I have a new slogan idea for the Ford Motor Company…Back from the brink and now ruling the roost!
The Ford story is certainly an impressive one, when you consider that in 2008 the company lost $14.8 Billion dollars and, alongside its other North American car maker competitors, General Motors and Chrysler, there were fears of a total collapse.
Move forward to today and not only has Ford stopped the bleeding, it’s now sitting in the top spot for North American auto sales and is one of the most profitable auto makers in the world.
A key component in this fundamental turnaround was a complete overhaul of the Ford line-up. New models were introduced and new technology was developed and brought to the forefront. Once known for its ridiculously thirsty vehicles such as the massive (and now extinct) Ford Excursion, Ford has embraced the notion of smarter and more fuel efficient cars. The end result is a line up of vehicles that include popular models such as the 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid, which is the subject of the latest Enviro Dad Test Drive.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Prior to picking up the Fusion Hybrid for my week long test, I had the chance to participate in a 3 day conference put on by Ford at their global HQ in Dearborn, MI. Their “Forward with Ford” event was designed to showcase how Ford was looking to the future as they built and designed cars today. While there, I also had a brief opportunity to take the Fusion Hybrid out on their private test track. Suffice to say there had been a lot of build up leading to me getting behind the wheel for a week.
From an aesthetic perspective, the look of the Fusion Hybrid wasn’t something that set my heart all aflutter. While it has a streamlined and somewhat crisp design to it, there was nothing to my mind that jumped out at me.
Stepping into the interior was something that I had to admit was a bit disappointing. The drab grey cloth interior alongside the grey trim and dash left me with a rather generic and drab sensation. While the seating was perhaps more comfortable than I anticipated, I felt that overall my first impressions were less than what I had hoped.
DRIVE
The 2011 Fusion Hybrid comes equipped with both a 4 Cylinder, 2.5 litre engine that puts out 152 hp and an electric Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous Motor which puts out 106 hp and 275 volts. Combined they offer up to 191 net horsepower. The electric motor is supplied by a nickel-metal hydride battery. The Fusion Hybrid uses regenerative braking to charge the battery.
The combined propulsion methods offer a very respectable fuel efficiency rating of 4.6 L/100 km (city) and 5.4 L/100 km (hwy). These ratings put it ahead of both the Nissan Altima Hybrid and the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid which one would see as direct competition.
While driving the Fusion Hybrid, I never felt that the vehicle lacked for sufficient horsepower and the transition from hybrid mode to gas engine only was never noticed. The Fusion Hybrid handled as one would expect a mid sized sedan to handle – it was firm without being sporty and suitable for the presumed type of driving that would be expected.
INTERIOR COMFORT
As mentioned earlier, the seats of the Fusion Hybrid are comfortable. The driver’s seat was not racing inspired but perhaps more towards comfort. While this may or may not be a fair thing to say, I felt an eerie similarity to the front seats in the Fusion Hybrid to that of the mid to full sized sedans built by North American car makers back in the 80’s and 90’s. The rather generic and drab interior perhaps contributes to the rather blasé feeling I had inside.
Leather seating is an optional upgrade with the Fusion Hybrid and in this case, may be worth it. Heated seats are also available but not standard. The heated seat feature is becoming more and more common as a standard feature on models even below where the Fusion is positioned so I would think that Ford needs to consider whether this should remain as optional with future versions of the hybrid.
Otherwise sightlines on the Fusion Hybrid are clear with no tricky blind spots to work against. The standard power driver’s seat along with tilt and telescopic steering wheel ensured that a comfortable driving position was pretty easy to create.
GADGETS AND GIZMOS
Perhaps the one area where Ford seems to have clearly shown superiority over its competitors has been through the utilization of various smart technology initiatives. With the Fusion Hybrid, Ford has placed two 4.3 inch, high resolution, full colour LCD screens on either side of the vehicle’s analog speedometer. The objective of these panel displays is to coach drivers on how to optimize the performance of their hybrid by keeping track of their eco driving improvements.
These screens can be configured to show different levels of driver information, including fuel and battery power levels, and average and instant fuel economy. When set in tutorial mode, the instrument panel in the right side “grows” leaves and vines on-screen to reward fuel-efficient driving. The more leaves and vines that appear, the more efficient the driving behavior is and the more fuel is being saved. Long-term fuel efficiency can also be displayed as a traditional chart. The left side display shows when the car is in pure-electric mode, and shows the state of battery charge. This type of tutorial I feel is critical to get the most out of a Hybrid and Ford at this moment perhaps does it better than anyone.
Another area where Ford excels is with their Ford Sync voice activated technology that was co-designed with Microsoft. Many commands such as adjusting climate controls and music selections can all be done through smart voice recognition technology. Once I got the hang of it and knew the right commands to make I admittedly found myself somewhat addicted.
STORAGE
The Fusion Hybrid offers only 334 litres (11.8 cubic feet) of cargo space in its rear trunk. This is notably less than the 467 litres (16.5 cubic feet) that is offered on its non hybrid models. The reason for this is due to the placement of the nickel-metal hydrate battery behind the rear seat and has been problematic with other manufacturers using the same battery. The end result is somewhat cramped space which would be a challenge for most families who often require more cargo room.
A new version of the Fusion Hybrid is scheduled for the 2013 model year and at that time Ford will begin to use the much smaller lithium ion batteries that will soon be the new standard for hybrid vehicles. The reduced weight of the lithium ion should also improve the fuel efficiency as well.
IN THE END
The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid is a vehicle with a number of WOW factors that is housed in a shell and dressed in an interior that, by contrast, offers nothing to set the emotional hearts beating.
The technology that forms the heart, brain and nerve centre of this car, are leading edge and clearly something that will keep Ford out front for some time. However these key organs are encased in a skin and skeleton that would blend into a crowd and barely be noticed…if noticed at all.
For the time being this is a good car for environmentally conscious drivers who view their ecological footprint well above any need for advanced styling or design. Perhaps with the 3rd generation re-design we will see a new look that matches its exciting technology. In the meantime feel free to drive the Fusion Hybrid, just don’t plan to be overly excited about it.
ENVIRO DAD’S Test Drive Ratings (Out of 5):
STYLE: 3.0
COMFORT: 3.0
FEATURES: 4.5
STORAGE: 2.5
DRIVE: 4.0
ENVIRO/ECO: 4.5
VALUE: 3.5
(MSRP as tested $36,999)
OVERALL RATING: 3.5
Lower numbers in winter, higher in spring. Drives fine – will scoot if asked to.I drive rather non-aggressively. It has everything on it and it all works great.