One thing that immediately struck me while driving the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is how sporty it felt to drive, not a trait normally associated with hybrids.
Underlying suspension just thunked over potholes and road imperfections and the car never rattled or severely shook after such encounters. The electric steering nicely straddled between comfort and sport, feeling light enough to maneuver in parking lots with one hand while firm enough when making quick and precise moves like slipping between cars during rush hour traffic. I actually enjoyed driving the Fusion Hybrid through the twisties and turns permeating the California highways and freeways.
Power-wise, the Fusion’s 2.5-liter inline four engine is on par with the rest of the competition. I never felt want of power when hopping onto the freeway quickly or passing vehicles like commercial trucks and SUVs. I only sensed the slightest hint of engine strain when flooring the throttle to get up steep roads quickly but that’s not unusual with four-cylinder vehicles.
I found the continuous variable transmission, or CVT, of the Ford Fusion to be extremely smooth and near-luxurious quiet. This was confirmed by one of my passengers who never had a problem hearing me while in the Fusion despite being hearing impaired. Wind noise composed most of the sound followed by road noise and that was only at higher speeds.
Due to my aggressive driving style, I never reached the Ford Fusion’s staggering 41 miles-per-gallon. However, I never dropped below 30 mpg and averaged in the low to mid 30s range.
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Impressive. All those drives and still managed above 30mpg’s…impressive indeed!