2019 Ford Fusion Energi
MSRP $36,595.00
“The 2019 Ford Fusion Energi is a car with no future.”
Avg
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Combined city/highway fuel economy of 42 MPG
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Comfortable titanium lining
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Standard safety technology Co-Pilot 360
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Standard adaptive cruise control
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Great incentives to buy now
Against
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Trunk handed over for battery storage
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Poor performance
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Scheduled for termination
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Threatening victim of tariffs
The 2019 Ford Fusion Energi is a car without a future. After 116 years of making family cars, Ford has announced the end of its line of passenger cars to focus instead on SUVs and trucks. Only the Mustang will survive next year. On top of that, threatened tariffs on Mexican-made products could add thousands of dollars to the Fusion’s price.
So why are we covering this dying car? Being America’s last plug-in hybrid sedan, it does the job well for its purpose, and you can get a great deal on one before it’s gone.
The Fusion Energi is based on Ford’s no-frills Fusion midsize sedan, except it has a 9 kWh battery that lives in the trunk and a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that can go up to 26 miles on electric power. The sticker price on the top drawer Titanium trim Fusion Energi is $34,595 after Ford’s $2,000 sales incentive is applied. There’s only one option you can choose, which is a power sunroof for an additional $1,095. The destination charge is a very reasonable $895. Outside with a sunroof and one of the premium colors, the Fusion Energi costs $36,980.
Interior and exterior design
Since the Fusion Energi only comes in one trim, there’s no real choice. You get comfortable perforated black or brown leather seats throughout the car. The front seats are heated, ventilated and adjustable in 10 directions with position memory. The steering wheel is also covered in leather and has heating. Dual-zone climate control is also included.
There is always a compromise somewhere, and in the case of Fusion Energi, it is at the back. More precisely, the battery is located in the trunk. That reduces the roomy 16 cubic feet in the standard Fusion to a cramped 8.2 cubic feet in the Energi model. Think about the average overhead compartment of an airplane and you will get the right idea. If you need to haul a bunch of luggage, it will go in the back seat.
Technical features
For 2019, Ford has made its Co-Pilot 360 advanced safety package standard on all Fusion models, including the Energi. This package includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, a reversing camera and automatic high beams. The Energi model includes adaptive cruise control with full stop-and-go capability, as well as voice-activated GPS navigation and Sirius/XM real-time traffic information.
Ford’s dashboard tech package is an 8.0-inch touchscreen powered by the SYNC3 user interface. Ford offers a 12-speaker Sony audio system with CD player and all the usual hands-free smartphone integration features found in every new car.
Driving impressions
Let’s cut to the chase—this is not an exciting car. But to be fair, that’s not even the intention. Buyers who want performance will immediately flock to the Mustang, as they should. What the Fusion Energi does well is fuel economy and comfort.
There is always a compromise somewhere, and in the case of Fusion Energi, it is at the back. More precisely, the battery is located in the trunk.
The lithium-ion battery that powers the Fusion Energi hybrid system has a capacity of 9 kilowatt-hours, which is enough to drive an electric car for about 26 miles. The really cool part happens when the Fusion Energi runs on gasoline. At that point, you’ll still get 42 MPG in typical combined city/highway driving. Best of all, the Fusion Energi will travel about 610 miles before running out of electrons and gas. That level of efficiency makes the Fusion Energi a solid choice for an economical commuter car.
Because the battery is small, you can recharge the Fusion Energi from scratch in about 2.6 hours on a standard level 2 (240V) charger. You can fully charge the battery in 7 hours using any regular 120V household outlet, so you can get away without even setting up a charging station in your house.
There’s nothing negative to say about the Fusion Energi on the road, but nothing overly positive either. The car does its job without any bad habits worth mentioning. This car is vanilla from head to toe. The only fault I noticed in a week of driving the Fusion Energi is that the engine vibration is especially noticeable after driving on electric power. Bottom Line: This is a car you can drive to and from work every day, saving you a lot of money on gas. Don’t expect interesting dynamics here.
Rivals
There are still relatively few plug-in hybrid sedans on the market, and with the way electric vehicles are increasing range, plug-in sedans are unlikely to become a growth market. The Toyota Prius Prime leads the pack at $27,350 with a 25-mile EV range and a combined range of 640 miles. The $33,400 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, the $36,090 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid and the $37,500 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid are other contenders.
The Honda will go 47 miles on its batteries, but only 340 miles of total range. The Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata offer about the same EV and overall range as the Fusion Energi.
The Chevrolet Volt would also be a rival, but the last one left the factory a few months ago. Fusion Energi will soon exit the market, leaving only Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia.
peaceful souls
The Fusion Energi comes with Ford’s standard 3-year or 36,000-mile total warranty, with a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain and anti-rust warranty.
How would DT configure this car
Since there is only one trim, this part is easy. We’d take the brown leather, pay $395 extra for the nice metallic red, and skip the sunroof. On that note, we would also play hardball with the seller to get the best possible price for a car that we know has running issues.
Our download
The Fusion Energi isn’t for everyone, but if you want a fuel-efficient, comfortable car for longer commutes, it’s a worthy choice. You get a lot of cabin perks for your money, plus a tax credit. Fusion Energi qualifies for $4,609 in federal income tax. Many states also offer tax breaks and incentives.
Should you get one?
That. If you are looking for a passenger or family vehicle, the Fusion Energi offers a solid package of technology, comfort and economy. With current incentives and the looming possibility of lower tariffs, now is the time to buy. The car may not be the future at Ford, but that’s no reason not to consider it in the present.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn