2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Rated 41 MPG

Ford probably could not have picked a better time to roll out the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Besting its Japanese competition, the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway, the Fusion Hybrid looks like a major player.

The EPA rated the Fusion Hybrid at 41/36 mpg city/highway, which makes it the most fuel-efficient midsize vehicle sold in the U.S (the Prius isn't considered midsize). This means you could drive 700 city miles in it before you had to fill up the tank.

Ford has introduced a slew of new technology that allows the Fusion Hybrid to achieve those numbers, including a nickel-hydride battery that is smaller, lighter and produces 20% more energy. Improved regenerative braking technology manages 94% energy recovery as well.

Test drivers have reported different mileage numbers for the Fusion Hybrid, ranging from low 30s to low 50s. Largely, this fluctuation depends on the driving habits of whoever sits behind the wheel, but believe us when we say we can’t wait to get our hands on it.

Comments

what a slap in the face to all the pundits and congressman who have been on TV talking about Detroit making gas guzzlers and uncompetitive vehicles. WOuld Shelby drive this car? The man who got on every TV show he could and pronounced with confidence that the Big 3 (even Ford who wasnt asking for money) didnt make relevant, competitive vehicles should apologize and refrain from further comment on this subject.

A lot of people who have spent the last few decades preaching about import superiority are going to be upset by this.

And its not like we haven't seen these cars coming as well. Anyone paying attention to the actual product coming out of Detroit for the last decade would know its competitive.

Let not kid ourselves, most of the people opposed to the bailout are simply opposed to labor unions.

Yet another example of how Ford is easily the strongest of the D3.

sheth,
what are you talking?

You talk like it is Fusion hybrid has been running for years, not Civic, Camry, Prius...

"...about Detroit making gas guzzlers and uncompetitive vehicles..."
This is all correct. Fusion hybrid is not in production yet. Yes, they produced gas guzzlers. And only when they felt burning in their behinds, they started to move their...
Nobody, I think, is against having good American cars. But they were nowhere to find (good American cars). Just now Detroit started to make moves into right direction. But it will take then about 10 years to rebuild reputation. And this is only if, 1-their new products are really good, 2-they will survive current crisis.

Ford is clearly on the right path to recovery and turn-around. Their cars are becoming top-notch. GM also has some great cars coming, so they are on the right path too. So give Ford and GM some credit for at least trying. I think they will eventually emerge as smaller and efficient, profitable companies.

Don't blame the Big 3 for making gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks. If anything else, blame the public for wanting them in the first place. If you don't want them, the Big 3 wouldn't build them ... simple as that.

Besides, making cars was not profitable when the wages they pay for union workers is almost double that of competitors. So, stop criticizing the Big 3 for not making competitive, fuel-efficient cars when there are no business justification to do so due to high wages. Downsize the unions and lower the wages to that of competitors and you'll see more great cars coming from the Big 3. The new fusion, fiesta, malibu, CTS, and the new lacrosse are proof that the Big 3 can make high quality, reliable cars.

big3, thats a chicken before the egg comment. The U.S had no idea what an SUV was before one of the "big 3" released one for sale. once america got a taste for it, they then jammed them down our throats. The manufacturers are the ones that design and release the cars, they dictate style. not us.

markt,
When did they first release the SUV?Are you talking about the Suburban circa 1960?

It was totally consumer driven in the 1990s. Heck even exploding firestone tires didn't slow down SUV sales that much. Talk about bad press.

How can one expect the Big 3 to design cars people want when they are at a competitive disadvantage as far as wages are concerned? The Big 3 didn't shove those SUVs down your throat, so don't make it seem like they force you to buy one markt! You have no one to blame but yourself if you buy SUVs.

For those who ask for fuel-efficient cars and criticize the big 3 for making gas guzzlers, where were you when GM built and marketed their first electric car, which was a well-built car but didn't garner enough demand to justify their existence?

