2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid SE Review - Hugely Efficient And Surprisingly Fun In The Real World

Over the course of one week driving the 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid SE, the Ford's onboard computer declared that 107 of the 211 kilometres we drove, 51 percent, were completed on electric power alone.

THE GOOD + Very efficient + Quiet in every way + Serene ride quality + Fun handling

THE BAD – Cabin design – Cargo area cramped – Not the prettiest car – A non-foldable key?

As a result, the C-Max consumed only 5.1 litres of fuel for every 100 kilometres of mostly urban driving, equal to 46 miles per gallon on the U.S. scale.

That might surprise the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Ford originally – and incorrectly – linked the C-Max's fuel economy to that of the more aerodynamic Ford Fusion Hybrid. 

Afterward, the C-Max's fuel economy ratings took a big hit, plunging from 47 miles per gallon to 40 mpg. 

Yet three years after our test of a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid SEL ended in a week-long result of 47 mpg, or 5.0 L/100km, we easily matched those figures in another C-Max in May 2016. 

Almost. 

10.77 litres of $1.00/L gasoline for 211 kilometres of driving in a family hatchback sure ain't bad. Rather than the 5.0 L/100km achievement we saw three years ago, this year's test in the less handsomely equipped C-Max Hybrid SE resulted in one-tenth of a litre of additional fuel for every 100 kilometres of travel. The fuel pumps at our local Irving filling station agreed with the C-Max's onboard computer: 5.09 L/100km. 

2016 FORD C-MAX HYBRID SE Base Price: $27,699 * As-Tested Price: $28,824 * Colour: Kona Blue Metallic Drive Type: front-wheel-drive Transmission: continuously variable Engine: 2.0L DOHC 16-valve turbocharged I-4 Horsepower: 141 @ 6000 rpm Torque: 129 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm Battery: 1.4 kWh Li-ion Battery Power: 35 kw Combined Horsepower: 188 Curb Weight: 3640 pounds Length: 173.6 inches Width: 72.0 inches Height: 63.9 inches Wheelbase: 104.3 inches Tires: Michelin Energy Saver A/S Tire Size: 225/50R17 Passenger Volume: 2823 litres Cargo Volume: 694 litres Max. Cargo Volume: 1490 litres EPA City: 42 MPG EPA Highway: 37 MPG NRCAN OEE City: 5.6 L/100km NRCAN OEE Hwy: 6.4 L/100km Observed: 46.1 mpg Observed: 5.1 L/100km * Canadian dollars, includes $1700 in fees.

The numbers are impressive given our unwillingness to drive the C-Max differently than we would other cars. Because of its supple ride and communicative chassis, the C-Max doesn't ask to be driven in an environmentally-friendly fashion. 

Indeed, even with eco-minded tires and Ford Focus-based underpinnings that lack any Focus ST or Focus RS stiffening, the C-Max would rather be driven quickly down a twisty rural road than hypermiled through city traffic. 

Still, here we are with two consecutive tests in which the Ford C-Max Hybrid overperformed.

Driving styles, of course, aren't the only factors to consider. This test of the C-Max required very little HVAC operation because of not-too-warm/not-too-cold spring temperatures along the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. And while our driving does take place in the suburbs and city, there is very little traffic and a fair number of 60 kmh cruises, sans stoppages. 

Thus, like the EPA and Natural Resources Canada's Office Of Energy Efficiency, we're not telling GCBC readers that you will match the figures we've seen from the Ford C-Max Hybrid. But we also won't deny that the efficient behaviour of our 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid was matched by a 2016 Ford C-Max Hybrid. 

Speaking of things we won't deny, there's no escaping the fact that the Ford C-Max arrived in late 2012, and it must now compete with an all-new, fourth-generation Toyota Prius. 

The new Prius has combined fuel economy ratings of 4.5 L/100km, or 52 mpg from the EPA. (There's very little difference in a typical driver's at-the-pump money costs once cars become this efficient.) But in addition to the new Prius's efficiency gains, the Toyota remains the obvious choice. Like Kleenex and tissue, Band-Aids and bandages, the Prius is hybrid. 

All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
Click Images For A Larger View

And now, the Prius is a more modern device. We'll have a full review on the new 2016 Toyota Prius in the next couple weeks, but there's no doubt the C-Max SE's superior dynamic qualities aren't able to completely overcome an interior lacking more modern Fords' control layout or feature count. 

