LOS ANGELES, CA., December, 10, 2008 - The new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is expected to be the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan in America when it goes on sale in spring 2009 with fuel economy expected to be at least 39 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway. Photo by: Sam VarnHagen/Ford Motor Co. (12/10/2008)

LOS ANGELES, CA., December, 10, 2008 - The new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is expected to be the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan in America when it goes on sale in spring 2009 with fuel economy expected to be at least 39 mpg in city driving and 37 mpg on the highway. Photo by: Sam VarnHagen/Ford Motor Co. (12/10/2008)

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is getting wide spread press for its claim of 41 mpg city and the ability to drive 700 or more miles on a single tank. In fact, our partners over at TheCarConnection.com ran a story about the Fusion Hybrid and its 1000-mile trek. The twist- the “Ford Fusion Hybrid team” is going to try to do it on a single tank. While the Fusion team is off trying to prove the great economy of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, we have our own exclusive 300+ mile account of a Fusion Hybrid’s journey from Denver to Santa Fe.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: The Ford Fusion Hybrid combines second-generation hybrid technology, class-leading styling and features along with the class-exclusive SmartGauge with EcoGuide instrument panel to help customers achieve maximum fuel economy in a sporty package. (11/19/08)

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid: The Ford Fusion Hybrid combines second-generation hybrid technology, class-leading styling and features along with the class-exclusive SmartGauge with EcoGuide instrument panel to help customers achieve maximum fuel economy in a sporty package. (11/19/08)

Some of you may have seen my report on the 41 mpg Challenge Test Drive I participated in last week (if not check it out here) and will remember that Paul Witt, Direct Impact for Ford, was part of the team that put together the great event at Lakewood Fordland outside of Denver. Well, it just so happened that after the test drive event Paul was going to take the car on a 139 mile drive up to the mountains to Eagle, CO and then the next day travel with the car to its next test drive destination in Santa Fe, NM. This was going to answer a question a lot of us in Colorado have on how the Fusion Hybrid would perform going into our beloved Rocky Mountains.

Did the Mountains drain the tank or did the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid prove itself superior? According to Paul, on the drive to Eagle the Fusion Hybrid averaged 38.9 mpg over the 139-mile trip up I-70. The worst average mileage, according to the onboard system, was at the I-70 tunnel (one of the steepest climbs along the I-70 route in the Rocky Mountains) where the fuel consumption rang in at 27.3 mpg. Now I am pretty impressed, the overall mileage recorded means that the 2009 Ford Fusion Hybrid did better on the highway than any other car in its class and even bests the 2009 Toyota Yaris.

This report doesn’t end there! Paul also reported on the mileage for the 339 mile trip from Eagle, CO to Santa Fe, NM. Now the thing about getting to Santa Fe from Colorado is that no matter how you go, there are Mountains involved. However, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid loaded down with Paul and two other passengers and all their equipment still averaged 39.2 mpg. This put the 2010 Ford Fusion just shy of the 700 mile per tank mark. Something else to keep in mind, this exercise represents what you can do in the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid without the newest efficient driving techniques that you will read about in 1000-mile Trek story mentioned earlier.

Bottom line- the 2010 Ford Fusion represents how American car manufacturers are stepping up to address the impact their automobiles have on the environment and the consumer’s pocket book.

 

Also be sure to check out the past blogsreviews and our photo gallery right here at Allsmallcars.com. Like what you read? Leave me a comment or send me email to JEMblogger at gmail dot com.