I think you got it all backwards. Markt ...if i'm interpreting what you are writing, you are saying ... "build it and we'll buy it". That seems to be your argument.

Car companies don't dictate style ... the consumers do. If you make cars that don't resonate well with consumers, they won't buy them and the models will either be redesigned or die all together.

It is unbelievable to see Congress slam the Detroit 3 when the facts are the facts: Best Fuel Economy SUV in the world: Ford Escape Hybrid, Best fuel economy Mid-size sedan: Ford Fusion hybrid. Oh by the way, blaming detroit for buyidling big SUVs? What about Toyota Tundra, Sequoia? Nissan Titan? This shows American Engineering wins!

Sam,
you out of touch with reality.
Escape Hybrid is not mass-produced car and one that not reachable by general public, and Ford Fusion is not in production yet and also very expensive.
Go outside and look around. I see everyday Priuses, in packs. Only sometimes I see Escape Hybrid.
As for American engineering... It would be interesting to see the demographics of engineers who actually worked on these models. Having American company push for technology is a different thing.

SUV are just like cigarettes.
The producers make it like a necessity and people follow the message like sheeps.
The producers drove right through a loophole of the law back then and made huge profit whil caring less about what the people actually wanted.

The public wanted SUVs, and the Big 3 produced them. It's not the Big 3's fault. They made huge profits because the demand was so great!!

Last time I checked, nearly every major manufacturer has suv's, not just the domestics. Toyota and nissan nearly have a match for the suv's that ford makes and the ones that chevy makes.

Back to the Fusion, I think it is a great entry to the market. I do think the low price of gas will slow the sales of this and other hybrids, but many people are responsible enough to know that the prices can go up anytime- not to mention that driving a hybrid is good for the environment.

Brog

The public wanted something that can take the family to a trip, rides comfy, but not a station wagon or a minivan. They did not want a SUV. The automaker made them want one while they could have a crossover back then.
The Outback came out in 1995 and the RAV4 in 1996.

The other automaker jumped on the bandwagon because they saw the big 3 made so much profits out of those fools.

J, what kind of crap are you talking about now? The automaker made people want SUVs? WTF? Last time I checked people loved the ride height of a truck, with 4 wheel drive, they just wanted more room than in a pickup. The automakers met that demand nobody had to buy them. Crossovers are more costly to make than a body on frame, especially when the automaker already had the parts, in many cases from a pickup. If the Outback and RAV-4 would have sold better (ie. people wanted it) back then every automaker would have copied it. You would have been a fool not to have SUVs to sell up until a couple of years ago. It was a good business decision for the Big 3 to have those vehicles, the problem was they put all their investments into those vehicles and did not improve the cars at the same rate.

The automakers put the product out there, its not like there was nicotine in them or something. Goodness, you are a fool.

EVERYBODY went crazy for SUV, even the Toy Ota, Honda, Mitsu, Nissan, the Koreans, the Germans... it is not only the American companies.

The question was in the Clinton era, you have to keep up with the Joneses, my SUV is bigger than yours... ha, ha..

Good Work Ford guys.. I am a Ford owner and I will keep buying Fords.

"big3, thats a chicken before the egg comment. The U.S had no idea what an SUV was before one of the "big 3" released one for sale. once america got a taste for it, they then jammed them down our throats."

HA! You cannot be serious. This is the problem with Americans. People do not want to accept responsibility for their own actions. No one forced anyone to buy an SUV. I have NEVER owned an SUV and millions of other people can say the same thing. Whats funny is that much of the production set up in the US by foreign automakers is for SUVs. MB and BMW only build SUVs in the US. At least efficient cars like the Malibu, Cobalt and Focus are built in the US. Toyota just spent $1B to build a plant for gas guzzling Tundras.

The Fusion will be out in March and the base price will be about $28k which is only slightly more than the less efficient camry hybrid. What are you people talking about? This is not some pie in the sky vehicle with no specific on sale date. Its coming to a Ford dealer near you.

