Styling: 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid vs. 2012 Toyota Prius V
The Ford C-Max is billed as an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle). This terminology can loosely be interpreted as a sedan/minivan crossover. While built on Ford's compact vehicle platform, the extended cabin and tall rear end share striking similarities with larger vehicles. The result is a fairly compact vehicle that is also fairly roomy.
In contrast, Toyota prefers to refer to the Prius V as a wagon – and with good reason. The boxier exterior design is much more reminiscent of the classic station wagon design. In the in end, this boxier design helps the Prius V win out in the category of cargo. With seats up, the Toyota offering delivers 34.3 cubic feet of storage, compared to the C-Max's 24.5 cubic feet. With seats down, the Prius V wins out with 67.3 cubic feet (C-Max offers 54.3 cubic feet).