Ford's Fusion hybrid is a real gas-sipper

Ford has grabbed the fuel-economy crown in the nation’s largest car segment — just in time to see gasoline fall to its lowest price in five years.

Ford said today that its new 2010 Fusion hybrid has been certified by the EPA at 41 mpg/city and 36 mpg/highway, with a combined rating of 39 miles per gallon. That beats the hybrid versions of its competitors in the mid-sized sedan segment (at least based on their 2009 EPA ratings): the Toyota Camry (33 city/34 highway); Chevy Malibu (26/34); and the Nissan Altima (35/33).

In fact, based on the competition’s ’09 ratings for combined city and highway driving, the new Fusion hybrid beats every widely sold vehicle in America except the Toyota Prius hybrid (46 mpg combined) and the smaller Honda Civic hybrid (42 mpg combined).

The new Fusion -- which will go on sale in the spring-- also boasts a few nifty technology tweaks. The electric side of the car’s hybrid power train is powered by a smaller nickel-metal hydride battery that produces 20% more power than the one used in Ford’s previous hybrid system. The battery runs cooler than the old battery and can accelerate the car to 47 miles per hour before the gasoline engine kicks in.

With a suggested list price of about $27,000, however, the Fusion hybrid costs $1,500 more than the ’09 Chevy Malibu hybrid and $1,000 more than a Camry hybrid, based on retail price information from Edmunds.com. The federal hybrid tax credit should eliminate that gap with the Camry, which is no longer eligible for the credit.

A tougher sell may be convincing consumers to pay the $8,000 premium over a basic Fusion (20 MPG city/28 highway) at a time when gas prices are tumbling. The current price in California for a gallon of regular is $1.806, according to AAA. That’s down 60% from its high last summer. And in New York trading today, gasoline futures fell to December 2003 lows.

“Fuel economy will never go out of style,” Ford spokesman John Clinard said. “No matter what the price of gas is, people always want to save money at the pump.”

All those Hummers and Explorers plying area freeways may belie that statement. But there’s no denying that the Fusion hybrid — which is being be built in Mexico — arrives at a propitious time for U.S. automakers, which have been roundly criticized in Washington for failing to match their foreign competitors in the area of fuel economy technology.

-- Martin Zimmerman

Photo: 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid. Credit: Ford Motor Co.

Comments

[Gerry L]

At long last. I've been waiting 9 years for Ford to come out with a hybrid sedan. The company was supposedly working on one in early 2000. Then they finally announced the hybrid Fusion/Milan would be available in Sept 2008. How long do you think it will be before they come out with a hybrid version of the Focus or a Focus-size car? That's what I really want.

[chris]

can we please have a WAGON? I would run out and buy one tomorrow.

[Dave]

41/36 MPG? That's still pathetic. 50 should be the minimum benchmark to hit. Auto makers need to grow a set and realize, build a car that gets 50 plus MPG and make it look good, compared to the garbage looking "futuristic" new cars, and they would fly off the lots.

[Fan]

I read elsewhere that the Ford Fusion hybrid will run only on its electric motor at speeds of 47 mph or lower. That means you can avoid using gas for a long time if you drive with a close eye on city speed limits. I really hope this car sells well. It is much bigger than the prius and it is beautiful.

[John Brown]

I'm with Dave. Too big and heavy and not good enough mileage. And not particularly attractive-most cars are not these days.
I don't think they bother with hybrids much in Europe. There, the cars are just smaller and lighter and they use a lot of diesel engines.
Why do we have to use such complex and expensieve approaches that produce an ugly car that no one really wants?

[Fan]

I read elsewhere that the Ford Fusion hybrid will run only on its electric motor at speeds of 47 mph or lower. That means you can avoid using gas for a long time if you drive with a close eye on city speed limits. I really hope this car sells well. It is much bigger than the prius and it is beautiful.

[Jon]

Wow. Impressive car and it looks nice. I may have to pick this one up when it goes on sale.

