FFH test drive today

[mwr]

I decided I should actually drive an FFH and not just learn about it here and not drive one. So I took a test drive today at the Ford dealer in Petaluma, California. It was fine. Maybe not as much fun to drive as my 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon, but I didn't expect it to be. It handled quite well, without really wringing it out on a winding road, and had enough power when I wanted it. Also, I didn't find the sound of the ICE intrusive at all, although i did hear the "growl" a few times but not for long and really not very loud. I was a bit surprised to hear what sounded like some sort of engine sound (but quite low level) once when the green indicator showed that only the electric motor (don't see an acronym for that) was running. The salesman said that was the electric motor and that it wasn't always silent.

 

All in all, I was impressed. The demo car was a plain S, but the seats were quite comfortable. My interest is an SE with the Luxury package. But first I need to sell my Subaru Legacy GT (http://legacygt-forsale.com), because it's only worth wholesale auction value to them. One serious buyer is interested. We'll see...

Edited June 20, 2014 by mwr

[GrySql]

Being informed about the FFH is an excellent way to know what to look for in a test drive, these cars are a bit different.

You are doing it right.

I hope your Subaru sells soon, best of luck!

[Hybrider]

Yeah, in my test drive, I wanted to test both the EV and the ICE performance, so immediately after leaving the car lot, I punched the accelerator on that demo FFH and I happened to be doing it on a 10-foot road hill on a curve. So with the combined EV and ICE 188-hp in full throttle, I felt a little like I was in one of the original pony Trans Am racing rivalries between a Mustang against a Camaro, since it was flying over the curving hill quite a bit faster than I had expected from a hybrid...enough to get my adrenalin unexpectedly pumping.

 

So then I drove out to the highway, and confirmed that I could indeed do 65 MPH in EV mode. Between those experiences, along with the exquisite stylish beauty and all of the techy gadgets in the dashboard, I knew the 2014 FFH was the car for me. :love_shower:

[hybridbear]

I was a bit surprised to hear what sounded like some sort of engine sound (but quite low level) once when the green indicator showed that only the electric motor (don't see an acronym for that) was running. The salesman said that was the electric motor and that it wasn't always silent.

Glad to hear that you went for a test drive. It is a fun car to drive. The SE Luxury Package seats are very comfortable. I sat in a Fusion S and the seats are not as nice as the leather ones.

 

However, what green icon are you referring to? There is a green "Ready to drive" icon on the dash which appears whenever the car is "On" and thus is "ready to drive". That icon is the only green icon I can think of that you might have seen. That icon has nothing to do with informing you of whether the ICE is on.

 

The best way to tell if the ICE is on or not is to look at the Engage or Empower screen on the left side of the dash and to look for the blue EV box. You can also look to see what color your instant MPG display is. If it's white then the ICE is on, if it's blue then you're in EV Mode. Sometimes it will be full but white which tells you that the ICE is still on.

[mwr]

However, what green icon are you referring to? There is a green "Ready to drive" icon on the dash which appears whenever the car is "On" and thus is "ready to drive". That icon is the only green icon I can think of that you might have seen. That icon has nothing to do with informing you of whether the ICE is on.

 

The best way to tell if the ICE is on or not is to look at the Engage or Empower screen on the left side of the dash and to look for the blue EV box. You can also look to see what color your instant MPG display is. If it's white then the ICE is on, if it's blue then you're in EV Mode. Sometimes it will be full but white which tells you that the ICE is still on.

The salesman said the S has a different presentation than the SE. It wasn't a green icon so much as a green band around an instrument (and I think other green bars), all on the far left of the instrument panel. All green and it's all electric. If white appears then the ICE is on. There's probably more to it than that, but that's as much as I can remember.

 

I wasn't trying to learn all the goodies, but just get a feel for driving the car.

Edited June 20, 2014 by mwr

[hybridbear]

The salesman said the S has a different presentation than the SE. It wasn't a green icon so much as a green band around an instrument (and I think other green bars), all on the far left of the instrument panel. All green and it's all electric. If white appears then the ICE is on. There's probably more to it than that, but that's as much as I can remember.

 

I wasn't trying to learn all the goodies, but just get a feel for driving the car.

That doesn't quite make sense with the previously presented data about the Hybrid S trim.. All the hybrids have the same instrument cluster according to data presented previously. That is part of why the Hybrid S is a bigger price jump versus the gas S compared to the Hybrid SE versus the gas SE or the HyTi versus the gas Titanium. The Hybrid S still has a lot of additional features that the gas S doesn't have. The Hybrid S still has the nice wheels, it still has the fancy dash with two screens, etc.

