Fusion Hybrid good for lots of miles & Mountains?

[drdolan1]

I'm looking at the possibility of ordering a new 2012 Fusion Hybrid and was wondering how they hold up with heavy use. I live about 45 miles from work, driving over mountains, through small towns with some freeway driving thrown in for good measure. I'd be putting aroudn 25k-30k miles per year on the car, with about 30%, 40mph - 50mph up and down mountain driving (this is East coast mountain I'm talking about, not West coast, so 2k or so foot elevation changes, not 10k+), 20% 35mph - 45mph suburban type driving, and the other 50% highway driving at about 70MPH.

 

How's the FFH going to handle the heavy use, I like to keep a car for a good 7+ years. Will it still manage significantly better mileage than a plain 4cyl SEL?

 

Thanks!

 

Donald

Edited October 7, 2011 by drdolan1

[lolder]

The heavy use is no problem and the amount you drive a year argues for a hybrid. I see the I4SEL combined mpg is 26. The FFH is 39 mpg. Those are probably pretty good numbers to make a comparison. The FFH mileage is more sensitive to climate temperature as heating you and the car in winter takes a bigger percentage of the already low fuel use. A heated garage is a big advantage or you might consider a block heater. Your commute distance is ideal. The car is most efficient at 35-50 mph and doesn't mind 70 mph. You'd probably save $1400/ yr. in gas. The FFH engine RPM changes a lot on hills by design and goes from about 1000 to 3500 rpm. You hear it more above 2500 but it's very smooth. RPM at 50 mph. on level roads is about 1450, quite low for a four. It's only about 2100 at 70 mph.

Edited October 7, 2011 by lolder