glass. This combination helps reduce road and wind noise, resulting in a calm and pleasant ride experience. 

4. Balanced handling 

Apart from the quiet ride passengers are sure to appreciate, the 2018 Ford C-Max offers a fulfilling driving experience, as well. It drives smoothly, with balanced handling that resembles that of a smaller hatchback rather than a wagon. It turns corners with confidence and is agile, with quick acceleration and precise steering, going from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. 

5. Generous cargo capacity 

The high cargo capacity plays a significant role in making the 2018 Ford C-Max as appealing as possible. There is ample room for storage behind the rear seats, measuring 24.5 cu-ft, which is already generous and sufficient for most daily needs. However, if you need more space, you can fold down the rear seats to open up a total cargo capacity of 52.6 cu-ft, allowing you to carry several suitcases at a time or other bulkier items without a problem. The hands-free liftgate makes packing that much easier too. 

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

4.8 out of 5

5 customer reviews
4
Excellent

RepairPal gave the Ford C-Max an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Ford C-Max 7th out of 46 among Compact Cars.

RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Ford C-Max is $416, compared to an average of $453 for Compact Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.

According to RepairPal, Ford C-Max owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.7 times per year, compared to an average of 1.1 times for Compact Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.

RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 11% for the Ford C-Max, compared to an average of 12% for Compact Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.

Ford C-Max features and specs

Titanium 2WD 4D Wagon

Standard Features

  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Android Auto
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • CD Audio
  • Cruise Control
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Leather Seats
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Parking Sensors
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Seat(s)
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Remote Start
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Side Airbags
  • Smart Key
  • Sony Sound System
  • Sync System
  • Traction Control
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Blind Spot Monitor
  • Heated Steering Wheel
  • Panoramic Sunroof
  • Power Hatch/Deck Lid
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Sunroof(s)

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

2.0L

Horsepower

188

Torque (ft-lbs)

129

Engine type

Hybrid

Fuel capacity

13.5

Wheelbase

104.3"

Overall length

173.6"

Width

72"

Height

63.9"

Leg room

F 43.1"/R 36.5"

Head room

F 41"/R 39.4"

Front tires

P225/50VR17

Rear tires

P225/50VR17

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Automatic

2018 Ford C-Max FAQ


* Price excludes taxes, title, registration, and fees. Applicable transfer fees are due in advance of vehicle delivery and are separate from sales transactions.

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