2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ford Gets It Right
Ford has hit a home run with its hybrid version of the popular Fusion sedan. This 2010 model offers excellent gas mileage, along with responsive performance and handling. It can also boast of improved styling and a roomy interior.
The Fusion hybrid delivers 41-mpg in city driving and 36-mpg on the highway. It’s capable of running up to 47-mph on electric power alone, and will routinely take you over 600 miles on a tank of gas. Although some may complain that it is not as frugal as a Toyota Prius (50-mpg City/41-mpg Hwy), this car easily beats the hybrid versions of the Toyota Camry, the Nissan Altima and the Chevy Malibu.
Ford uses a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder gas engine with 156 horsepower and an electric motor to generate a total of 191 hp. Power is routed to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. Acceleration is brisk for a hybrid—0-60 in 8.5 seconds,
I found that the Fusion responded well when I needed power to merge onto a busy freeway.
The handling is also responsive. The steering impresses with its quickness. The suspension, which seems surprisingly firm for an American sedan, makes the Fusion feel nimble. The ride is a bit stiff on secondary roads, but smoothes out on the highway. The noise level inside the cabin is very subdued.
All Fusion models, including the Hybrid get a facelift for 2010. The nose of the car is more assertive this year. It sports a power-dome hood, a bolder three-bar grille and sleek headlights. The interior has also been upgraded with a redesigned center control panel and soft-touch vinyl on the dash. However, the pronounced pebble-grain design seems a bit retro to me.
The Hybrid Fusion gets a unique instrument panel called SmartGuage. It features an analog speedometer, flanked by a graphic display, or I should say graphic displays. Drivers can select from four different displays with varying amounts of information about energy sources and fuel use. One feature on all displays is a vine with green leaves, whose foliage increases the more efficiently you drive.
The Ford Fusion is a roomy and comfortable sedan. Adults have plenty of head- and legroom, fore and aft. The seats, front and rear, are well contoured and supportive. The only compromise on the Hybrid model is in the trunk. Because of the location of hybrid battery pack behind the backseat, the trunk is reduced to 11.8 cu-ft.
Ford offers the Fusion with the latest high-tech options. In addition to a navigation unit, buyers can order a blind spot detection system with cross-traffic alert, and a rear-view camera. The base price for the Fusion Hybrid is $27,995, which is about $3,000 more than a comparably equipped Fusion SEL.
Snapshot Review:
Excellent Gas Mileage
Responsive Powertrain
Nimble Handling
Roomy Interior
