Overview & Reviews
For the most part, the pickings in the midsize hybrid sedan segment are fairly mundane. One exception is the Ford Fusion Hybrid, a sedan that offers better fuel economy than its main competitors while also being more enjoyable to drive.
Though driving enjoyment typically isn't high on the list of a hybrid buyer's list of priorities, the Fusion Hybrid delivers an unusually lively experience behind the wheel. If you're shopping for a new or used hybrid-powered sedan, this Ford should definitely be near the top of your list. Its unusual combination of solid driving dynamics and superior fuel economy, along with its good looks, comfortable ride and accommodating interior, makes it easy to recommend.
Current Ford Fusion Hybrid
The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a midsize four-door sedan that's available in three trim levels: S, SE and Titanium. There is also the plug-in, extended-range version, called the Fusion Energi, which is reviewed separately.
The hybrid powertrain consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine working in concert with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. All told, there's 188 horsepower on tap along with impressive EPA fuel economy estimates of 47 mpg in all three cycles: city, highway and combined.
Standard equipment highlights on the S include 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, the voice-activated Sync audio/cell phone interface and a sound system with a CD player and USB/iPod interface. The SE adds a keyless entry keypad, a power driver seat, a rear seat center armrest, satellite radio and numerous options. The Titanium's highlights include 18-inch alloy wheels, remote start, keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, heated front sport seats, a power passenger seat, the MyFord Touch electronics interface (with configurable gauge displays), a rearview camera and an upgraded audio system. Key options include a navigation system, adaptive cruise control, automated parking assist and blind-spot detection.
In reviews, this Fusion Hybrid impressed us with its athletic handling and communicative steering that provides a more engaging driving experience than you'd expect from a fuel sipper. At the same time, the ride is supple over bumps and ruts, the cabin is supremely quiet and Ford has made strides in making braking effort seem more natural: a previous complaint with the Fusion and indeed many hybrids. And while the trunk is compromised by the presence of its battery pack, the remaining space is more useful than that of rival hybrid sedans. If there is a primary drawback, it's that Ford's electronic interfaces are less unintuitive than other systems.
Used Ford Fusion Hybrid Models
The current, second-generation Ford Fusion Hybrid was introduced for 2013. All told, Ford managed to take all the attributes of the previous Fusion Hybrid -- notably, excellent fuel economy, sharp styling, sporty handling, a smooth ride and plenty of handy features – and bolster it with more dramatic exterior styling, improved driving dynamics and the latest in electronics and features. These Fusion Hybrids are identical to the latest version with a few minor exceptions. Specifically, they lack the availability of the S trim level, inflatable rear seatbelts, a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats.
The first-generation Ford Fusion Hybrid debuted for the 2010 model year and ran through 2012. It was a midsize sedan that employed a 2.5-liter inline-4 gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack to produce 191 hp. The power was sent to the front wheels through a CVT. Along with a fuel mileage estimate of 39 mpg in combined driving, this Fusion Hybrid had the ability under low load conditions to propel itself to nearly 50 mph on battery power alone.
The handsome cabin sported quality materials and a wealth of standard features. The latter included 17-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, the MyKey system (limits top speed and audio volume), a keyless-entry security code pad, automatic headlamps, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. There was also the Sync electronics interface (includes voice commands, Bluetooth and iPod control) and a six-speaker sound system with CD/MP3 player, satellite radio and steering-wheel controls. Options included a rearview camera, a premium audio system, a sunroof and a navigation system with Sirius Travel Link.
In reviews, we were pleasantly surprised by the Ford Fusion Hybrid's well-sorted chassis. It's not a sport sedan, but it is sportier than you'd expect a hybrid sedan to be. Granted, you'll get even better mileage out of cars like the smaller Honda Insight and ubiquitous Toyota Prius. But when you compare apples to apples, the first-generation Ford Fusion Hybrid is an excellent choice for a used hybrid family sedan.
User Reviews:
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Toyota owner...now Ford owner - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By Frank B. - December 21 - 8:06 pmFord Fusion Hybrid is a grand slam! Vehicle is very well engineered (an engineer myself), very well built and looks great, not to mention great gas mileage. Long term reliability remains to be seen, but I love this car. Still have my Toyota, but now Im a Ford fan also.
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Happy so far - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By Bob - November 16 - 8:50 pmI traded in my 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid after 7 years. The gas mileage for the Fusion is a little better in city (41 vs. 35-40), but a little worse on the hwy (38 vs. 45-50), but it has a more room, a lot more acceleration, its much more comfortable, and the handling is much better. Very happy so far. Hopefully it will be reliable. My hybrid battery on the Civic went out at 5 1/2 yrs, but luckily it was covered under warranty. The wouldnt tell me what it would cost, but the service recored printouts I requested when I sold the Civic had a list price of ~ $4,000 for the battery. Hopefully the price will come down before the Fusions goes out.
