Ford Fusion hybrid

[a priori]

Originally Posted by F8L

I'm excited to see such favorable reviews for the Fusion. I can add it to my list of other cars friends should consider test driving.

I agree. It may not have the highest MPG rating (compared to Prius, that is), but reviewers seem to like the drive and feel of the car, and it is, after all, a pretty clean car. Hopefully, it will be reliable.

[CenVal]

Originally Posted by GreenChris

Ok guys... Just test drove a Fusion hybrid and Wow! I can actually feel the road thru the steering wheel! It was really enjoyable! Drove about 10 miles.. Ran the AC and drove the flow of traffic. From start to stop.. 52.5mpg!!!!

Only thing that sucks is you cannot put the seats down for trunk space.

Anyone else drive one?

I may get a Fusion instead!

I have test driven the 2010 Insight, Civic hybrid, Jetta TDI, Ford Fusion hybrid and of course the 2010 Prius. The Fusion is very inpressive from the moment you sit in it!!! I had the car pegged out near 60 MPGs on the highway without too much trouble.
In my opinion, the Ford Fusion is best riding and driving hybrid in the market but I will not buy it for several reasons. Having had numerous Fords at work with consistent reliability issues, the last one with four transmissions, I have lingering doubts about Ford's reliability, although the hybrid Escape has done very well in San Francisco (Yellow Cab - 300K+ miles). The other issue is base price point which is too high for me.

I have owned Toyota vehicles for over 25 years and have never been disappointed. I am very impressed with the redesign of the new Prius, the ride, power, mpgs and for the cost, I feel it's a great value.

The base price point for the Fusion and Prius V are the same - $27,270.00. This was a smart move on Toyota's part.

I agree with everything you mentioned about the Fusion, its a great car!

[ljbad4life]

Originally Posted by CenVal

I have test driven the 2010 Insight, Civic hybrid, Jetta TDI, Ford Fusion hybrid and of course the 2010 Prius. The Fusion is very inpressive from the moment you sit in it!!! I had the car pegged out near 60 MPGs on the highway without too much trouble.
In my opinion, the Ford Fusion is best riding and driving hybrid in the market but I will not buy it for several reasons. Having had numerous Fords at work with consistent reliability issues, the last one with four transmissions, I have lingering doubts about Ford's reliability, although the hybrid Escape has done very well in San Francisco (Yellow Cab - 300K+ miles). The other issue is base price point which is too high for me.

I have owned Toyota vehicles for over 25 years and have never been disappointed. I am very impressed with the redesign of the new Prius, the ride, power, mpgs and for the cost, I feel it's a great value.

The base price point for the Fusion and Prius V are the same - $27,270.00. This was a smart move on Toyota's part.

I agree with everything you mentioned about the Fusion, its a great car!

Yeah the base price of the Prius V is 27k, add the adv tech and it is 32k. The same price as a fusion with all options. I would get a Prius IV with the sunroof option which it still comes to 30k... which makes it pretty tough choice since the fusion I priced is the same price as the prius I want.....

[MMSteve]

The Fusion and the Insight have scored equally on average in published reviews, but they are both behind the Prius! Hybrid :: MotorMouths

[ljbad4life]

Originally Posted by MMSteve

The Fusion and the Insight have scored equally on average in published reviews, but they are both behind the Prius! Hybrid :: MotorMouths

For an American company to score 2nd speaks volumes about the FFH. even tying with the "hybrid for everyone" and besting the TCH.

[equake]

I also test drove a Fusion Hybrid recently. The car is a substantial vehicle and much heavier and bigger than the compacts like the Prius or Insight It is more of a comparison to the Camry Hybrid in size. The trunk is tiny and no fold down seats. Ride is smooth and quiet as expected in a large sedan. The Nav/Sync unit has many features which I didn't futz with a whole lot. Steering seems to provide good feedback.

Overall a different kind of car than the Prius or Insight and not a fair comparison since its a large sedan rather than a midsize/compact vehicle.

Pricing is kinda of high for the Ford but probably comparable once the Hybrid credits are figured in.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by equake

I also test drove a Fusion Hybrid recently. The car is a substantial vehicle and much heavier and bigger than the compacts like the Prius or Insight It is more of a comparison to the Camry Hybrid in size. The trunk is tiny and no fold down seats. Ride is smooth and quiet as expected in a large sedan.
. . .
Overall a different kind of car than the Prius or Insight and not a fair comparison since its a large sedan rather than a midsize/compact vehicle.

Interestingly enough, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Prius both are characterized by EPA as "Family Sedans" and both are listed as "Midsize" cars.

In terms of the exterior dimensions, there is no doubt the FFH is larger. It is 15" longer and 3.5" wider (though it sits about 2 inches lower than the Prius), and it has a wider turning radius. At the same time, the wheelbase measurements are not far off. The FFH has a 1.1" longer wheelbase.

Inside the cabin, the FFH is listed as having 101 cubic feet of passenger space, while the Prius shows 94 ft3. Most of this space, though is found in the width of the car, as the FFH has barely more headroom (1.4" in front and 0.2" in back), and slightly less legroom in front (by 0.2") and a bit more legroom in back (by 0.7"). For all practical purposes, the interior space is much the same, excepting the nearly 2.5" additional with in the FFH.

So, for whatever it is worth, the FFH is not a large sedan, nor is the Prius a compact car.

In comparison, the Camry Hybrid has much the same dimensions as the FFH (though slightly larger with a longer wheelbase), but suffers from even less luggage and cargo space than even the Fusion Hybrid. (And the FFH has slightly better EPA mileage numbers than the Camry Hybrid.)

