Ford Cuts MPG Figures For Six Models, Offers Rebates For Customers

by Derek Kreindler

Published: June 13th, 2014

ford cuts mpg figures for six models offers rebates for customers

Already stung by a reduction in fuel economy ratings for both the Fusion Hybrid and C-Max Hybrid, Ford is yet again revising figures for various models, including the C-Max, Fiesta, Fusion and MKZ.

The breakdown of the changes is listed in the table below. Ford will also offer goodwill payments to lease and purchase customers, varying from $125-$1,050 depending on the model.

U.S. EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy Label Ratings and Goodwill Payments*Model YearVehiclePowertrainRevised

(City, Highway, Combined)

Previous

(City, Highway, Combined)

Lease Customers Purchase

Customers2014Fiesta1.0L GTDI M/T31 / 43 / 3632 / 45 / 37$125$2001.6L A/T27 / 37 / 3129 / 39 / 32$150$2501.6L SFE A/T28 / 38 / 3230 / 41 / 34$275$4501.6L M/T28 / 36 / 3127 / 38 / 31Combined MPG not affectedCombined MPG not affected2013-14C-MAXHybrid42 / 37 / 4045 / 40 / 43$300$475FusionHybrid44 / 41 / 4247 / 47 / 47$450$775MKZHybrid38 / 37 / 3845 / 45 / 45$625$1,050Model YearVehiclePowertrainRevised**

(Charge Sustaining, Charge Depleting, EV Range)

Previous**

(Charge Sustaining, Charge Depleting, EV Range)

Lease Customers Purchase

Customers2013-14C-MAX EnergiPlug-in Hybrid38 mpg / 88 MPGe+ /

19 mi EV range

43 mpg / 100 MPGe+ /

21 mi EV range

$475$775Fusion EnergiPlug-in Hybrid38 mpg / 88 MPGe+ /

19 mi EV range

43 mpg / 100 MPGe+ /

21 mi EV range

$525$850

*Bolded figures in the above chart represent the values used to determine the customer goodwill payment.

** Combined numbers only. Revised EPA-estimated ratings: 40 city, 36 highway MPG; 95 city, 81 highway MPGe. Charge depleting range is 20 mi. Previous EPA-estimated ratings: 44 city, 41 highway MPG; 108 city, 92 hwy MPGe. Previous charge depleting range was 21.

+MPGe is the EPA equivalent measure of gasoline fuel efficiency for electric mode operation.

#EPA #Ford #FordC-max #FuelEconomy

Derek Kreindler

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12 of 47 comments

Tjh8402 on Jun 13, 2014

it truly is a case of your mileage may vary. I had a cmax as a rental once and I average 51 mpg around town without much hyper miling. On the highway, I was seeing about 40. I actually enjoyed it better than a lot of cars because I could actually drive it a bit more enthusiastically and brake a little more (instead of coasting all the way to a stop) without killing the mileage. I was really impressed. It's not a truly a Prius competitor, but an option to get better than almost any gasoline car sorts of mileage in a practical shape that can rival a focus for fun to drive.

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- Z71_Silvy on Jun 13, 2014
  
  "it truly is a case of your mileage may vary." No, not even close. This is simply a case of Ford lying to gain sales.
  
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- Tjh8402 on Jun 13, 2014
  
  @Z71_Silvy I'm going from my own experience. I've had a Fusion 1.6t as a rental and those didn't meet their mileage marks. I can't say that about the Cmax though. I put around 350-400 miles on it with the overwhelming majority being 75 mph highway cruising and the average for the trip was 40 mpg. At lower highway speeds (more in line with the EPA), I was averaging over 40, and as I said, I did a stint of around town driving where the mileage for that period was 51 mpg.
  
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- Highdesertcat on Jun 13, 2014
  
  Z71_Silvy, all automakers do it. And YMMV based on how and where the vehicle is driven. Contractors I know who drive Silverado don't get anywhere near the mpgs listed on the window sticker. What they get is no better than what I get in my thirsty Tundra 5.7 (without cylinder deactivation).
  
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- Z71_Silvy on Jun 14, 2014
  
  @highdesertcat Ford has revised the MPG numbers TWICE. Who else in the history of automobiles has had to do this? NOBODY! Ford lied flat out. And no, everybody does not do this.
  
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- Highdesertcat on Jun 14, 2014
  
  @Z71_Silvy "Ford lied flat out" So did Hyundai, and KIA, and Toyota, and even, (gulp) Honda! Anyone who can publicly state for the record and with a straight face that they achieve EPA mpg numbers, has to be doing so going downhill with the wind at their backs. Too many variables in the real world that are not factored in during factory testing.
  
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- Zykotec on Jun 14, 2014
  
  @Z71_Silvy Except for the Civic hybrid, Honda actually tends to be the manufacturer who guesses their real world fuel consumption most accurately. It could be because their cars are set up more for actual driving than to do good at EPA testing, not only because they're a lot more honest than everyone else. (Yeah, I know they s**k at admitting mistakes, but it's because they don't have much experience at making mistakes)
  
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- Rudiger on Jun 15, 2014
  
  @Z71_Silvy IIRC, Ford didn't actually 'lie flat out' but simply exploited a loophole in the way EPA mpg ratings are assessed. I believe it was a matter of using Fusion Hybrid EPA ratings to calculate those for the C-Max since both use the same, identical hybrid drivetrain. Deceitful? Yes, because the two vehicles have vastly different body styles that would obviously impact real world numbers. Nevertheless, what Ford did was allowed under the EPA rules at the time.
  
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Freddie on Jun 13, 2014

"Your mileage may vary" One of the two most famous disclaimers in advertising. The other? Something about "four hours".

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- Highdesertcat on Jun 13, 2014
  
  Freddie, the four hours referred to "seek immediate medical attention."
  
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Conslaw on Jun 14, 2014

I think the first revised versions of CMAX MPG were spot on. The new ones are being tougher on the CMAX than the EPA is on other cars. (I'm looking at you Equinox.) The lifetime MPG in my CMAX, rising after a long winter, is 43.9. Last week I made a 400 mile trip to Chicago with 4 adults and a hatch full of luggage and averaged 46.9, the best highway MPG I have ever recorded for that car. What I initially said about the CMAX still holds. It's won't give you Prius-level mpg, but it is the cheapest full hybrid that you can buy that is at least as quick as the average car.

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Badger12 on Jun 06, 2015

We bought a 2014 Escape with a gas mileage sticker that said 46 mpg. Well that sure isn't happening. We get about 34 mpg. I have never owned a car that I couldn't match the sticker within 2 mpg. I drive for a Ford dealer and Escape seems to be the worse. I delivered a F150 4 wheel drive and averaged 10/100km. The Escape following me averaged 10.8L/100km. There no way that truck should be showing better mileage. That being said it's not even on the rebate list.

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