Not only was this $28,824 2016 Ford C-Max SE lacking keyless access, the key was a bulky item that didn't fold up to better fit inside a pocket. Moreover, the buttons for remote starting were on another fob altogether. 

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These would have been odd complaints a decade ago; they'd have suggested inordinately lofty expectations at the C-Max's 2012 debut. But now we're mid-way through 2016, and the game has moved on.

The C-Max also lacks the spacious cargo area you'd expect from one of Europe's mini-MPVs, because the hybrid's lithium-ion battery pack elevates the height of the cargo floor. 

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Historical Monthly & Yearly Ford C-Max Sales Figures
2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Driven Review

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Driven Review

2015 Volkswagen Golf TDI Sportwagon Driven Review

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Nevertheless, with manual transmissions disappearing and ride heights rising and autonomy becoming a part of everyday cars, it's a pleasant surprise to have fun in an efficient small car. It's something with which owners of Volkswagen Golf TDIs are familiar. Driven like it's capable of being driven, the Volkswagen Golf TDI doesn't suffer on the economy front. 

Neither, apparently, does the 2016 Ford C-Max. But this is an efficient car that you can actually buy.

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook. The C-Max was supplied by Ford Canada's press office.

Auto News For Wednesday, May 11, 2016 - We're Getting A Better Idea Of What The New Top Gear Will Be Like

Just finished in Venice with this crew. pic.twitter.com/l4gjJCuymu

— Matt LeBlanc (@Matt_LeBlanc) March 22, 2016

Here are the six must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Wednesday, May 11, 2016. 

BUICK
Buick isn't going to renew the Verano. And with Buick about to source an even greater percentage of its sales via utility vehicles thanks to the Envision's arrival, does Buick need to bother with any of its cars in the U.S.? – TTAC

BMW
U.S. sales of the BMW Z4 tumbled 91% between 2003 and 2015. Lest you think there's a reason for BMW to give up on its roadster, there will be a next-gen Z4. Will anybody buy it? – Automobile

FORD
Canadian sales of the Ford F-Series climbed to an all-time monthly record in March. And that record was broken just one month later by the F-Series, which produces 7% of the Canadian auto industry's volume. – Autofocus

FCA
By January 2018, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will be building the next-generation Ram P/U. Production of the Chrysler 200 may end before 2016 closes. – Reuters

CASCADA
"If GM had built the Cascada on the Alpha platform (Cadillac ATS), and stuck a proper engine in it, well, we wouldn’t be here now, roasting the product-planning department’s innards over a fire." Wall Street Journal

WATCH
Of course it won't be the same. Stop saying, "It won't be the same." The globally infamous host trio is gone. But that doesn't mean that Top Gear doesn't know how to put a picture together, and it doesn't mean Chris Harris isn't great. Here's the newest new Top Gear extended trailer.

GCBC's The Good 12 For 2016

GCBC's The Good 12 for 2016 includes the vehicles that would be most welcomed as permanent members of the GCBC Towers driveway. Park them out front on Christmas morning. Tie them with a bow. We appreciate your kindness.

None have base prices above USD $67,000. They reflect many different parts of the market, they come from different places, they're powered by very different engines, they're accomplished in different areas. And when any one of them drives by, I want it for myself. 

Click any of the images to be taken to the model's Sales Stats page. Don't forget to check out GCBC's The Bad 8, the cars which we don't want to receive even as gifts. For more on what The Good 12 really is, visit the GCBC Awards page.

