My Week With The Ford CMAX

07/23/2013

This weekend some of the Mommy Connections directors went to Canmore for a retreat. Ford was lovely enough to give a few of us some vehicles to make the drive there. I received this bright blue babe. The 2013 Ford CMAX. All together now “awwwwww” for this adorable hybrid cuteness.

I picked the CMAX up on Wednesday afternoon. First thing I have to say I loved right off the bat was how easy it was to put the infant carseat and toddler big girl carseat in it. Anyone who has made the car switch out of carseats knows it is a PAIN! We even have two big carseats to avoid this grumbling task as much as possible. Both seats in, left lots of room up front still too. (An issue I’m having with my tiny SUV at the moment) My husband has to drive if one particular seat is behind him. As you can see there is still room between the two carseats for a smaller person, or put the two next to each other and room on the side.

(Dont mind the angry baby in the back)

We went to a playdate the next day on the other side of the city. I love how zippy this thing is. Seriously the best word to describe it. I wasn’t sure with it being a hybrid. I’ve driven some where it seems like there is lag time before it gets going. This thing just goes. It kind of felt like the city version of a rally car. Zip over here, zip past that dangerous looking load on a truck, zip to that small car parking spot. Zip, zip, zippy. Handled the windy mountain like a pro. (And following our race car driver President)

Fun thing about this car is you also get a built in game while saving the planet. *insert zen fingers* When you brake it recovers the energy used to brake, the biggest offender for energy loss. The slower you brake, the more energy you conserve. I would play a little with how slow I went and guess what I would get it at. Of course 100% you always feel like a winner too.

Now we wouldn’t be talking hybrid if I didn’t tell you how RIDICULOUSLY cheap it was for me to drive 4 hours each way plus motoring around for other things! I picked the CMAX up with a full tank of gas, did errands, playdates, from Edmonton to Canmore/Banff and back again. I put gas in at a super expensive price in Canmore, drove home and dropped it off with half a tank. Any takers on how much I paid for gas? $40. Yep $40. And as I said, you recover the energy lost while breaking, which you don’t do much of on the highway. I could only imagine how long a tank would last in city driving.

Onto the room. This is key when you have a baby. Why is there SOOOO much stuff that comes along with a baby? Geesh! I took my nursling 2.5 month old on the trip. Her and her swing, stroller, baby carriers, playpen and suitcase full of diapers, clothes, wipes, monitor etc etc etc. Oh yeah all my stuff AND our South Edmonton Director’s stuff too! I’m impressed.

 At the risk of running on an on, some additional features I loved:

• Keyless entry/start. I HATE searching for the key in my bag and juggling 2 kids. Plus I can’t accidentally lock someone in it. At some point in the trip I thought I lost the key. I thought it might be in my suitcase, but instead of tearing apart my nicely folded clothes, I brought the case to the car and it wouldn’t start. Means no key close by. So much time saved.
• The back hatch has a one push open and close. Push and it opens/closes itself. Additionally it was nice this feature is quiet, so as not to wake the sleeping babies. Never wake the sleeping babies!
• Having controls on the steering wheel for the radio/bluetooth in car system where so nice. My hand didn’t have to leave the steering wheel as people blew past us on the crazy highway QE2.
• Voice control. So awesome. And you feel all important being all bossy to the car.. “Call Brad mobile”. “Set as location”

This car is certainly mom worthy. So many features that are convenient, maternity leave affordable to drive and roomy enough for the kids and their junk. 😉