  2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE. Click image to enlarge |
On the road
When you first turn the ignition key, a “Ready to Drive” message lights up in the instrument cluster, and depending on the battery’s charge level, the engine may or may not start. It’s possible to drive away gently on electric power and accelerate all the way up to 100 km/h on battery power alone, but you have to accelerate very slowly to avoid the gas engine from starting up, and you’d likely have a trail of irate drivers behind you too. It’s best to accelerate normally, and once up to speed, allow the onboard computer to decide when to turn the engine on and off.
In the Fusion Hybrid, there’s no drama when the 2.0-litre engine starts and stops automatically; the transition is hardly noticeable and vibration is limited to a mild rumble. You can hear the engine when accelerating but it is surprisingly quiet and there’s virtually no whine from the electric motor either – probably because Ford added acoustic underbody shields and sound-absorption materials to help reduce engine and road noise. As well, the Fusion Hybrid’s ‘active noise control’ uses the audio system to further cancel out road and tire noise inside the cabin.
Though the 2013 Fusion Hybrid has slightly less combined horsepower than the 2012 hybrid (188 vs 191), it weighs 75 kg less, and acceleration times are comparable. Edmunds.com reports a respectable 0 to 60 mph time of 8.0 seconds for the 2013 Fusion Hybrid, 0.4 seconds faster than the 2012 Fusion Hybrid. Thanks to the electric motor’s instant torque, the Fusion Hybrid accelerates quickly off the line and the ‘shiftless’ continuously variable transmission is seamless. Pressing a button on the shift lever engages a kind of Low gear which elevates engine revs for downhill braking purposes.
The driver can view real-time power distribution on a brightly coloured display in the instrument cluster: a small battery symbol shows the lithium-ion battery charge level, when it’s being charged through regenerative braking and coasting, and when it’s sending power to the electric motor for propulsion. Average and current fuel consumption readings are also shown. The more fuel-efficiently you drive, the more green ‘efficiency’ leaves grow on your virtual tree display.
    2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE. Click image to enlarge |
With its longer wheelbase, fully independent suspension and wider track, the 2013 Fusion Hybrid has a comfortable ride and competent, predictable handling despite its harder compound, fuel-saving Michelin Energy Saver 225/50R-17-inch all-season tires. Steering effort is very light but not vague, and it’s easy to manoeuvre the Fusion when parking. Still, I’d recommend the optional rearview camera (part of the $700 MyFordTouch package) and Reverse Sensing System ($400) with front and rear parking sensors.
For those who aren’t confident when parallel parking, the optional Active Park Assist ($600) is a real bonus: as you drive past a potential parking space, just press a button on the instrument panel and instructions on the touch-screen will tell you when to stop. Put the car in Reverse gear, and then let the car steer itself slowly into the parking space. All you do is modulate the brake pedal and accelerator as the car guides itself into position. It works amazingly well.
  2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE. Click image to enlarge |
When changing lanes, over-the-shoulder visibility is assisted by a third side window but our test car also featured a handy blind spot warning system. Ford’s Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) (part of the $1,500 Driver Assist Package) warns of other cars travelling in the left or right blind spots by flashing yellow lights in the side mirrors and emitting audible warnings. As well, BLIS warns the driver of oncoming cars crossing behind the Fusion when backing out of parking spaces.
Also part of the Driver Assist Package is the Lane Keeping System that uses a front camera to monitor the car’s direction. Should the car drift over the line, it warns the driver with warning sounds and steering wheel vibrations. It will even guide the car back into the lane. Finally, Adaptive Cruise Control uses radar to judge the distance to the car travelling in front and not only warn of a possible collision, but brake the car automatically if a collision is imminent.
While the Fusion Hybrid scores well in the acceleration, steering, handling, and ride department, I found its brakes very sensitive due to the regenerative braking function. Only a little pressure on the brake pedal will stop the car and too much pressure results in an abrupt stop. This is a common problem with hybrids but it seems more pronounced in the Fusion Hybrid. Still, the Hybrid’s standard four-wheel disc brakes feel powerful and the Fusion Hybrid stops very quickly.