[some dude]

Now just ask yourself one question. These hybrids are made in Mexico and they are helping people save money on gas now. However, the major problem at play at this moment is the fact that once that money hits Ford's pockets, they pay Mexicans a portion and the rest goes into their coffers. Most of all this wealth is not recirculating into our own economy. At least we know Toyota is a foreign company, but Ford is an American company which has done everything in it's power to avoid paying Americans to build Cars. It's wonderful they are helping the Mexican economy, but why not start sharing the wealth again and have those thieving CEO's take a pay cut--as if they aren't paid enough--and start paying liveable wages to our citizens. UAW union has been hammered time and time again, and we always asume there is no profits, what happened to the theory of pursuing a sustainable company that will last and also help the people who work for it. As my example look at the way Costco runs it's business. Do your own homework, I don't have time to go into deal on the merits of their CEO, but suffice it to say that he is a man with true class.

[Dennis]

Auto manufacturers are still missing the mark. This car has a combustion engine that uses gasoline and has many parts that wear out and reuire a lot of maintenance by design. All electric is the way to go and I will wait until a reasonable all electric car comes on the market to make my next car purchase. No more gas guzzling and expensive repair cars in my driveway, period. Plug up and go...

[TimJJ]

god what a car

[Felonious Ham]

John Brown,
"Too big and heavy"? What do you car what a car weighs, provided the mileage is good and it handles well for its class? Are you sad they didn't build a Tesla for $30K?

Diesels aren't profitable in the US. That's it. Diesel fuel is more expensive and the cars have ages of black smoke marketing to overcome. Volkswagen and Mercedes sell them, but not many.

Dave,
The third most fuel efficient car on the road and b/c it doesn't hit your arbitrary mark, it's garbage? You are the Internet.

I should say, I've rented the gas-only Fusion a number of times and I find it an attractive, functional, and quiet car. No Tesla, but certainly the measure of a Camry.

[Christopher Haase]

Calling a 40mpg a 'hybrid' or economical is a joke that is no long funny in our current 'eco-nomic' state.

Fords and the BIG 3 (no longer after 208) sell better cars that get over 50 mpg (NON-HYBRID)

Just not to Americans.

If the big three want to stay afloat they need to stop shooting holes in the boat.

Ford Focus Econetic: 52.7 mpg
And the Fords Focus Diesel: 60 mpg

Don't believe the Hype:

[Josh]

I'd consider buying one if they were made in the US. I think it's time for us to let the Big 3 know we will not purchase cars that come at the cost of American jobs.

[Dan]

I would love to help the environment, but I'm not shelling out nearly $30k on a car. I always wait until I can get a car 2 years used for about 16k. For and extra $8k you get an extra 21mpg city. Based on the following, It would take nearly 9 years to pay that off(12000 miles per year, div 21mpg city savings, time $1.6 per gallon). Why would i do that?

[John Spencer]

Boy there is a lot of junk information in these comments.

- I read elsewhere that the Ford Fusion hybrid will run only on its electric motor at speeds of 47 mph or lower. That means you can avoid using gas for a long time if you drive with a close eye on city speed limits.Uh, until the battery charge runs down, which will take a few seconds to at best a minute or two. You infer that you can run all day at less than 47 mph without the engine coming on.
-Fusion diesel - 60 mpg, Just not true. In fact, I would find it incredibly hard for anyone to find proof that any diesel car in the world get's 60mpg, unless it is a hybrid diesel or a prototype tiny car.
-Payout period math is correct, but your assumptions about the cost of gas are optimistic, and everyone does the payout on how long they intend to keep the car, not the total life of the car. Yes, most people sell cars long before they wear out. If the payout is 9 years, what is wrong with that, keep the car longer than 9 years. 108k miles is not that much. And also consider the tax incentive you might get.
-Batteries will be recycled, not landfilled like many contend. And the truth of the matter is you will likely never have to replace the battery. At the end of the life of the car.

[Steve Carlton]

Talking about fuel economy and engines without talking about curb weight is a bit stupid and could really help this article. An element of making cars more energy efficient is making them smaller. Using less materials also saves materials for other products and lowers the demand for raw materials. A giant hybrid is not as 'green' as a small one.

[Steve Carlton]

Hey Spencer, how many batteries you know last 10 years with daily cycling? Yeah, I thought so.