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Finally, A Winner - 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By singsong - November 8 - 7:47 pmIve stayed away from American branded cars for many years for obvious reasons. Owned a few Hondas between dear wife and me - never been impressed with those either. My latest ride is a Hyundai Santa Fe. Liked it just fine. Now I can boldly say that I love my 2011 Fusion Hybrid! Have had it for a month now and just loving it. The ride is comfortable, quiet with plenty of gadgets and great A/C and no lack of passing power when needed. Test-drove the Sonata Hybrid and was disappointed with all but the looks. Glad I picked the Fusion.
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Like it a lot - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By tominva - September 4 - 3:23 amThis is a solid car. Comfortable, quiet, smooth ride. Handles well. Plenty of passing power (for my needs, anyway)
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Ford has stepped it up - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By maxpower220 - September 2 - 9:00 amTraded in a Volvo S60R. The FFH has at least as good fit and finish. The FFH is definately more quiet on the road. Sync is awesome, easy to use. Navigation is great. Gas milage is very good. My wife is a home health nurse who drives everywhere for work. Hwy mileage so far is 34 and city has been 36. She does a lot of paperwork in her car sitting still with the A/C on in FL. With "carefull" driving, we get well over 45 in the city. Best short trip (10 miles,city) was just over 51. Short trip info is from car computer. Avg mpg is based on miles/tank. Overall extremely happy with the car. We havent missed the Volvo at all. As gas prices increase, it seems like a better deal everyday.
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Blends Economy, Performance, and Luxury! - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By HiCarGeek - August 25 - 3:43 am3 mos, 1200 mi. My commute is 12 mi, 50 mph freeway in AM (44 mpg) and stop/go gridlock in PM(39 mpg). Short errands bring my average down to 40 mpg. Headlights nice and bright, with good distance and cutoff. Love the standard features - pwr pass seat, electrochromic rear view mirror, 6 CD changer, reverse alarm, drivers lumbar support, alloy wheels with Michelin MXV4 S8s, dual zone A/C, vehicle speed sensistive wipers. Considered G37 Journey (needs premium, too small inside), Genesis V6 (no dealer discount, given $1000 rebate). Still have other car (Camry LE V6). Absolutely happy with my decision on a balanced price/performance/life cycle cost/quality/reliability/USA company basis.
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Great Car - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By coast - July 29 - 1:30 pmPerfect, got the 502A package, well worth it. I love how the Ford sync works with navigation. Such high quality, I cant believe it is a Ford. Im getting high 30s to low 40s MPG. Ford built a fun factor in a hybrid. Much better than the competition. The interior feels like a luxury car. Nice handling too.
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Terrific Car - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By pitt2637 - June 30 - 4:12 amWe have 1400 miles on the car and that includes a 600 mile trip. Averaging 38 MPG in mixed driving and 36 MPG on the trip while normally driving 70-80MPH. We love the way the car handles, looks, and drives, and are happy every time we get in the car. I have four kids ages 10-16 and they love driving in this car and using all the different seats. However, the navigation voice recognition is not performing well and we intend to take the car in to have it looked at. Our car has almost all the upgrades, which I love, but we expected much better voice recognition from the expensive navigation unit. Certainly we recommend this car as it is fantastic.
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2013 Fusion Hybrid--Efficient, gorgeous & fun - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By hatnbak - May 31 - 11:03 amHave had my car for 4 weeks, 1400 miles. So far Ive averaged around 44 mpg overall, but have hit 52 on certain drives. I love all the tech features in the car (I got a number of the options), including adaptive cruise control, lane control, cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, voice control for climate/entertainment, etc. Quality of everything feels very good & very European; if it didnt have Ford badges, could easily (from inside or out) be mistaken for a Volvo/Audi type of car (I traded from an Audi). Integrates well with my Droid RAZR and external music device (MOTOACTV)
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Love it! - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
By Debbie - May 16 - 2:00 amWe have had our Fusion Hybrid for two weeks and have driven it 932 miles (half hiway and half city). According to the dash readout that is displayed each time you turn the car off, our overall mpg is 38.1. We are very pleased with the quality of the workmanship and how the car handles. The sensitive brakes took a little getting use to. We have the complete electronics package, which is awesome. The larger screen is helpful with the GPS, the Sirius real-time weather map overlay, and the backup camera. Our cell phones, Nokia and iPhone, sync well with the cars system. We have had to "floor it" once at highway speeds, the power seemed equivalent to the V6 we traded in.