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	Chevrolet Suburban Can it ____? Yes. What about ___? Of course. Even ____? Yeah, that too. Fill in the blanks however you want. The Chevrolet Suburban is what you buy when you need one vehicle to meet every potential vehicular need.
	Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Remember the first Dodge Charger SRT-8 with its audacious 425-horsepower V8? That car was an edgy and affordable Detroit riposte to the typical German muscle sedan. This Charger SRT? 707 horsepower. Edgy, indeed.
	Ford Mustang There isn't just one good Mustang. The V6 is fun and affordable. The GT is fast and evocative. The Shelby GT350 is a proper European sports car fighter. They all look terrific. They're all far more modern than Mustangs were just two years ago.
	Honda Odyssey The value quotient with every minivan is unbelievably convincing. The Odyssey separates itself from the people-carrying pack with the sort of steering, ride, and handling that, rather than punishing you, rewards you instead.
	Jeep Wrangler Just ask the politicians who flop because they couldn't pull off the cowboy-boots-at-the-Iowa-state-fair look: authenticity matters. The Wrangler is exactly what the Wrangler is supposed to be.
	Mazda 3 5-Door Mazda's most popular car is the best all-around small car money can buy. It's sufficiently quick and fuel efficient, tackles a corner with aplomb, and marries attractive interior styling to terrific exterior styling.
	Mazda MX-5 Miata You wake up early on a Saturday morning in July. You took care of the day's pressing concerns last night. You own a Miata, so you leave the house to go for a drive. To nowhere in particular.
	Mini Clubman Most Minis are simply too small. The first two big Minis – Countryman and 4-Door – are awkward. So why not a Mini wagon? Mixing great on-road behaviour and a small wagon body at an affordable price produces a winner.
	Porsche Macan S 20 years ago the idea would have sounded foolish. But what's so categorically wrong about a Porsche with Porsche-like dynamics, all-weather appeal, and space for five people and their stuff?
	Ram 1500 EcoDiesel The Ram 1500 is a very good pickup truck, with or without the diesel. Highly regarded handling, true full-size capability, and attractive styling are integral to the equation. But mixing all this torque with so little fuel is a remarkable achievement.
	Volkswagen Golf GTI Before you even spend time with the GTI, you know it will be good. But then it's better than that. More space than you expected. More power. More expertise on a twisty road. And a more mature blend of performance attributes than you thought possible.
	Volvo XC90 Nobody does wagons quite like Volvo. But the modern wagon isn't really a wagon, is it? We want to ride high, climb snowbanks, and see the traffic beneath us. Thus, Volvo presents the second-gen XC90, with one of the best interiors in the current automotive universe and a prototypical Swedish exterior.

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RECOMMENDED READING
2015's The Good 12
2014's The Good 12
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2015 YTD U.S. Sales
Every Vehicle Ranked By November 2015 Canadian Sales
2016's The Bad 8

Auto News For Wednesday, December 16, 2015 - Infiniti Readies A 400-Horsepower Q50

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Wednesday, December 16, 2015.

HORSEPOWER
Ever since Infiniti restored its G nameplate in 2002, the brand's entry-level sedan has been anything but short on power. But for the 2016 model year, Infiniti's G35/G37 successor, the Q50, will be offered with even more power, including a 400-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6. There will also be a 300-horsepower V6 and a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder with 208 horsepower, an engine you know from the Mercedes-Benz CLA250, Mercedes-Benz GLA250, Mercedes-Benz Metris, and Infiniti's new Q30 and QX30.

SLC
As pitiful as alphanumeric names so often are, Mercedes-Benz appeared to have built up some cachet with the SLK roadster. So they're throwing it away, just as they've tossed overboard the M-Clas, GL-Class, and GLK-Class. The SLK is now the SLC, and replacing the SLK55 AMG is this Mercedes-AMG SLC43. Replacing the 5.5L V8 is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6. So what's the deal with the 43 part?

TTAC
Ford's four former core brands at the Blue Oval's Premier Automotive Group haven't completely gone their separate ways – Jaguar and Land Rover remain paired at India's Tata Motors. But Chinese-owned Volvo and Ford-owned Lincoln and the JLR tandem are now isolated entities. How has their status been affected in the U.S. over the last decade?

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
To what degree can Volkswagen turn the tide of public opinion if the company introduces an all-electric Microbus at the CES next month? Likely not as far as Volkswagen could turn the tide if they delivered a production Microbus with a mass-appeal powertrain, a vehicle that would appear on driveways near you in 2017.

WATCH
We're big fans of the new Mini Clubman. After Mini flubbed the first-generation, the new Clubman is a genuinely spacious Mini, but with more handsome proportions than the 5-door. And the barn doors do look cool, even though they're a bit of a nuisance.

Auto News For Thursday, December 11, 2015 - Ford Spends $4.5 Billion On Electrification, IIHS Top Safety Picks, Fiat Falling

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Friday, December 11, 2015.

FUTURE
Ford wants you to think of the Blue Oval not just as a symbol of an automaker, but as a technology company. Whatever. Regardless, Ford is pouring $4.5 billion into electric car development over the next five years.

