Ford hybrid Fusion is a worthy contender in the mid-size hybrid sedan market.
The Ford Fusion hybrid has received positive reviews. After test driving it, this is a sedan America can be proud of. Is the U.S. rekindling with quality products, safety and for once fuel efficiency? The Ford Fusion hybrid seems to.
The gist is that not too many current U.S. sedans are frankly enticing. Ford has done a tremendous job staying ahead of the curve by surpassing its beleaguered colleagues offering a wide variety of car with very good quality. It would be a mistake for Ford to rest on its laurel leaves, after all, it still has to repay its 2 year old loans,but the company has worked hard to change its image from bloated pickup trucks and questionable SUVs to building quality cars.
Test Driving The Fusion Hybrid. Inside the Fusion, it feels like a quality European sedan. The car is comfortable, with well positioned instruments arranged in a tasteful way. Nothing feels poorly put together. The hybrid launches itself smoothly and you can ride it on electricity alone to about 40mph, according to Ford 47. Anything above, or anything with a frank accelerator kick will wake up the engine. The stop and go internal combustion engine technology is smooth and you can hear or feel no vibration when it kicks in.
Handling. In the handling category, the car is heads and shoulder above its competition. There is no noticeable roll at most speed and it conveys a sense of safety. At higher speed, the Fusion is equally at ease as a highways cruiser as comfortable in city traffic.
Technically Speaking. With a combined 191hp, the car's 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle ICE makes 156 hp with 136 lb-ft of torque and is mated with two nickel-metal-hydride, NiHm battery pack that deliver energy to the electric motor to a continuously variable transmission.
What will truly make this car a winner for many is how much consideration Ford has put into safety. With visible crumple zones and a profuse amount of air bags, one gets a sense of being well protected. Yes, Ford has a winner with its Fusion and the hybrid's fuel efficiency makes it a clear winner in the mid-size sedan market. As for the price, from around $28,000 to a fully loaded about $33,000, it will play nicely in its league. If no local production car caught your attention for a while now, this one is worth a second.
Note: I receive no compensations, nor any other gifts from Ford. I also test drove its Taurus SHO, as well as its new Fiesta.
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Comments
The Ford Fusion Hybrid has an EPA rating of 41 MPG city, 36 MPG highway, 39 MPG combined. It meets the 39 MPG 2016 CAFE standard now, and it's a mid-sized car not a micro car. This car is the poster child for the future of the Detroit 3. Or is Detroit 2.5? I'm not sure.
Actually, the Ford Fusion Hybrid BEATS the 2016 CAFE standards now. Edmunds did an article on how the 28 MPG Chevy Cobalt meets the 2016 CAFE standard of 39 MPG.
tinyurl.com/ossjlx
At $2.75 a gallon for gas, the Ford Fusion Hybrid pays for itself after just 37K city miles with the $1,700 federal tax credit, 69K miles without it.
Hi Ken, I agree the Fusion hybrid makes plenty of sense. It's fuel efficiency is very goo for a car that size and it certainly is above its competition.
Yes, CAFE standard are not the same as the EPA's which makes everything so confusing to most people. But then again, that is what politicians and big corporations do best. I rarely talk about CAFE because it is more political than practical.
The Fusion hybrid's best features and selling points are its fuel efficiency, the fact you can drive it on electricity alone with a feather foot, its crash safety, its comfort and quality make and mostly its price, that as you say pays for itself fairly soon. And that is without taking into consideration that gas price will rise in the future.
Nick
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