Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Just face it: You want a hybrid, but you don't want to be seen in a four-wheel wedge, whether it's named Prius or Insight. Enter the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, which sports the edgy — not wedgie — looks of Ford's sedan and gets 41 mpg. Kelsey Mays finds the technology Ford packs into the car quite impressive in his full review.
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This is the first hybrid I can think of that has significant gains in MPG without sacrificing styling. Great job by Ford, will be interesting to see how it sells or effects their public image.
I wonder if the Fusions looks - not screaming HYBRID - could work against it?
Right now the Prius TV ads are all "save the earth" laddeeda. If you drive a Prius, its distinctive looks screams that you "care for the planet".
Somebody would have to take a hard look at the back of the Fusion Hybrid to know it was different from any other Fusion. It doesn't give the buyer "instant green cred" like a Prius (or Insight).
The review says the Efficiency Leaves look like "contraband". I disagree.
The problem of this car is not the big price, but that one of the reason that hybrid buyers look in their car is the "holier than thou" greenie image.
Even the NY Times, which can not be suspected of being conservative or "corporate" (ha, ja, just kidding) stated in a survey that most Prius drivers valued the image they were giving (they believe the car made a statement about them) than fuel economy or lower emissions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/business/04hybrid.html?ex=1341288000&en=4beada66541df849&ei=5124
This is the reason that will benefit the Volt, when some Hollywood celebrities will be seen driving in one, most of the so called fashionistas will want one, and this is the problem this car is going to have: it is fast, good, great mileage and driving experience... but the people who want the "image" fear they could be confused with simple middle class people who drives sedans... and not many of them are going to like it.
I am for hybrid but for postal workers, cabs, delivery vans which can use most of this technology... in a lot of areas is better to have a small sedan.
For the 2010 model year, the new Ford Fusion lineup expands to include an all-new hybrid model that offers class-leading fuel economy, according to the automaker.