SAFETY
The Scion iA, Acura ILX, Chevrolet Sonic, Kia Soul, Mazda 3, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Impreza, and Volkswagen Golf are some of the more affordable vehicles named this week as IIHS Top Safety Picks. Many of the vehicles on the IIHS list require optional front crash prevention kit.

TTAC
Fiat sales are crumbling in the United States. Though the brand now markets three models, sales in 2015 will be some 4% lower than they were in 2012, when Fiat was a newly launched brand in North America with just one model.

AWD
Brendan McAleer delves into the details of four driven wheels: the benefits and the variants.

WATCH
The first comment on Alex Dykes' video review of the 2016 Shelby Super Snake Mustang says, "Where is the new Prius! I want see you review 2016 Prius! LOL."

Auto News For Thursday, December 10, 2015 - Hyundai's Genesis Brand Introduces G90

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories and videos for Thursday, December 10, 2015.

FUTURE
Hyundai's new Genesis brand – not the Genesis sedan or coupe, not the Genesis band, but the new Genesis brand – now has a flagship. The G90 was revealed yesterday in Seoul. Here's the automaker's new website, which clearly states at the bottom the parentage: "Hyundai Motor."

AUTOFOCUS
There are reasons to believe these vehicles would sell, but from the BMW Z4 and Buick Regal to the Ford C-Max and Ford Flex, these are 25 of the most ignored vehicles in Canada.

TTAC
Ford's F-Series outsold the two full-size GM pickup trucks in the U.S. in November, the first such occasion since March of this year. Sales of the midsize-leadng Toyota Tacoma are booming, too, so Toyota is planning to build more of them.

REVIEW
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, according to Automobile magazine, "merits cross-shopping even against the feature-rich Korean entries in the class," as a value proposition.

WATCH
The Toronto cab driver who wished to confront an Uber driver was obviously not behaving as he would on his best days. But you've got to hand it to him: strong fingers, man.

Review: 2015 Ford F-150 Platinum EcoBoost SuperCrew 4x4 - A Truck's Truck

Maybe I'm older than I think, but it doesn't seem that long ago that hopping into the new pickup truck owned by a neighbour or uncle went hand in hand with hoping they'd optioned it up with air conditioning.

The pickup truck market went through two major transformations in the 1990s, however. First, the 1994 Dodge Ram brought intentional style to the pickup truck arena. Year-over-year, sales of the Ram tripled in 1994. 

A few years later, the tenth-generation F-Series modernized the Ford F-150 lineup for the first time in nearly two decades, and in 2000, Ford began the process of bringing crew cab mentality to the mainstream truck market. As Ford furthered that idea with a new F-150 for 2004, the year before Hurricane Katrina spiked fuel prices, total U.S. F-Series sales rose to 940,000, a total seen neither before nor since.

THE GOOD • Mighty, mighty powerplant • Handsome exterior • Expansive interior • Enough equipment to keep you busy • Huge towing/payload capability

THE BAD • EcoBoost? Try BoostEco • Jittery FX4/20-nch wheels ride quality • Stuck with MyFord Touch for now • Lighter body, but still feels ponderous • Trucks aren't pricey; trucks can be pricey

The pickup truck market isn't in a revolutionary phase at the moment, but trucks are changing more rapidly, and the market's tastes are evolving rather swiftly, as well. FCA's Ram brand brought diesel back into the light-duty market. GM's two-pronged full-size approach is producing class-leading market share in the United States, and GM has also restored interest in the small/midsize pickup truck segment. At Ford, aluminum bodies were a key part of the F-150's transformation for model year 2015.

And while luxury marques were pushed out of the truck market – there's no more Lincoln Blackwood or Mark LT; no Cadillac Escalade EXT – premium pickup trucks form an increasingly large portion of the truck market. TrueCar said one-quarter of all F-150s sold in the United States last year cost more than $50,000.

North of the border, prices reach into the upper echelons of luxury. The 2015 Ford F-150 Platinum EcoBoost SuperCrew 4x4 we tested last week is not the most expensive F-150 Ford Canada sells. But the window sticker still reads $77,349. 

WHAT IS IT?
Ford's F-Series range of pickup trucks, led by the light-duty F-150, are the best-selling vehicles in North America. Rarely does a moment pass when you can't spot a handful of F-150s at once. Six out of every 100 new vehicles sold in Canada is a Ford pickup truck; four out of every 100 in the United States.

They're not all $77,349 Platinum grade pickups. 

