Review Car

2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid Review

The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid is further refined compared to earlier models, while still retaining basic concepts of the Fusion Hybrid series. The great success of Ford Fusion Hybrid cars was due to the implementation of innovative features and wide media coverage. Its interior is made from high quality materials and with technology that departs completely from those that are offered by competitors.

Performance
2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid offers the best driving experience that can be found among the hybrid sedan market. The acceleration is perfectly acceptable compared to other cars in this segment, while the hybrid version does not have the performance of a conventional model; it remains a comfortable and enjoyable car. The fuel consumption is 36 mpg on the highway and 41 mpg in the city, which is mediocre for a hybrid car. The Ford Fusion Hybrid offers an excellent fuel economy among all mid-size sedans, so it is a good solution for many families dealing with the fuel inefficiency due to lengthy traffic jams. Official figures show that the 2011 Fusion Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 9 seconds, half a second faster than conventional Fusion. The vehicle uses a conventional 2.5-liter engine with 156 horsepower and a 106 horsepower electric power from a 275 V Ni-MH battery pack, both send power to the front wheels through a CVT transmission rate. As a whole, 2011 Fusion Hybrid is quite powerful, although the engine is a bit noisy for a hybrid car. A fuel efficiency test using a single tank and only the conventional engine showed that the car can reach almost 1500 miles at more than 80 mpg (3 liter/100km). It is expected that a Ford Fusion car releases 4.7 tons of carbon-dioxide each year (if used 15,000 miles annually).

Handling and Braking

The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan is among the most nimble mid-size cars made by an American manufacturer that uses an electronic steering instead of power steering found in conventional models. The regenerative braking system offers a feeling of softness along with a further improvement in fuel economy and it is claimed that 94 percent of the energy is recovered during braking. The car stops completely from 60 mph in 38.4 meters, a good figure for a hybrid car. However, some users reported that the car emits too much noise when driven on rough pavement.

Interior and Exterior

The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid is acceptable aesthetically and differs from the conventional Fusion only on a special badge. Curves and straight lines in the design are well received by the market and exterior changes on the 2011 model looks even more aggressive than before. Some users complained that the auto dimmer on rear view mirror makes it rather hard to see things at certain times, while the trunk is a bit high when opened and a little uncomfortable to close. The 2011 Fusion Hybrid features SmartGauge technology that has two 4.3″ full color, high-resolution LCD screens near the analog speedometer. They show important parameters such as battery and fuel power levels, and instant and average fuel economy. With this technology, new users can use the tutorial mode and follow advices shown on the screen, higher driving efficiency is indicated by more leaves and vines on the screens.

Price
2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid is available for $28,000 or $8,500 more expensive than the Ford Fusion I4S (the baseline conventional model) but still $500 cheaper than Ford Fusion V6 Sport AWD, a sporty, high-performance conventional model that features a V6 engine (3.5l) and an AWD (all-wheel-drive) configuration. Unfortunately, the hybrid tax credit has been dropped in April 2010.