After taking part in a rather unusual fuel-economy test for its non-hybrid 2013 Fusion EcoBoost, Ford has announced its 2013 Fusion Hybrid has just been awarded its official gas mileage ratings by the EPA.
Just like the 2013 C-Max Hybrid, the 2013 Fusion Hybrid has been rated at 47 mpg highway, 47 mpg city, and 47 mpg combined.
That’s hardly surprising, since the two cars share the same 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, Atkinson cycle engine, lithium-ion battery pack and hybrid drivetrain.
On paper, the official EPA figures put the mid-size sedan slightly behind the venerable 2012 Toyota Prius in the gas mileage ranking, but ahead of the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid by 8mpg highway and 4 mpg city.
It is, Ford claims, the most efficient midsize hybrid sedan to date.
Because the 2013 Fusion Hybrid shares the same engine and drivetrain as the 2013 C-Max Hybrid, it also shares the same operational modes.
2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
That means it can drive at up to 62 mph in all-electric mode, while an automatic grille shutter can activate at higher speeds in cooler weather to reduce engine-bay drag, making the car more aerodynamic.
Like its non-hybrid siblings, the 2013 Fusion Hybrid comes with the usual choices of trim and technology, including adaptive cruise control, active park assist, lane-keeping system, and blind spot warning system.
Starting at an MSRP of $27,200, the 2013 Fusion Hybrid is substantially more expensive than the $21,700 base level Fusion.
However, it is clearly designed to compete directly with the 2012 Prius Liftback, priced somewhere between the $25,565 Prius Three and $28,235 Prius Four.
The 2013 Fusion Hybrid will go on sale this fall, followed some time early next year by the 2013 Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid, a car Ford claims will achieve a gas mileage of more than 100 mpge.
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