Ford is heavily promoting the all new Ford Fusion Hybrid Plug-in model where you can see the ads claiming that a full tank of gasoline with the help of charged lithium battery will get you from San Diego to San Francisco without having to make any service station stops.
The Ford Fusion Platinum Energi is the top model or the top variant, there are other Fusion Hybrids too that start from just $26,000. The Platinum Energi on the other hand starts at $42,000.
The bold claims made in the TV commercials have been found to be true by some reviewers like one guy who made it from Costa Mesa to Oakland on less than three quarter of gas tank and half a charged battery. When he reached his destination, he was still left with around 30 miles of range to spare with.
Looks
The all new Ford Fusion Hybrid is wider and more angular thanks to an all new design change. It has acquired a new front grille, LED headlights, fog and tail lamps, rear fascia and lower deck lid, the wheels are 18 inch and completely redesigned, and Ford has used chrome in ample quantities all around the car. The first time you look at the Hybrid and you will feel like it is a European car.
It is a classy looking car. It does not look like some strange hybrid alien car that has been promoted by some other manufactures.
Talking about the interiors, the gear has been changed to look and perform in a rotary style, you will find a lot of cup and bottle holders and there is a huge compartment that begins right under the dashboard and runs all the way to the back to a large covered box that falls between the driver and the front passenger.
You get a comfortable leather covered arm rest that matches with leather steering wheel, seats, and dash top. The whole setup gives you a feeling of relaxing in a recliner. It comes with 2 standard USB ports, a remote starting system, keyless entry, powered moon roof, seat belts on the rear are inflatable, and it comes with a dual zone climate control.
The front seats in the hybrid can be cooled or heated as the need be by pressing a button. As with all Ford cars, this one also comes pre-fitted with a state of the art SYNC 3 navigation and infotainment system. You can connect it with your smartphone; give voice commands and pretty much manage everything on your smartphone or in your car.
Safety Features
A cool feature is a beep and flashing side lights which are activated if a pedestrian or a vehicle zooms too close to the vehicle.
Another safety feature is that the driver is not allowed to play around with the SYNC infotainment system when he is driving the car; however the side passenger is allowed to take over the control of the dashboard. This should help reduce accidents. Other safety features include adaptive cruise control, drowsiness beep alerts, and BLIS (Blind Spot Info System).
Fusion Hybrid can parallel park itself so you don't have to do it yourself. When activated, an onscreen notification system will guide you through the process and ask you to leave control of your steering wheel and brakes. In case you are not happy with the way things are going, you can manually override. Not a bad deal but the computer will be able to figure it out.
Ford Fusion Hybrid comes with a bumper to bumper 3 year warranty, powertrain gets 5 years of 60,000 miles whichever is first, and roadside assistance is 8 years or 100,000 miles whichever is first.
