Ford Fusion Hybrid: Good Choice for Family Looking for High MPG

Ford's 2010 Fusion Hybrid delivers the goods:

* It meets my minimum standard for high fuel efficiency for a family car by getting 37 mpg on the highway, 41 in the city, and 39 mpg overall, goals achieved thanks to the car's gasoline engine boosted by an electric battery.

* It's roomy enough to seat three adults comfortably in the back, for total seating capacity of 5 overall.

* The in-car GPS system can direct you to the nearest, cheapest gas station or the most direct route, saving you money on gas and reducing the amount of gas you use.

What's the downside - apart from driving a fossil-fuel burning car at all? It's expensive, around $28,000 base price and as much as $32,000 for a "fully loaded" car that includes skylights, leather seats, a Sirius radio system, and GPS.

I test drove the vehicle for three days, morning, noon and night, and in the rain. Here's what I had to say:

Intrigued? Here's a good explanation of how the Fusion Hybrid technology works.

USA Today compares the Ford Fusion hybrid to its Camry and Nissan Altima counterparts here.

For a cheaper hybrid option, you might want to compare the Fusion to the new Prius and the Honda Civic hybrids.

Want a hybrid minivan? Sign this petition urging Toyota to bring its Sienna hybrid minivan to the U.S.

Don't forget to check fuel efficiency ratings for all vehicles at fuelefficiency.gov.

These eco-friendly suggestions will help you save money using less gas driving the vehicle you currently have.

Comments

[Sean]

This is a great car and Ford is on the right track with this one. The Prius and Insight are great but just not visually appealing.

[Carla Golden]

Choosing cloth seats over leather would be the eco-friendlier choice. Sounds like overall a smart car! Be well, Carla aka OneHealthyGirl.com

[Cathy]

Ford has the BEST gas mileage on the Focus and Fusion, no need to check the "other" brands out. Hands down these two cars are your best gas and safety bets, and keep Americans working. Not just Ford, who didn't take a dime of bail out money, but others such as suppliers, railroad workers, truck drivers, etc, etc.

[Jaxon]

I agree 100%. I never thought I would own a Ford, but have been very pleased with my purchase of the Fusion. As for the pricing, the car sits on the lot for less days than the average cars, which makes it a little harder to negotiate (good seller). But good deals can be found if you make dealers compete.

For those thinking about a Ford Fusion, I suggest you check out this video: http://excarsalesman.typepad.com/cars/ford-fusion/

[Ervin Capvitz]

Though it is costly, the features and the efficiency of the Ford Fusion Hybrid make it worth the price. And it isn't a compact car. It's a mid-sized sedan, so a family can bring along some extra luggage in a cross-country road trip.

[Diane MacEachern]

Good points. Thanks for writing!

[Want Driving Lessons]

The ecomonical issues of driving- not always the car. Peoples' driving style is to blame a lot of the time. There should be more eco driving courses on offer.

[Junior Perrera]

The Ford Hybrid rocks! It’s fuel efficient, eco-friendly, and perfect for the family. But what I love about this car are the safety features. It has ESC or electronic stability control that detects and reduces loss of traction. It also has dual front and side-impact airbags that protect the occupants from frontal and side-impact crashes.