All Photo Credits: Steffani Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net
Click Any Image For A Larger View - Photo Shot in Hartlen Point, Nova Scotia 

In Canada, official unincentivized F-150 pricing starts at $27,099, or $35,199 with four-wheel-drive. In popular XLT trim, a four-wheel-drive SuperCab (using a rear-hinged rear door, not a conventional door like competitors at Ram, GMC, Chevrolet, and Toyota) starts at $43,399. The XLT SuperCrew – four full-size doors – comes standard with a 5.0L V8, and with the 5.5-foot bed, costs $47,149. 

2015 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW 4X4 PLATINUM ECOBOOST Base Price: $68,799 * As-Tested Price: $77,349 * Drive Type: four-wheel-drive Transmission: 6-speed automatic Engine: 3.5L DOHC 24-valve twin-turbocharged V6 Horsepower: 365 @ 5000 rpm Torque: 420 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm Curb Weight: 4890 pounds Length: 231.9 inches Width: 79.9 inches Height: 76.9 inches Wheelbase: 145.0 inches Tires: Hancook Dynapro AT-m Tire Size: 275/55R20 Passenger Volume: 3732 litres Cargo Volume: 1495 litres EPA City: 17 MPG EPA Highway: 23 MPG NRCAN OEE City: 14.2 L/100km NRCAN OEE Hwy: 10.4 L/100km Observed: 17.8 mpg Observed: 13.2 L/100km * Canadian dollars, includes $1800 in fees.

Our tester wasn't an XL, XLT, Lariat, or King Ranch. This is the Platinum, only sold in SuperCrew 4x4 form with the 5.5-foot bed and four-wheel-drive. Standard with the 5.0L V8, the 3.5L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 adds $900. Our truck also added $400 red paint, a $1,750 twin panel moonroof, $1,500 adaptive cruise control, the $750 FX4 off-road package, a $1,250 technology package (Lane Keep Assist and extra exterior cameras), Ford's $550 Active Park Assist, and $1,350 worth of floor mats, bed side steps, bed extenders, and spray-in bed liner. Options total on a $68,799 F-150 Platinum? $8,550.

HOW BIG IS IT?
An F-150 SuperCrew with the 5.5-foot bed isn't the biggest F-150. In fact, the SuperCrew with this smaller bed is the same length as the F-150 SuperCab with the longer 6.5-foot bed. Indeed, the longest F-150 is the SuperCab with the 8-foot bed, unavailable on the SuperCrew, a truck that rides on a 163.7-inch wheelbase and stretches 250.5 inches from nose to tail. 

Relative to its rivals, the F-150 SuperCrew with the shortest bed, at 231.9 inches long, is 1.9 inches longer than a similarly outfitted Chevrolet Silverado and 2.9 inches longer than a Ram 1500. With 79.9 inches of width, excluding the mirrors, the F-150's body is one-tenth of an inch narrower than the Silverado and half an inch wider than the Ram. Height and ground clearance depend greatly on configuration. The last Ram 1500 Crew Cab we tested was a 2014 EcoDiesel weighing in at 5,802 pounds. Our 2014 GMC Sierra Crew Cab 5.3L SLT tester tipped the scales at 5,341 pounds. Ford says this F-150, at 4,890 pounds, is 912 and 451 pounds lighter than those two trucks, respectively. 

The Toyota Camry, North America's best-selling car, is 41 inches shorter, 8.2 inches narrower, and 1,410 pounds lighter in V6 XSE trim.

DOES IT WORK?
Start outside. We typically have very little to say on the subject, since we figure can study the pictures yourself and because style is subjective. But the F-150 is very handsome, very authoritative, and very obviously a Ford. The massive "Platinum" plate across the tailgate is, sadly, both garish and chintzy. The proletarian FX4 badge seems tawdry on such a highfalutin truck. But for the most part, in a world of fairly attractive pickups, the F-150 stands out without sticking out like a sore thumb.

Inside, the 2015 F-150 is still let down by an infotainment unit that wasn't impressive three years ago. MyFord Touch works – there are no system freezes – and it's not really all that complicated. But it's slow and fiddly. (Newer F-150s will operate with SYNC 3.) Tech aside, the F-150 interior is, for the most part, a wonderful place to spend time. The sensation of space is as strong as you'd expect, perhaps stronger. The truck is well built, and there are unique touches like the door pulls, a nifty sliding panel ahead of the shifter, and plentiful ambient lighting to keep things interesting. Visibility isn't best-in-class, however, and the seats in this Platinum tester were deemed by everyone who tried them to be too firm with seams too prominent.