Whomever said the Escape hybrid isnt an accessible vehicle is out of touch with reality. Anyone who wanted one could easily buy one. The fact of the matter is the two most efficient SUVs on the market are sold by the domestics. The new Vue 2 Mode (V6) will get 28/31 which is better than any four cylinder Japanese SUV.

sheth,
You keep on pushing false info here.

Escape Hybrid is in limited production and too expensive for general public. Not many people have $30K to buy it. Many Americans can't afford anything over $20K and many simply buying used cars. Escape Hybrid is still a "Style", not necessity.

"...The new Vue 2 Mode (V6) will get 28/31 which is better than any four cylinder Japanese SUV."
Again, you saying it yourself "...will get...". The car is just coming out. We don't have them running the roads yet. Yes, the mileage is good. But wait to see reliability of Opel.

As of today, Ameican manufacturers are in chase. It is possible that they will get ahead in the next year or so. Also, may be not, because all their hybrids are on expensive side. Honda already working on theory of affordable hybrids (Insite). One thing is to have a model in the lineup, the other is to push this model out to the consumer. Toyota has a grand plan. They will make hybrid version of every available model. What is it, by 2012?

Bloke,
Who is the fool now?
You have not read my point at all and went on a bunch of BS. People wanted something that carries the family, have a higher ride than cars and not wanting wagons or minivans. They DID NOT ASK FOR SUV. It is the IMAGE that the automaker gave the consumers that SUV are something that they needed.
Forester and RAV4 didn't sell well? Well, if you are living inside a water well and look into the sky (meaning that you are only looking on a scale of one country full of arrogant fools such as yourself), of course they didn't sell well. Look at global sales will tell you a much better story.

J, yes you are still the fool. The American people bought what they wanted. They got what they asked for. They wanted the look, or else they wouldn't have bought it. The automakers don't force anything on people, they make their own choices. Buyers didn't want the fuel efficiency until the costs of oil went sky high. We are talking about America, so don't bring in foreign sales, it is meaningless to your argument. Which is as usual, not a good one, because you make no point at all. Wake up man, you really are out of it.

And Tony, 30K is not out of reach for many people when the average buying price of a new vehicle is around 25K. The only reason it is in limited production is because more people don't buy it.

"Escape Hybrid is in limited production and too expensive for general public. Not many people have $30K to buy it. Many Americans can't afford anything over $20K and many simply buying used cars. Escape Hybrid is still a "Style", not necessity."

The escape hybrid is only a little more than the camry or altima hybrid. Where do you get off saying its not affordable? The average new vehicle sells for close to $30k in the US market. The Escape is just above that threshold.

You are clueless if you think Toyota will have a hybrid version of every vehicle by 2012. They are cutting capital investments and have not devised a hybrid system for RWD trucks and pickups. In fact, Toyota has not announced any new hybrids beyond the LExus version of the Prius. They havent even committed to a hybrid version of the Venza. What plan are you talking about? Right now the Malibu hybrid is one of the cheapest on the market and yet you claim all domestic hybrids are pricey and out of reach. The Vue 2 mode is expected to cost about $30k which is affordable for many people. The hybrids you are speaking of are the full size SUVs which are expensive but are within the price range of vehicles in that class.

J:

Automakers did not force anyone to buy an SUV. The Big 3 made minivans AND Suvs so its not like they forced you to chose an SUV. They also made cars. When gas was cheap people jumped at the chance to own something they viewed as safe and spacious. Station wagons have been on the wane in the US for decades so its not like Americans were buying millions of wagons before the Explorer and Grand Cherokee came along. SUVs fit the mood of the 1990s and 2000s and people gobbled them up. I notice you have no issue with Japanese and GErman branded SUVs which tells me a lot about your position. I guess you havent noticed the proliferation of foreign branded SUVs over the last 10 years or so. Lexus started the luxury crossover market with the RX300 back in 1998. MANY competitors jumped on that bandwagon aftewards to get a piece of the pie. The 4Runner was actually one of the first successful midsize SUVs. Same goes for the pathfinder which has been around since the late 80s or early 90s.

