Central to the interior environment is the MyFord Touch user interface, which is standard equipment on all Energi models but optional on the lower trims of other Fusions. With it comes an eight-inch touchscreen; below that is a control panel nearly devoid of physical buttons. The entire affair has a very sleek look to it, but using it in winter proved challenging at times.
Trying this system a couple of years ago meant painfully slow response on initial startup and in cold weather. That has improved dramatically on this new Fusion. One of the first things I do on a cold winter start is activate the seat warmers; these controls are accessible only on the touchscreen but they are located on the home screen. The response is now almost immediate.
  2014 Ford Fusion Energi steering wheel & 2014 Ford Fusion Energi centre stack. Click image to enlarge |
The touchscreen works well with gloved hands, as long as the gloves aren’t so bulky that they apply pressure to too large an area. This came as a pleasant surprise because I was expecting that I would have to use gloveless fingers to operate most of the controls. Navigating the touchscreen functions through Ford’s familiar colour-coded quadrant based system (yellow for phone, green for navi, blue for climate, and red for entertainment) is intuitive, and it’s always easy to get back to the home screen.
Unfortunately, the same ease of use doesn’t transfer to the control panel beneath said screen. This panel allows access to functions that one would typically want to get to quickly. Most of these are redundant; either steering wheel buttons or the touch display can be used for functions related to temperature, fan speed, and the audio system, but it just takes more steps.
  2014 Ford Fusion Energi. Click image to enlarge |
The rub is that unlike the resistive touchscreen above, this capacitive panel does not respond to the pressure from a gloved finger. Ford is responding to negative ratings from customers and critics alike and adjusting the direction of MyFord Touch on future models. Have a look at the centre stack on a 2015 Mustang and you’ll see good old-fashioned buttons beneath the display.
The Fusion offers a quiet drive, not only because it sometimes runs in electric mode, but unless pushed the 2.0L Atkinson-cycle engine is fairy unobtrusive. When it is pushed, the revs climb rather quickly and result in a bit of noise but it’s actually quite refined at high revs. And the power-split device here cranks engine speed up much more quickly than it does in a Toyota Prius. This is a much more responsive setup.
When the car is in hybrid mode, it’s sometimes difficult to tell (especially on bumpy, snow-covered roads) when the gas engine cuts in and out. There’s nothing particularly sporty or luxurious about the ride, but the car seems tuned just right for a forgettable experience. And in this appliance-filled class with appliance-seeking customers, it works out just fine.
Braking on slippery surfaces proved to be troublesome, however. As with all hybrids, plug-ins and full electric vehicles (and even some conventional gas cars – see Mazda’s i-Eloop system), the Energi utilizes regenerative braking to charge the battery using the car’s kinetic energy while decelerating. This takes considerable load off of the brake pads and rotors because the charging system is providing the resistance that slows the car down.
Regenerative braking is disabled when the anti-lock system is called upon to do its thing, leaving the conventional brakes responsible for stopping the car. That’s all good, except that the transition is not a smooth one. On several occasions, the engagement of the anti-lock resulted in an unsettling forward lurch as the system changed over. Now I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to feel when trying to slow down on a slick surface is a momentary release of braking force.
I’ve learned a lot about Ford’s fascinating Energi technology during these last several weeks. The next and final instalment of the Fusion Energi’s performance in a Winnipeg winter will focus on what effect our frigid climes have had on its ability to fulfil its promise of gas-free driving for the average commuter.
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Pricing: 2014 Ford Fusion Energi
Base price: $41,399
Options: $4,840 ($300 – Ruby Red paint; $600 – Active Park Assist; $100 – engine block heater; $1,500 – adaptive cruise control; $150 – all-weather floor mats; $700 – navigation system; $1,450 Driver Assist Package; $40 – trunk cargo net)
Freight: $1,550
A/C tax: $100
Price as tested: $47,889
Competitors:
Chevrolet Volt
Ford C-Max Energi
Nissan Leaf
Toyota Prius PHEV
Crash Test Results:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