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Historical Monthly & Yearly Ford F-Series Sales Figures
2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Outdoorsman 4x4 Quad Cab Driven Review
2015 GMC Sierra 6.2L SLT Crew Cab 4x4 Driven Review
2015 Ford Mustang V6 Driven Review

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On the move, the F-150's 3.5L twin-turbo V6's 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque are made known just off idle. Not only is the F-150 3.5L EcoBoost far from slow, it's verifiably quick, with nought-to-highway-speed times well below six seconds. The 6-speed automatic isn't the wonder that Ram's 8-speed is, but it's never caught flubbing shifts; never drawing negative attention to itself. 

The jittery ride is attention-grabbing, unfortunately, though it may be exacerbated in this truck by 20-inch wheels and the FX4's off-road-tuned shock absorbers. Never does the F-150 let you forget that you're in a truck, as opposed to the magic carpet ride one encounters in an upmarket Ram 1500 with air suspension. 

The F-150 doesn't steer as quickly or with as much precision as the Ram, either, and the delightfully progressive brake modulation enjoyed in a GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado is missing in the F-150. Cornering too quickly in the Ram or GM twins? You'll be alright, as they'll instill you with a measure of unexpected confidence. In the F-150, you'll back off. The F-150 is the lightest truck of the bunch, but it feels like the more ponderous in most situations.

IS ANYONE BUYING IT?
Sometimes it seems like everyone is buying it. But F-Series sales aren't as strong this year as last. Blame can be laid, in part, at the feet of supply. As Ford transitioned from one generation to the next, it was difficult for consumers to find the exact F-150 they wanted. As a result, the F-Series' Canadian market share in the overall truck category is down to 34% in 2015 from 38% in 2014. The F-Series is Canada's top-selling truck and top-selling vehicle vehicle, but sales are down 5% this year. 

In the United States, F-Series sales are up 1.5% in 2015, but for the first time since 2009, GM's full-size twins will combine to outsell the F-Series, which isn't expanding its volume nearly as fast as the overall truck category.

SHOULD I BUY SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD?
If there was only one reason to look elsewhere, it would likely be price. Because supply is still relatively constrained compared to demand, Ford isn't incentivizing F-150 purchases and leases to the degree that General Motors and Ram are. This was a topic we discussed in our review of the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel last week. Although you may think the optional diesel upgrade is too expensive, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' steep discounts make the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel a very interesting value proposition.

The prices we quoted above, even for this specific truck, are not the out-the-door prices an actual customer will pay for the F-150. But if you're not tied to the Blue Oval, it's worth considering trucks that may cost less than the F-150, particularly since the Ram excels in ride/handling terms and the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra offer such a quiet interior.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I PAY?
If you're considering a luxury pickup truck, I'm not going to stop you. Not only is this Ford equipped like a true luxury vehicle – heated steering wheel, full-length moonroof, cooled seats, abundant safety kit, 360-degree cameras, power retractable running boards – but it also proves that space is luxury. Spread three across in the back, your kids' shoulders won't even be close to touching, and they won't be able to stretch their legs far enough to reach your seatback. 

But it's a lot of money for a truck that is, in essence, very much the same as an F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 with the shockingly quick 2.7L EcoBoost V6 and Ford Canada's popular 302A package: powered and heated seats, remote start, power-sliding rear window, backup camera, reverse sensing. That truck currently lists for less than $50,000. Pretentiousness and fripperies account for much of the $27,000 difference.

WHAT'S THE VERDICT?
Put to work the way many modern pickup trucks are – as a family car and commuter – a 2015 Ford F-150 on 20-inch wheels with the FX4 off-road package simply isn't as effective an on-road companion as a Ram 1500 with air suspension. EcoBoost power is, at best, more like BoostEco. And in a nearly $80,000 pickup truck in 2015, making MyFord Touch/SYNC a part of your daily journey feels a little like paying extra for an iPhone 3GS in a world that's already welcomed multiple generations of newer iPhones. 

