    2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Click image to enlarge |
Under mild throttle, the car will begin moving exclusively under electric power, and thanks to the more powerful batteries can get the car up to 100 km/h without the intervention of the gas engine. On the streets of Santa Monica, the Fusion Hybrid was more than able to keep up with traffic on battery power alone before tripping the internal combustion engine. You will notice when the gas engine cuts in, with a slight grumble, but very little vibration. Other noises like wind and road noise have been countered by an active noise control system that uses the audio system to effectively cancel out most road noise.
You might also notice a bit of a lurch as the gas engine sets its power to the wheels, though not as much as the grabby brakes when trying to moderately slow down for a light. While the engine’s power delivery and brakes are not as mild and seamless as the Camry Hybrid, they are smoother than the Sonata Hybrid, and it won’t likely be enough to shift a sale one way or the other.
However, looks might be. I am one of the few that thinks the Camry looks handsome, and few will argue that its looks will turn customers away, so safe is its design. The Sonata, well, I can appreciate that some might find it good looking with its crafty fluidic styling, but it’s not exactly my taste. The Fusion, though, I find to be one of the best designs on the market, and only the Kia Optima is in the same league in this segment. Is it good-looking enough to overcome sticky brakes and slightly gruff engine? It would be for me, but some people might be more sensitive to the driving experience and would demand the smoothest possible ride in their hybrid sedan.
Beyond the power delivery and braking, the Hybrid tones down some of the Fusion’s athletic tendencies yet still has a firm suspension, but the 100-plus kg of extra weight (and particularly the unsprung weight of the regen brakes) over the non-hybrid Fusion is felt in a rougher, choppier ride.
Some critics have panned the Fusion’s close quarters, but I can vouch for the back seat—I rode in it for a good half hour, behind a six-foot-plus gentleman, and had plenty of legroom, although headroom was tight. I would estimate that there is plenty of room for two adults in the back, but having someone in the middle seat would cramp everyone despite good shoulder room measurements (1,445 mm, slightly better than the Camry). One feature to note is that the Fusion Hybrid’s rear seatbacks fold down to allow larger objects to fit through—and it isn’t just a small pass-through, it is the full width of the car, if a limited height.