 

In fact, if you go to Ford.com and look at the features, both have "Next-generation SmartGauge^® with EcoGuide". This indicates that both have the same dash.

[mwr]

I don't know what's supposed to be on the S model, but what was there is pretty much as I described it above. I've not been able to find a photo of an FFH instrument panel (the left side) that looked like the one I drove.

[hybridbear]

I don't know what's supposed to be on the S model, but what was there is pretty much as I described it above. I've not been able to find a photo of an FFH instrument panel (the left side) that looked like the one I drove.

Interesting. I didn't realize that the Hybrid S had a lesser dash.

[Texasota]

Interesting. I didn't realize that the Hybrid S had a lesser dash.

 

Nick Golden owns a 2014 Fusion S Hybrid. Perhaps he could shed some light on this question.

 

If the S has a "lesser" dash I am not aware of it (I am under the impression that its dash is the same as all FFHs). It would not seem to make sense for Ford to design something special and different just for the S hybrid.

[Texasota]

Here is the dash of my 2015 Fusion S Hybrid. I can't remember all the details of the SE dash that I test drove but I am guessing there is little or no difference:

 

Edited August 21, 2014 by Texasota

[corncobs]

Big difference on the right side dash. That is new for 2015!

 

What else can you select on the right? Do they still have the growing wine?

[Texasota]

In regards to the posts above about the "Hybrid S" having a lesser dash - I don't think that is true. I believe HB is correct in that the dashes are the same between the S and the SE (and I assume also the Titanium) with the exception of the 2015 right side enhancements.

 

CC, there are two options for the 2015 FFH right side dash:

 

1. Compass
   
   Choosing this option displays a compass rose
   
2. Fuel Economy
   
   Under this option you have three choices:
   1. Fuel History (as shown in my above photo)
   2. Coach (shows your history on acceleration, braking and cruising)
   3. Efficiency Leaves

Edited August 21, 2014 by Texasota

[corncobs]

Interesting now we need an SE and TI for comparison. ;)

 

In the '13 and '14 there are the 4 quadrants of MFT if equipped I believe. HB had the standard audio system and don't remember if those 4 menus are the same on the non-MFT.

[hybridbear]

 

In regards to the posts above about the "Hybrid S" having a lesser dash - I don't think that is true. I believe HB is correct in that the dashes are the same between the S and the SE (and I assume also the Titanium) with the exception of the 2015 right side enhancements.

 

CC, there are two options for the 2015 FFH right side dash:

 

1. Compass

    

   Choosing this option displays a compass rose

2. Fuel Economy

    

   Under this option you have three choices:

   1. Fuel History (as shown in my above photo)
   2. Coach (shows your history on acceleration, braking and cruising)
   3. Efficiency Leaves

 

That's the same dash as all other FFHs. Glad to see that they didn't skimp on the dash in the FFH S. The Fusion S has a very cheap dash compared to the Fusion SE.

 

Interesting now we need an SE and TI for comparison. ;)

 

In the '13 and '14 there are the 4 quadrants of MFT if equipped I believe. HB had the standard audio system and don't remember if those 4 menus are the same on the non-MFT.

In our first FFH without MFT our only options for the right screen were:

1. Compass
2. Efficiency Leaves

That's the same as Tex's FFH S, plus he has the additions of the other fuel economy screens..

[acdii]

I remember it being mentioned before that they were adding the FE graph to the right side. Hope they make it an option that can be added to our 13 and 14 cars.

[Texasota]

I am very new to this and more experience may lead me to alter my current configuration of the "MyView" display where I have it displaying the tachometer and the engine temperature. I would like to be able to have the "MyView" display as an option on the right screen. But I understand everyone has different desires/preferences and Ford will never be able to make everyone completely happy.

 

As a side note - I can't enter 2015 as "My Hybrid's Year" under my profile. Is that something our moderators can update/enable?

Edited August 24, 2014 by Texasota

[hybridbear]

I am very new to this and more experience may lead me to alter my current configuration of the "MyView" display where I have it displaying the tachometer and the engine temperature. I would like to be able to have the "MyView" display as an option on the right screen. But I understand everyone has different desires/preferences and Ford will never be able to make everyone completely happy.

 

As a side note - I can't enter 2015 as "My Hybrid's Year" under my profile. Is that something our moderators can update/enable?

I e-mailed Robert. I imagine he'll have it fixed soon.