QOTD: Is This The First Hybrid That's Desirable

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

All credit goes to the rest of the auto blogs who endlessly race to “get it first” with regurgitating the OEM press release. They actually made me want a hybrid car for the first time ever.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid will apparently get 47 mpg in both city and highway driving. Good highway fuel economy can be accomplished with aerodynamic and driveline tweaks, but good city mileage is more elusive. Around town, hybrids have an undeniable advantage, but they’re about as desirable as a mayonnaise flavored Popsicle.

But the Fusion is different. It doesn’t have the same connotations as the Prius, and it’s not a total bore to look at like the Camry Hybrid. Since I live in the city, I’m not going to be able to enjoy the fruits of the Ecoboost engines anyways. Why not take advantage of the astounding fuel economy? It’s possible to pick up a well equipped example for under $30,000, and I’d be hard pressed to think of a better new commuter car for someone in my situation. Feel free to rant about the supremacy of diesels or why I should buy a 1987 CRX HF in the comments.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Michael Karesh Michael Karesh on Sep 19, 2012

    Perhaps I should fix that typo... Drove all powertrains today, review likely tomorrow. For now, let's just say that Ford's noT insane to be tooling up two plants in North America and at least three more elsewhere (Belgium, Russia, China). (Double posted, couldn't then edit / delete first comment.)

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    • Mike978 Mike978 on Sep 19, 2012

      Michael - how is it that your review may well come out before the official reviews? I had assumed, maybe incorrectly, that Ford would do a media event like the Dart, ATS and Accord had, where all publications would publish after the embargo period.

  • Icemilkcoffee Icemilkcoffee on Sep 19, 2012

    The proof is in the pudding. You should wait for a real life road test first to see if the Ford really achieves the advertised gas mileage. The Toyota Prius does achieve its advertised gas mileage in real life.

    • Scoutdude Scoutdude on Sep 19, 2012

      Not from any of the multiple people I know who have them, at least not on a regular basis.

  • Lynn Ellsworth Lynn Ellsworth on Sep 19, 2012

    Is Ford going to build enough to supply Arizona? People in Chengdu will be making copies in their garages before we get the real ones.

  • Nickoo Nickoo on Sep 20, 2012

    Nah, it's a nice technology package, but that front end is not going to age gracefully, it's already starting to look bad IMO. Also, the new hybrid technology on the accord seems to be the most advanced so far.

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