[patrockin]

great step in the right diretion but we have a long wayto go and prices are still too high for building in another country where labor is so cheep to cut cost cost i would down size the exec bonus

[Reuben Gathright]

The Ford Fusion Hybrid is a start on the road to energy independence. Building a plug in version will spur growth in our nation's renewable power industries as well.

We should all do our part to save the enviroment and encourage the growth of the solar and wind power industries. Cordless electric lawn mowers go a long
ways towards these goals. I recently purchased the Black & Decker Cordless Electric Lawnmower the CMM1200. In the review I describe how to upgrade the
mower to mow over 9,000 SQFT! I hope my review will help you make a decision about our future.

http://www.epinions.com/review/Black_Decker_19_In_24_Volt_Cordless_Mulching_Mower/content_445899312772

[Gumby]

Gasoline prices is down, but our economy is still hostage to Big OIl meaning if and when our economy start to resume growth, prices will start creeping up... Buying this car now may make you look dumb , but you will be looking smart a couple years later.. CAFE averages for 2009 seems to be still too low to assure lower gasoline prices much longer. There is still too many gas guzzlers out there in dealer lots...Demand will drive it up!!

[Cpt D]

I drive a 1934 FORD on a regular basis in the summer. Gets about 20 MPG with a 240 HP 1953 V8 engine. Just think how many people this car has served in its 75 years of service, how many "new cars" didn't have to be built to replace it. This folks is Greener than any of your little kiddie cars! Those of you who do not think 39 MPG is good - - GO BUY A FLIPPIN HORSE! If you think a Prius is good looking they you need some glasses.

[Pat]

Blame California for preventing the big 3 from selling their clean desiel cars that the Chinese and the rest of the world love.

[Richard, NZ]

It's about time US auto companies started showing real product leadership and built quality cars for a global market designed to meet the needs of normal people wanting to make a positive difference for the environment.

I'm really looking forward to my first hydrogen powered car. I hope it will be a Jeep/GM/Ford rather than a Honda. Why ? Put simply, I like to support the great economies that empower democracy, freedom and scientific and social progress.

[reality check]

Mr. Spencer;

Your comments about battery life are incorrect. Perhaps you are thinking about the battery under the hood that powers the spark plugs? That is not the battery in question.

The battery being referred to is a large pack that sits in (or under) the trunk, and is constantly recharged by regenerative braking. It is large enough that yes, it can power the car all day in city driving (remember the regenerative braking part).

I'm curious that they used nickel-metal hydride instead of lithium ion. Supposedly the lithium ion battery has a bigger charge pound for pound.

As for hydrogen, I love the idea of a hydrogen car, but I think we are as far from that as we are a flying car.

(of course, if we DO start mass producing hydrogen vehicles, I'm moving to LA and selling dehumidifiers. What do you think will happen in the l.a. BASIN when 20 million vehicles are emitting h20 instead of carbon monoxide?)

[Bubba]

"I drive a 1934 FORD on a regular basis in the summer. Gets about 20 MPG with a 240 HP 1953 V8 engine. Just think how many people this car has served in its 75 years of service, how many "new cars" didn't have to be built to replace it. This folks is Greener than any of your little kiddie cars! Those of you who do not think 39 MPG is good - - GO BUY A FLIPPIN HORSE! If you think a Prius is good looking they you need some glasses.

Posted by: Cpt D | December 31, 2008 at 01:17 PM"

Amen. It requires considerable resources to manufacture a new car, going far beyond the simple manufacturing processes. Plastic, rubber, paint, and several metal industries are just a start. Everyone in the process needs to drive to work; these factories are not located downtown next to a subway stop. Add in the design, testing, government certification, management and after sale support and their material/fuel use and it's clear that a new car quickly discarded is wasteful.
10-15 years is quick compared to what you can achieve.
You should get about 300K from a half-decent new car. Taxicabs pass that figure and they're not treated kindly.
With SoCal's smooth roads, longer trips and no rust 500K with one engine freshening is not unreasonable.

To split hairs, a powerplant newer than 1953 would be greener even after manufacturing, but this is an antique and there's no need to update these for the .00000001% of miles driven they account for.

Enjoy your '34 and be proud!