USA Today: 2010 Ford Fusion is best gas-electric hybrid yet

Is that a GX or a GLX?
Want to do the NZ Conversion.

 

I use the basest sedan.
$33,990 RRP for a Corolla GX sedan
$46,490 RRP for a base Prius
A Prius costs 1.37 Corollas in New Zealand, so Prius is cheap in NZ!!

I can't do a UK comparison, they must be the only place in the world where the Corolla isn't sold.

 

The Auris is close - a hatchback, but a bit smaller than the Corolla although on the same platform. Cheapest Auris is £12,435, cheapest Prius £17,870, Prius is 1.43 Auris.

However, the 12k Auris is a 3-door, 1.33 litre petrol, 6-speed manual gearbox.

The OEM tyre on the UK Prius is the Bridgestone Turanza ER30.

 

Oh no, I have been using the sedan version of the Corolla which is more expensive than a 4 door hatch version and the 3 door is cheaper again. If you can please use a 4 door at least. Also the Corolla is a 1.8 litre engine, can you match that in the UK?

Hey, I just realised a Prius is really cheaper in New Zealand!
46,490.00 NZD

=

37,093.40 AUD


Prius in Australia is $37,400 AUD, over $300 more!

For UK
Verso = 14,890 (I pick the Verso as it is a 1.8 litre engine like Corolla.)
Prius = 17,870
Prius = 1.20 Verso, the cheapest Prius so far.

I should turn this into a thread of its own.

 

I just hope Ford actually makes them, as opposed to the phantom hybrids GM advertises (other than at the Dem Nat Convention here in Denver I haven't seen a one of them). As many have said, competition is a good thing.

That being said, it is more a competitor of the Camry Hybrid than the Prius, in size and gas mileage. Maybe I drive too carefully, but I'm consistent in my mileage: 52.3 mpg over the past 3500 miles. Why would I want to take a 25% hit on mileage, when everyone knows gas prices are climbing again?

Off topic perhaps, but a journalism degree doesn't make you an expert on economics- like all the stories about how badly the 09 Prius is doing in sales. First of all, they aren't that much worse than everyone else, and second, it's a truncated model year. Any time there is a new model in the wings, sales of the last generation model drop, bad economy or not.

 

I have seen and driven a GM hybrid!
I forget the model but I drove it in Detroit and so did 2 other PC members, we had a good test drive actually. Not sure if I am allowed to tell you this but easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission. Wasn't a bad drive but no idea about fuel consumption.
I forget the model, the gas only and diesel version sell here as Holden Captiva but is made in South Korea.
You can see my Toyota jacket sleeve on the right in the driving down the road picture.

 

That was a Saturn VUE two-mode. IMHO, the first GM competition for the Ford Escape hybrid. Both are nice, mid-sized, SUVs.

Bob Wilson

 

Not to mention the Prius has been is virtually unchanged since it's introduction in 2004. This is relatively uncommon in today's market, with models typically getting at least a minor refresh every 2-3 years at the most.

 

The story " "Ford Fusion hybrid tops Prius in test drives" have been on front page of Yahoo! on and off.

Currently the words they're using are "Raves for Ford hybrid" and "Ford's new Fusion hybrid stuns the automotive press, topping even the popular Toyota Prius"

Their link leads to Ford Fusion Hybrid Tops Camry, Prius in Comparisons- Yahoo! Autos Article Page which is a pretty slanted story.

 

Doesn't Ford license the Toyota hybrid technology? They did on the Escape.
The Prius is the state of the art hybrid--no matter what the American media says. But they could lose market share to a cheaper hybrid with more rebates. Toyota has to be concerned about lower-priced hybrids from Honda and Ford. The public wants a hybrid priced in the teens. The key to higher volume is obviously lower price.

 

I wish I really knew the facts on this, but my recollection is that Ford and Toyota agreed to exchange some patents (cross-licensing, I suppose) on a number of different items related to the hybrid system as used on the Escape. I believe most of the technology involved was software, though I have no actual knowledge of this. (It is up to you to determine the reliability of Wikipedia!)

I further believe Ford has claimed the Ford Fusion Hybrid model is sufficiently different from the earlier Escape Hybrid that there are no Toyota patents or licenses involved in the new FFH.

 

Here's an article that bashes the over positive attitude towards the average performing fusion: Will Hype sell an inferior Hybrid?

 

Nicely written article that isn't so much an attack on GM as it is a warning that not everything you read is correct.

Too bad the author didn't go into more detail about the other failings in the comparisons. Still, at least there are non-Prius owners who are willing to open eyes and ears.

I want Detroit to succeed, not to fail. But, I don't want Detroit to feel it has to "win" by misleading customers. Hasn't that gambit already failed?

I hope the 2010 Ford Fusion is a fabulous car. I've heard from several people that they've liked driving the 2009 version. What we are comparing, though, is the overall performance of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid with other hybrids. If one reviewer simply likes the looks, layout and drive of the FFH better than the Prius or Camry Hybrid, then the reviewer can shout it from the mountaintops. But, don't then say it is a better hybrid when it gets significantly poorer mileage for more money. Better than that, don't say it costs less than the Prius if it doesn't.

Edit: As far as pricing is concerned, here is a link to my earlier thread on the price of the 2010 FFH, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

 

my sis just txted me, they are getting Fusion hybrid for 2 days for training. may have to take a ride out there to check it out

 

May? MAY?

 

well.... it is only a ford remember...

 

ok... well that was a waste of time. the Car is there for sales and service training only. they would not let me take a pic of it. no test drive, nothing.... i did get to sit in it... but that was boring

 

Boring? But it is superior to the Prius, right? Because it feels better, right? So . . . didn't you at least feel better sitting in the FFH?

Was there a sticker on it?

What amenities did it have?

C'mon. Dish.

 

actually, according to the guy who is ferrying this car around from one dealer to the next, it may not be exactly like the finished product

 

What's not to like?
FORD-getting in the game in a serious way.
FORD-an American automaker doing what it will take to survive
FORD-keeping folks working
FORD-not taking bailout bucks

P.S. Ford is NOT part of General Motors
P.P.S. When will someone see a need for a small-truck hybrid?