Bloke,
you're very wrong. Escape Hybris is in lim. prod. because Ford has it there since they lose money on each of them. People are in lines for them (they were in lines before crisis).

And your "average buying price" argument is not good because it doesn't show how many people can actually afford it. Especially today. For example, take 5 people. One gets 50K car and 4 get 16K cars, the average will be 22,800. This number doesn't show that av. person can afford it. By your theory 2.5 people should buy 22K car. Not connected.

sheth,
come on! I know what I say about affordable.
People will pay 22K for RAV4 before 28-30K for Escape H. Even that it will burn more gas, the RAV4 will end up cheaper and more affordable in the long run. Also, not as much money needed up front.
Affordable goes beyond the purchase price. Also don't dream about 30K prices. In good economical situation many people took risk in buying cars they really can't afford. They took mortgages on their mortgages. In reality, not many can really afford 30K worth of car.

Tony, okay so I read this story that says Ford may be keeping the sales number limited because of a loss on each one, here is that story:

http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/blogs/marty_blog/industry/261/

The author talks about insiders and what others say... so I will buy it for now, until I find something else. But your second point doesn't make sense. You can give me an example with one person who makes a million and then 10 who make 10K, it doesn't change that the average transaction price for a vehicle has been around 25K for the last few years. If you don't believe I will try to find you an article that says this.

Bloke,
We are talking about how the US automaker introduced the SUV boom in the 90's. If you are only looking into the US sales only, you are totally on the wrong page to begin with, and I have nothing more to tell you fool.

Bloke,
I believe. I also believe that median American family income is $46K. Can they afford $30K car? I believe, under average conditons -no.

sheth,

Where in the world did you see I have no problem with German or Japanese SUV?
I have been strongly against SUV in total, but the US automakers were the one who started the whole fire of driving right through the loophole in the law as of requiring fuel mileage and things alike.
On the other hand, I have clearly stated that people did not want minivan, or else they would have made more minivan models. Americans are the strange people, where everywhere else in the world loves the utility of a hatchback and wagons.

This is a step in the right direction for Ford…and a good gesture to those who were skeptical about giving the Big 3 a loan of any kind. However, it is Ford and it is doing the best out of the 3.

J, so what if US automakers introduced the SUV or not? You said people did not want SUV's you are being a complete moron when you say that. Who cares what the international sales were. People bought what they wanted. Tell me exactly what your point is or quit posting, please, you make no sense.

Tony, I am happy to do your research for you, but average earnings are what they are and average price is what it is, 30K is not outlandish.

Apparently Bloke does not understand what I have been saying for the last few posts, thus has to make him/her/itself sound righteous by calling me a moron while he/she/it is.
People did not ask for SUV, they asked for something not a wagon, not a minivan, but that does not equal to SUV.
If the domestic automakers did offer something not SUV, the consumer would have other choices.
People like Bloke that did not care about international sales is just so typical American that think they are the center of the universe, which in turn made them unaware of anything about global economy.

it's mildly entertaining to read posts from people who have been staunchly against suvs from the beginning, or who blame the big3 for the suv boom of the 90s. it's kindof like seeing all the congressmen and senators swearing they were against the iraq war from the beginning...after they voted to invade anyway.

it's a product people. the american people wanted it, and this is still a free country (you're welcome, i'm a soldier), so every automaker built as many as possilbe. hell, porche built an suv!!! ridiculous!

now, americans want fuel efficient cars, and big surprise, the big3 (even chrysler is trying...although not very successfully) are building them and cutting back on suvs. enough of the finger pointing..it's a really tired argument.

the ford lineup is going to be very strong in about two years. gm's is going to be as well, although there will be holes given the number of brands they still have (at least kill gmc please).