[equake]

Originally Posted by a priori

Interestingly enough, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Prius both are characterized by EPA as "Family Sedans" and both are listed as "Midsize" cars.

In terms of the exterior dimensions, there is no doubt the FFH is larger. It is 15" longer and 3.5" wider (though it sits about 2 inches lower than the Prius), and it has a wider turning radius. At the same time, the wheelbase measurements are not far off. The FFH has a 1.1" longer wheelbase.

Inside the cabin, the FFH is listed as having 101 cubic feet of passenger space, while the Prius shows 94 ft3. Most of this space, though is found in the width of the car, as the FFH has barely more headroom (1.4" in front and 0.2" in back), and slightly less legroom in front (by 0.2") and a bit more legroom in back (by 0.7"). For all practical purposes, the interior space is much the same, excepting the nearly 2.5" additional with in the FFH.
.
.

Since I have not yet test driven a 2010 Prius I can't make any size comments but the Fusion's weight of nearly 2 tons puts it in the big sedan category in my book. Both the Prius and Insight are technically hatchbacks (note the sloping roof/trunk).

For a 5 passenger vehicle the trunk on a Fusion Hybrid or Camry hybrid is almost useless for a family trip with luggage. This is where both the Prius and Insight have a great advantage in cargo utility without going to the SUVs or even the "CrossOvers" like the Venza, Flex, Murano etc.

Just my 2 cents. My final TD will be the Prius and hopefully not disappointed.

[freo-1]

Originally Posted by equake

I also test drove a Fusion Hybrid recently. The car is a substantial vehicle and much heavier and bigger than the compacts like the Prius or Insight It is more of a comparison to the Camry Hybrid in size. The trunk is tiny and no fold down seats. Ride is smooth and quiet as expected in a large sedan. The Nav/Sync unit has many features which I didn't futz with a whole lot. Steering seems to provide good feedback.

Overall a different kind of car than the Prius or Insight and not a fair comparison since its a large sedan rather than a midsize/compact vehicle.

Pricing is kinda of high for the Ford but probably comparable once the Hybrid credits are figured in.

Fair comments. The Fusion is competing with the Camry, and while I am a Toyota supporter, the Fusion hybrid is a better overall car, and thus a better buy (IMHO).

My wife drives the Fusion, and I have a Prius Touring. I reckon we have the best of both, as each car serves a different and intended purpose.

[Pakman777]

Resurrecting the thread . . .

I test drove a FFH yesterday (July 21). I was very impressed. 502A package amenities are superb. Ride is smooth and quiet, vehicle handles well, great-sounding sound system, nice quality nav screen, great MFD, plush seats. 110 power outlet . . . very good. I use an inverter all the time. Selectable color ambient lighting . . . VERY cool (Sorry, it just is). USB port for easy USB drive loading for music and pictures is very cool. 10 GB Hard drive for NAV and sound use . . . very cool. Toyota . . . what are you thinking continuing with a DVD nav????

A few problems/concerns/issues:
Door handles: Interior door handles are Chromed plastic, and feel very fragile and felt "loose". Had numerous problems as I attempted to open the back doors. They did not unlatch without great effort that seemed to be quite a strain on the plastic door handles (I give them about six months max before they break). You had to pull very hard on them to finally "pop" the latch . . . and I mean "pop". External handles on all four doors are light weight, cheap feeling plastic that also feel very fragile.

Doors: Doors are light, and do not latch well without slamming them pretty hard. I tried all four of them. I actually had one back door bounce back without latching (anyone who has ever tried to close a plastic HMMWV or Jeep door know what I am talking about).

External keypad entry: Useless, outdated feature. Who in the world wants to stand outside in full view of potential "criminals," punching in their "secret code" to get in the vehicle? I suppose if I were in the habit of locking myself out of my car, maybe it would help (or if FOB battery went dead, I suppose), but there are other ways to deal with this that are cheaper and make more sense. and are much quicker. Until I went to test-drive the fusion, I really thought the external keypads had gone the way of the dinosaur . . . I was dismayed to find that an American carmaker still included such an outmoded, goofy feature.

Cupholders: in doors and in rear armrest are pretty much unusable; front doesn't allow enough width or height, and the ones in the back are too shallow.

Low Rider: You don't sit in the Ford Fusion seats, you collapse into them. Uncomfortable for me and my wife to get in and out. I guess you get used to sort of rolling out onto your feet and doing the old "knee bend" up.

No adaptive cruise control . . . yet. Coming, but no cigar. Great feature in the BLIS (Blind spot awareness, rear backup sensor).

Key ignition only . . . sorry, the SMART FOB has it beat, with power button ignition. Also coming, but not yet for the Fusion.

Ford: I have never purchased a Ford before, and this one has me interested. But I am unreasonably biased, and am concerned reliability, and long term commitment to this technology. Still, I trust them more in these areas than GM or Chrysler.

Dash/center console: has a weird tapering AWAY from you as it goes down, rather then tapering out at the bottom. Storage compartment on the top middle of the dashboard, upon reflection, actually is a good idea for keeping registration, proof of insurance, things like that where you can get to them in full view (relieving undue anxiety on law enforcement personnel) in case you are ever pulled over or come up on a traffic check. Stilll though, looks odd, feels cheap, and distrubs the otherwise stylish interior.

Front grill: I really dislike it. Someone somewhere said that it is actually chromed plastic, not chrome (?!). I did not check this, so cannot say.

Just some thoughts.