As a true work pickup truck, however, even in Platinum trim, the 2015 Ford F-150 EcoBoost excels. Abundant power and torque and a strong structure create payload and towing capacity that shame the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel we reviewed last week. Sure, the Ram consumes less fuel and drives nicer when not working, but it can't work as hard. F-150 SuperCrew 4x4 EcoBoosts are rated to tow up to 11,400 pounds with payload capacity of up to 2,650 pounds. Together, those are unbeatable figures in the light-duty segment, figures which crush the Ram and are challenged only by GM's 6.2L V8, which narrowly bests the F-150 in terms of towing but doesn't come close in payload capacity.

If you need your truck to be a car, the F-150 is not quite as good as the Ram, Silverado, and Sierra. If, on the other hand, you need your pickup truck to be a pickup truck, while replicating some car-like characteristics, the 2015 F-150 is the truckiest truck. 

Timothy Cain is the founder of GoodCarBadCar.net, which obsesses over the free and frequent publication of U.S. and Canadian auto sales figures. Follow on Twitter @goodcarbadcar and on Facebook. The F-150 was supplied by Ford Canada's press office.

Auto News For Tuesday, November 17, 2015 - Ford Refreshes Escape For 2017

Here are the seven must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

FORD
Ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford introduced a facelifted 2017 Escape with a new front fascia, new technology, and new engines. The Escape’s new 2.0L turbo is said to be more powerful and efficient, a 1.5L turbo – like the 2.0L – features stop-start tech, and Ford also debuted SYNC Connect, which will enable owners to start the vehicle, unlock the vehicle, and check other things on the vehicle from a remote location. The Escape is Canada’s top-selling SUV; America’s second-best-selling SUV.

VW
The 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Dune won’t save Volkswagen from its diesel emissions troubles, nor will it be a mainstream car. But to Beetle enthusiasts, it’s likely everything they wanted the Beetle to already be.

KIA
Toyota struck gold with the Prius. But with the auto industry increasingly earnings its keep with SUVs and crossovers, Kia is going to try to replicate the Prius’s success with a dedicated hybrid crossover, the Niro. 

AUTOFOCUS
Across much of the world, Volvo has not been struggling. But in North America, the brand’s sales fell so low some wondered whether its Chinese ownership would want to continue funding the North American operations. The XC90 is here now, however, and it’s selling very well, and Volvo thus appears to be on its way back.

TTAC
Scion is about to introduce a new crossover based on the Toyota C-HR Concept. Scion is already displaying signs of life because of the iM and iA. The C-HR could be just what the brand needs to regain the strength Scion displayed a decade ago. 

RECALL
BMW is recalling 7162 copies of the 2016 5-Series – 528i, 535i, 550i, 535d, and M5 – because of, "an inboard lower anchor for child restraints on the left rear seat that may have been bent downwards, preventing the child seat from fully engaging both lower anchors.” 

WATCH 
Americans couldn’t have the first-generation Smart Fortwo. The second Fortwo sold well at first but gradually waned. The third-generation is believed to be a dramatic improvement. Here’s Alex Dykes’ Alex On Autos review, the most detailed and thorough on YouTube.

Auto News For Monday, November 9, 2015 - Volkswagen’s October U.S. Sales Volume Increased

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, recalls and videos for Monday, November 9, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Although Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover is on a roll, a China slowdown has forced the automaker to dramatically cut costs to the tune of USD $6.8 billion. Jaguar and Land Rover need to build more vehicles, but the vehicles need to be built at a lower cost. 

AMERICAN MUSCLE
At this time last year, the sixth-generation Ford Mustang was beginning to wend its way into the hearts and minds of muscle car buyers. One year later – just this past weekend – General Motors began delivering its first copies of the sixth-generation, 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. 

CADILLAC
As car sales fade, is a full-size, value-priced luxury sedan, Cadillac’s new CT6, the answer for a struggling Cadillac brand? That seems highly unlikely, particularly since interest in Cadillac’s cars are fading especially rapidly and as SUVs carry the brand forward. 

TTAC
Earlier last week, prior to the Cadillac article, GCBC’s role at TTAC was to examine Volkswagen’s U.S. sales outcome for the month of October, the first full month of sales since the diesel emissions scandal broke in late September. And yes, Volkswagen sold more new vehicles in October 2015 than they did in October 2014. 

WATCH 
It’s not the first video review of the current Ford Escape you’ve seen. But nobody goes into more detail than our friend Alex Dykes, of Alex On Autos, and the Escape remains relevant. It’s Canada’s top-selling SUV/crossover; the Escape ranks second in America.

