2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Review

By Eric Loveday

Eric Loveday

Author BIO

Eric Loveday is a car enthusiast with a love for everything automotive. He purchased a 1970 Chevelle at age 16, quickly outgrew its dated engineering... More

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2010 Ford Fusion

The cold weather may have also impacted the overall mpg achieved during testing.  According to Ford, the hybrid Fusion can operate on only electric power up to 47 mph, but Wards Auto reviewer Byron Pope could only get the Fusion hybrid up to 30 mph before the gasoline engine would kick in.  Could it be the cold weather, or maybe what reviewer Pope was experiencing was more consistent with the numbers that real world drivers could expect to see.

With promising numbers for fuel efficiency for the Fusion hybrid buyers will certainly line up, but test results have returned less than stellar fuel efficiency results.   This review tries to overlook this obvious shortcoming of the Fusion hybrid, but will buyers be dissappointed when they cannot achieve similar numbers to the EPA ratings for the Fusion hybrid?

Aside from the problems noted above, the rest of the review of the hybrid Fusion is positive.  Drawing praise was Ford's new instrument panel called the Smart Gauge with Eco Guide.  The smart gauge provides vital information in real time to the driver.  This information helps the driver achieve maximium fuel efficiency throughout the course of the drive.  The Smart Gauge is a tech tool that many buyers feel is necessary in a hybrid vehicle.  Hybrid drivers consistently try to achieve better fuel efficiency from one drive to the next and the Smart Gauge allows the driver to view all of the current stats.

The Fusion hybrid has battereies that are placed directly behind the back seat.  This set up helps to conserve cabin space and contributes to sound handling.  Traditionally, the batteries are placed in the rear cargo area causing an adverse effect on overall handling.

The Fusion hybrid offers ample power for acceleration and its transition between electric and gasoline mode with little hint to the driver that any change has occured.  The cabin is hushed during normal driving, the transmission is seamless in its operations, and the cabin is nicely appointed.

The Fusion hybrid recieves minor exterior updates including new headlamps, grill, taillamps, and trunk to give it a freshened  and sportier appearance than the outgoing Fusion model.

With a base price of $29,590, the Fusion hybrid is competitvely price.  With the available government tax credit of $3,400, the price become even more attractive.  It certainly is capable of haolding its own against the competition.

One caveat, buyers should be leary of the posted EPA numbers.  As this reviewer was not capable of achieving anything close to the mpg that the Fusion is rated at, buyers should not expect that they will be capable of achieving the lofty figure of 38.5 mpg combined driving.