2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid named Green Car of the Year

As promised a couple of posts back here is the review of the 2013 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid. It just happened to have won Green Car of the Year this week at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show.

Much has changed with the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid compared to the last generation.  It benefits from the complete redesign of the car and is just as drop dead gorgeous as the gassers.  It also benefited from the same chassis upgrades so ride and handling is better than the last generation as well.

Mechanically the Hybrid drive is entirely new compared to the outgoing model.  Gone is the 2.5L Atkinson cycle 4 cylinder that is now replaced with an entirely new 2.0L Atkinson for that is part of the new 2.0 family of engines that Ford is producing.  The battery pack is a Lithium Ion that has more power yet is smaller in size than the outgoing battery pack. All the stats you could want can be found on Ford’s Media site.

What does all this mean?  There is more power total than the outgoing model.  It can travel up to 65mph on battery only before the gas engine kicks in.  It also means that the mileage is way up over last year and roundly trounces its immediate competition.  Its EPA estimates are 47 city/47 highway and you got it 47 combined.  Of course your mileage will vary based on driving habits and whether you feather foot it and hyper mile to keep it in battery mode more than gas mode.  Still, those numbers give you an apples to apples comparison of the competition that indicate what you should be able to produce in the real world if you are a hyper-miler.

Driving the new Fusion Hybrid SE and remembering the last generations drive I walked away pretty blown away with the improvements.  The gas engine cycling on and off is now completely seamless.  Even at a dead stop where demand requires the gas engine to be on, like to accelerate from a dead stop onto the freeway the change is seamless.  Its a steady rush of power with no thuds or surges that I noticed in one of its competitors on a drive the other day.  Ride and handling are really good, but that comes standard with the new Fusion’s now.  The only time you are aware of the battery’s extra weight in the rear is on freeway dipsy doodles where the back does bounce a couple of extra times compared to the firmly planted rear of the regular gassers.

Interior fit and finish is really good.  I’m not a fan of the feel of the standard nylon cloth seats but the support and bolstering is fine.  I wonder if it is possible to upgrade to leather if you want that luxury. Interior room is great in the front, due to the swooping sloping rear roof-line head room in the rear was just a bit short for this 6 footer.  Overall choice of materials used it is class competitive, fit and feel it certainly sets the bar pretty high in the hybrid class.

The MyFord Touch system is standard with additional enhancements for the Hybrid, namely the growning vines eco-monitor that I find myself being addicted to keep it growing while driving…see it even encourages hyper-mileing.

Would I put this car as an option for my daily driver?  Probably, the trunk does lose room compared to the gasser and wouldn’t hold golf clubs (for my kid not me) or much in the way of goodies on the bi-monthy Costco supply run.  For the other 95% of my driving it would be more than adequate as my usual driving is local and with passengers.

Could I have mine in white with charcoal leather please?