Auto News For Monday, June 29, 2015 - Finally A New Audi A4

Here are the five must-read, must-watch auto news stories, review and videos for Monday, June 29, 2015.

FUTURE
No surprises here. In keeping with Audi's handsome but conservative design ethos, the 2017 Audi A4, the first all-new A4 since the fourth-gen B8 was introduced nearly eight years ago, looks a lot like the previous car. Although its dimensions have increased marginally, the new A4 will weigh approximately 265 pounds less than the outgoing car. The wagon is gorgeous, but we're more likely to receive a slightly elevated, be-cladded Allroad version of the Avant. Audi USA sells an average of 38,000 A4s per year.

TTAC
2015 will be the seventh consecutive year that Ford's Fiesta ends a calendar year as the United Kingdom's best-selling car. The Fiesta's lead over the second-ranked Vauxhall Corsa stands at 18,883 units through just five months. The Fiesta outsold the second-ranked car, Ford's own Focus, by 46,114 units in 2014.

REVIEW
Is the iM the answer to Scion's problems? Not if the market agrees with Car & Driver. Calling it the iMeh, C/D says, "The segment is also full of cars offering better performance," and, "If Scion is going to survive, it needs a following. And at first blush, the iM doesn’t seem good enough to build one." U.S. sales at the Scion brand are down 19% so far this year.

RECALL
In a recall not yet posted to NHTSA's main recall page, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says 65 owners of Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos must stop driving their vehicles. The Durangos and Grand Cherokees were built in early June the recall is taking place, "because they may have been inadvertently equipped with improperly heat-treated suspension components. This condition, which was not apparent during the assembly process, could lead to component breakage, rear-end instability and/or reduced braking power." You can read more about the specifics and the means of discovering if your vehicle is involved at FCA's website or by calling FCA's U.S. customer care centre at 1-800-853-1403.

WATCH
Is the new HR-V the spiritual successor to the CRX, Civic hatch, Prelude, Accord wagon, del Sol, S2000, and Element? That's the story Honda is telling in this terrific commercial.

Auto News For Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - Ford Recalls 19,095 Mustang EcoBoosts

Here are the seven must-read, must-watch auto news stories, review and videos for Wednesday, June 24, 2015.

INSIDE A NICHE AUTO INDUSTRY
Mercedes-Benz's Unimog - you can call it the U-Class if you like - will return to Canada in non-road applications soon. But don't expect to see the incredibly capable beast sitting alongside C400 4Matics in Mercedes-Benz Canada's showrooms.

INSIDE THE PICKUP TRUCK INDUSTRY
Even with the new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon twins combining to outsell the segment-leading Toyota Tacoma, small/midsize pickup trucks only account for 7% of new pickup truck registrations in Canada. That figure was much, much higher in the relatively recent past. Canada's five best-selling trucks are all full-size models.

INSIDE FORMER AUTO EXECUTIVES MINDS
Is the Cadillac CT6 going to be a success? Not according to former GM product czar Bob Lutz, who believes it's a terrific car that won't sell. "Luxury" is becoming more and more difficult to define, Lutz writes for Road & Track, and the Lincoln Continental may stand a better chance than the CT6 and reigniting interest in American luxury. In terms of new car sales in the U.S., Cadillacs currently rank 67th, 68th, 76th, and 137th.

TTAC
Land Rover USA is surging, and the Discovery Sport hasn't yet ramped up. But the impact Land Rover has in North America still falls far short of what the brand does in its home market, where Land Rover's market share this year stands at 2.8%. Land Rover earns 0.4% of the U.S. market, where the brand's sales are up 25% this year.

REVIEW
"For an honest warm hatch experience, we’d look no further." So says evo's Sam Sheehan in regards to the Suzuki Swift Sport. Here's why Suzuki died in North America.

RECALL
Ford is recalling 19,095 Mustang EcoBoosts (model year 2015) because, "Prolonged exposure to elevated underbody temperatures can cause degradation of the fuel tank and/or fuel vapor lines, which may eventually result in a fuel leak. In addition, this condition could cause seals in the parking brake cable to degrade, potentially affecting parking brake function. The Mustang, you'll recall, is selling like mad.

WATCH
Koenigseggs have always been a little bit crazy. How does the Swedish supercar market then go about making them look even crazier? By accelerating to 300 kmh and coming to a complete stop with, basically, no hands on the steering wheel. Oh, and pay attention to the braking, which seems to only take an instant.