2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid: Good meld of comfort and driveability

Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 22 December 2011 12:28

Having weathered the Great Recession without needing a federal bailout, Ford Motor Co. is glimpsing a return to good times. Sales were up 13 percent in November, and one of the leading figures in the sales burst is the Fusion, a Mexican-built, American-badged car with a European personality.

We’d heard good things about the Fusion before test-driving a 2012 Fusion Hybrid, an impressive midsize car whose main claim to fame is an EPA-rated 41 mpg in the city, 36 highway. The gasoline-electric hybrid reveals but doesn’t flaunt its high-tech qualities, while maintaining essentially the same performance and comfort levels drivers have come to expect from the conventional gasoline-powered Fusion.

Our Fusion Hybrid had a base price of $28,600 and came to $35,380 with options, including a package that included navigation system, moon roof, rear camera and heated seats. We were immediately impressed with the fit, finish and quality that surrounds drivers and passengers in this roomy five-passenger sedan.

While the Fusion Hybrid costs significantly more than conventional models — the base 4-cylinder model starts at $20,200 — it provides a big fuel-economy boost from the base models’ 22/32 rating. As a practical matter, however, people who do a lot of highway driving won’t see a big enough fuel-economy benefit to choose the Hybrid over the conventional Fusion.

As hybrids go, the Fusion is uncommonly easy to live with. Where some hybrids let you know in no uncertain terms whether they’re in all-electric, electric-assist or gasoline-powered mode, the Fusion delivers consistent, nearly seamless power. And the electric motor increases the standard 4-cylinder engine’s horsepower to 191, providing rapid acceleration from a dead stop.

We also noticed the brakes did not display the erratic behavior we’ve observed in some hybrid models. Hybrids have regenerative braking systems that convert stopping power into electricity, helping to keep the battery charged.

In general, Ford’s hybrid system does its work in the background, drawing attention to itself in only two major ways: the understated but unmistakable gauge array, which includes a display of leaves that grows denser when drivers practice good fuel-economy habits; and the diminished trunk, which shrinks from a big-for-its-class 16.5 cubic feet in conventional Fusions to just 11.8 cubic feet in the Fusion Hybrid. The lithium-ion battery accounts for the difference.

The Fusion is a far cry from the reliable but unexciting Fords of past years. It has a European personality, reminiscent of the Volkswagen Passat. Handling is secure, the cabin is quiet on the highway, and the seats are nicely shaped and comfortable. The back seat is suitable for two or three adults, though headroom is tight for 6-footers.

Although pre-2012 Fusions were subject to a recall recently because of defective wheel studs, the car has attained a reputation for reliability and also has done well in crash tests, earning the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick designation. The recall does not affect 2012 Fusions.

Steven Macoy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.

Price: $28,600 base; $35,380 with options

Engine: 2.5-liter inline Four with electric assist, 191 combined horsepower

Transmission: continuously variable automatic

Weight: 3,720 lb.

Suspension: short and long arm front, multi-link rear

Wheels: 17x7.5-in. painted alloy

Tires: P225/50R17 93V all-season

Passengers: 5

Luggage capacity: 11.8 cu. ft.

Fuel capacity: 17.5 gal.

Fuel economy: 41 mpg city, 36 highway

Fuel type: Regular unleaded gasoline