REVIEW: Is Ford's Fusion Really Deserving Of Car Of The Year? We Drive The Fusion Hybrid

America, home of: baseball, strip malls, slow driving in the fast lane, the hamburger, chewing tobacco and cars that get lackluster miles per gallon figures. 

Wait, strike that. Until now, that is.

Several years ago when the big three's product mix consisted predominantly of large sport-utility vehicles, which generated huge profits, the last thing on their mind was fuel efficiency. But when last years gas prices skyrocketed and everyone was sent running for the hills, in the form of a Honda and MINI dealership, the American OEMs felt the pain, quite badly. 

This forced the big guns to become more nimble and produce hybrid vehicles. We saw General Motors put out the "mild hybrid," Malibu and extend hybrid systems into some of their SUVs. Problem was that their gains were not entirely significant and the Malibu Hybrid sold like cold cakes. This sent GM back to the drawing board and now it appears the $1 billion dollar vested interest in the Chevrolet Volt/Cadillac Converj will change that tune.

Then Ford came into the picture and wanted to get serious. Their small SUV, Escape, was just not cutting it anymore. Thus, the birth of the Fusion Hybrid, which has been lauded by some as the best gasoline-electric hybrid to date. Obviously I had to give it a run and see for myself.  Is this the best the Americans can do?

Approaching the Fusion Hybrid, you quickly realize not much is different from the average Fusion. This is what we like to call the make or break moment. The reason being that many alternative energy owners want to have that unique, iconic look that a Toyota Prius or Honda Insight brings to the table. However, if you are not looking to stand out and show that you are saving the world, this is the perfect car.

As you become more acquainted behind the steering wheel, it is easy to notice that the interior is logically set up. Controls are just where you would expect them to be and, from an ergonomic standpoint, symbols are easy to understand. Also, the seats are fantastically comfortable.

Finding the right car seat is a lot like finding the right bartender. Usually they can mix a drink well as some OEMs can produce an alright seat, but sometimes they become a bit lethargic and you have too little of one ingredient.  The hybrid's hide-trimmed seats are an example of this because they offer superb support -- with ideal bolstering -- but the leather feels a bit vinyl-y. I wonder how it will look in several years as the leather-wrapped steering wheel is showing a lot of glossy deterioration.

Do not get me wrong, I know I work in an industry full of greasy, gluttonous journalists but c'mon, this wear was excessive. Their hands cannot be that bad.

Elsewhere on the interior, the trim pieces are less than desirable. As 001 references in the brief video review below, it is like sitting in a rental car. Storage areas with plastic doors close like aluminum screen doors. Loud and loose sounding. When I grabbed the shifter to put the vehicle into drive, it sounded like I was going to snap the bits of chrome plastic. Very surprising considering Ford did such an outrageously good job on the interior of the 2010 Mustang. If the blue oval wants to remain competitive, it has to continue building interiors like that of the Mustang.

One area where the interior happens to shine is in the gauges. Ford calls it the SmartGauge with EcoGuide. These are two large LCD clusters that are alongside the speedometer. The cool thing is there are several settings to choose from in order to display the information you are most comfortable knowing. Data is easy to read and it does not lag. Although the last thing we need is to be staring at another computer monitor, it is an edgy way to display driving data. This aspect is likely the most visible, cutting-edge element of the overly conservative Fusion Hybrid. Two thumbs up, Ford.

In the cutesy/gimmicky department, Ford designed the gauge to display a tree limb on the far right side. If you are driving efficiently, the tree limb flourishes with vibrant green leaves and if you are not, the tree slowly fades away. So, now you hippies can grow trees. Whoops, do not quote me out of context!

More importantly, however, is the drivetrain and how it performs.

Powering the green machine is a Duratec 2.5 liter, four-cylinder engine coupled with an electric motor. They come together to produce 191-horsepower, which sounds lame, but in the Fusion it feels like a rocket ship. Off the line and on the highway this car has some serious power, and not just for a hybrid, just as a car. Perhaps it is because this car weighs in at 3,700 pounds. That's not too hefty, by contemporary standards, for a mid-size sedan. 

When power is shut off from the gas motor to the electric or vice versa it is done reasonably seamlessly. But if you catch it at the right point and confuse the system, it will jolt like a wild bull, as I experienced several times. Aside from that I was surprised with the smoothness of the transitions, it was reminiscent of Lexus' HS250h.

What does this motor's power mean in terms of efficiency, the reason why you would buy this car? EPA estimates peg the Fusion Hybrid at 41 city, 36 highway. After a week with the Ford I chalked up only 35 MPG in a mix of city, suburban and rural driving. Did it miss the mark? Not quite but it was disappointing nonetheless.

I blame this MPG due to the tuning of the throttle. Throttle tip-in is a bit too responsive and sensitive. If they could revamp it so that it is a bit less sensitive, it would provide more room to maintain speed as well as the usage of batteries. Often, it was frustrating to keep engaging the gasoline engine when the electric would have done the job quite well. 

Mated to this motor is an electronically controlled CVT transmission. It does not have a lightning fast response time but it gets the deed done. Plant your foot on the throttle and that second of lead time until it realizes "go," does seem to get a bit taxing in a situation where you need that instantaneous acceleration. Remember, this is a hybrid and not a performance machine.

And you are reminded of that through cornering, where the handling gets a bit messy. Some body lean is dialed in when you become more aggressive with your entrance speed, but the steering feel is pretty good. As in, it is not so light that it becomes laughable and it is not too heavy, which would make your arms tired. It is a very accomplished blend. 

By far the best aspect of the Fusion Hybrid is its suspension. It is unbelievably good, if not perfect for long-distance driving. Not too cushy or sofa-like at speed, and not so stiff that it bounces like a Mexican jumping bean. Around town it absorbs bumps like a sponge and refuses to let any driver become jarred. I can confidently say that the Fusion's suspension is one of the best I have driven on the highway.

When it comes down to it, Ford really did put out a relatively good hybrid. It is easily the best any Big Three manufacturer has put together. Better yet, the Fusion is just a damn good car, period. It does not matter that it is a hybrid. So good that it won Motor Trend's 2010 Car of the Year.

Granted, if you desire a bit more out of your vehicle and have stricter demands than someone looking to get from point "A" to "B," it may not strike your fancy.

This is compounded after driving a crop of hybrid cars. There is a problem. It is a good car but not a great car, and that is where it has its downfall. The competition is tremendously strong because they put out strong, if not better MPG numbers, and build quality has increased across the OEM world. Sure, the Fusion has a great motor but is that really the point of a hybrid? Not exactly, the efficiency is.

Do not get it twisted, it is a fine automobile if you prefer: a subtle appearance, need a solid tourer and want room in all directions.