in the world of popular mid-size sedans, the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid claims to be the current fuel-efficiency champ. Whether that claim is sustained or not (and it won’t, when the 2012 Camry Hybrid will arrive), the Fusion Hybrid is tremendously pleasing to drive and remarkably quiet, yet it’s up against some pretty fierce competition such as the Toyota Camry, Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata to name but a few.
Advanced hybrid technology
Hybrid technology has advanced remarkably well over the last decade. The early versions were somewhat crude in operation and didn’t achieve anywhere near the efficiency of today’s setups. Ford’s Fusion Hybrid is a good example of where this technology has gone as of late.
The Fusion’s full-hybrid system enables the vehicle to operate exclusively on electric power more frequently and for longer durations. And the system functions far more seamlessly than before, enabling near-invisible transitions between power sources.
The advancements are no better illustrated than in the Fusion’s ability to crest 75 km/h using only electric power, and to maintain that speed – albeit on flat roads – for much greater distances than previously attainable in hybrid vehicles. Thanks to the liberal use of electrical propulsion, the Fusion Hybrid can squeeze 1,125 km of city-based driving out of a single tank of regular fuel – this according to Ford.
Ford’s economy figures for the 2011 Fusion Hybrid shake out this way: 4.6 L/100km for city driving and 5.4 L/100km when highway cruising. My combination of city and highway meandering netted me an average return that ranged between 5.5 to 6.1 L/100km.
Although slightly greater than the posted data, I was impressed with this “real world” result. I’m not anal about maximizing economy like some hybrid zealots, so for me the numbers were pleasing indeed, especially given the comfort that this mid-size sedan brings to its occupants.
For those that like small inducements to encourage economical driving habits, the Fusion Hybrid is equipped with a tutorial mode built into the instrument panel, the basis of which is an LCD screen that depicts the growth of green leaves on simulated plants. Drive frugally and the leaves propagate while wasteful driving habits claim them.
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| In the world of popular mid-size sedans, the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid claims to be the current fuel-efficiency champ. (Photo: Rob Rpthwell/Auto123.com) |
Advanced hybrid technology
Hybrid technology has advanced remarkably well over the last decade. The early versions were somewhat crude in operation and didn’t achieve anywhere near the efficiency of today’s setups. Ford’s Fusion Hybrid is a good example of where this technology has gone as of late.
The Fusion’s full-hybrid system enables the vehicle to operate exclusively on electric power more frequently and for longer durations. And the system functions far more seamlessly than before, enabling near-invisible transitions between power sources.
The advancements are no better illustrated than in the Fusion’s ability to crest 75 km/h using only electric power, and to maintain that speed – albeit on flat roads – for much greater distances than previously attainable in hybrid vehicles. Thanks to the liberal use of electrical propulsion, the Fusion Hybrid can squeeze 1,125 km of city-based driving out of a single tank of regular fuel – this according to Ford.
Ford’s economy figures for the 2011 Fusion Hybrid shake out this way: 4.6 L/100km for city driving and 5.4 L/100km when highway cruising. My combination of city and highway meandering netted me an average return that ranged between 5.5 to 6.1 L/100km.
Although slightly greater than the posted data, I was impressed with this “real world” result. I’m not anal about maximizing economy like some hybrid zealots, so for me the numbers were pleasing indeed, especially given the comfort that this mid-size sedan brings to its occupants.
For those that like small inducements to encourage economical driving habits, the Fusion Hybrid is equipped with a tutorial mode built into the instrument panel, the basis of which is an LCD screen that depicts the growth of green leaves on simulated plants. Drive frugally and the leaves propagate while wasteful driving habits claim them.
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| The Fusion Hybrid is equipped with a tutorial mode built into the instrument panel, the basis of which is an LCD screen that depicts the growth of green leaves on simulated plants. Drive frugally and the leaves propagate while wasteful driving habits claim them. (Photo: Rob Rpthwell/Auto123.com)
Comfortable seating but reduced practicality
My chief complaint against the Fusion Hybrid is its fixed rear seatback and reduced trunk volume. The issue here pertains to battery placement. The sophisticated battery pack that serves as the heart of the hybrid system has to live somewhere, and unfortunately in the Fusion it lives behind the rear seatback, thus eliminating the convenience of expanding the trunk by dropping the seatback. There isn’t even a ski pass-thru for long narrow items.
This is what happens when a vehicle that wasn’t originally engineered as a hybrid is adapted for the purpose. I’m sure that Ford wouldn’t set about placing the battery pack in the same location if they were to design a new hybrid automobile from the ground up. Until that happens, don’t expect to place bicycles, skis, construction products or other bulky items into the trunk of the Fusion Hybrid, despite them fitting into the trunk of the conventional Fusion with its fold-down rear seat. Fusion Hybrid on the road While the Fusion Hybrid may not excel at moving cargo, it does so at moving people. Although it can carry five adults, four would be the maximum in minimizing inadvertent groping. Once in place, all four will find sufficient head and legroom. More so than cabin comfort, I found the highly refined, near silent operation of my tester to be the true delight of the Fusion Hybrid. This is a remarkably quiet, civilized vehicle that rivals its more expensive cousin, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Like its cousin, the Fusion Hybrid delivers a supple, absorbent ride that is a treat to live with. While the Fusion isn’t as luxurious and opulent as the MKZ Hybrid, it benefits greatly from many of the attributes that makes the Lincoln so desirable. It would seem that the 2.5-litre, Atkinson-cycle I4 engine is a little more audibly pronounced in the Fusion than in the Lincoln when under hard acceleration. It’s only when being pushed, though, that the sophisticated mill pipes up as it partners with electrical propulsion to produce a combined 191 horsepower. As with the conventional Fusion, power is delivered to the front wheels. Unlike the conventional Fusion, the brakes on the Hybrid version provide regenerative charging in addition to braking. This added role can impart hypersensitivity when speeds are low. It takes some acclimating before the dual-role binders begin to feel natural and predictably progressive.
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