Hybrid vs Energi

[BiXLL]

what are the differences in the 2? From what I have seen with very limited research is just things like leather being standard as well as some other interior differences. Are there any mechanical differences, plusses and minuses?

[jeff_h]

what are the differences in the 2? From what I have seen with very limited research is just things like leather being standard as well as some other interior differences. Are there any mechanical differences, plusses and minuses?

 

I'm not sure that leather is standard on the Energi, as I *think* there may be a configuration with the SE that has cloth seats.

 

The two main differences are:

 

1 - The upfront price, where you will pay more for the Energi, however the $4,007 tax credit offsets much (maybe all?) of that.

 

2 - Due to the larger battery in the trunk, the trunk space in the Energi is much more limited - so make sure you are OK with that. The Hybrid's seats fold down and you can pass large items through the trunk into the cabin, while the Energi's seats also fold down but the pass-through is very small to allow maybe a pair of skis to pass through and that's about it. I posted pics of the trunk with measurements in the below thread.

 

http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com/topic/664-fusion-energi-trunk-room/?p=16001

 

I like the Energi better due to the availability of 'Go Times' that I use in the winter, which is the pre-setting of cabin temp on a schedule - so as long as the car is plugged in to 240V (capacity when plugged into 120V is more limited), the car will run the HVAC from the power from the wall and not use your battery. This means that you leave home with a nice warm car in the winter and still have full battery when starting off. For more info on that you can also visit the Energi forum: http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com

[hybridbear]

what are the differences in the 2? From what I have seen with very limited research is just things like leather being standard as well as some other interior differences. Are there any mechanical differences, plusses and minuses?

The Energi has a different final drive ratio & different gearing which means it has a higher total system horsepower. The big benefit of the Energi is that you can drive about 20 miles on battery only which typically costs about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of driving on gas. The Energi is fantastic!

[Hybrider]

All versions of the Energi do come with leather. That is the main reason why I personally feel I cannot get an FFE, since I am anti-leather.

One other small difference with the Energi is that the donut spare tire from the gas Fusion is said to not fit on all of the wheel hubs on the FFE. I believe that post is probably in the Tires and Wheels section of this forum.

[jeff_h]

All versions of the Energi do come with leather. That is the main reason why I personally feel I cannot get an FFE, since I am anti-leather.

 

Right you are, I couldn't remember -- I checked the ordering guide for the 2013 model (sounds old now, sigh) and it does say that leather is standard. So I guess if the OP is also anti-leather then it makes for an easy decision!

[darrelld]

I heavily considered the Fusion Energi and did a few test drives before deciding on purchasing the Hybrid version. I could have lived with the trunk space issue but I did not like the tendency of the Energi to bounce up and down over some of the roads I drive to work and back. I am assuming the extra weight rearward of the rear suspension causes a see saw effect. They seem to need stiffer springs or suspension air bags to compensate for the weight.

[Gigi]

The Energi is basically a Hybrid with a bigger battery that you can plug in to charge. If you can charge cheaply at home and at work (not at public stations that charge a fee) you can reduce your use of gasoline and drive more economically. In one stretch of time, I drove 7 weeks, 1,600 miles on only 9.5 gallons of gas. My cost per mile for gas and electricity was considerably less than it would have been for driving a hybrid.

 

The downside to the Energi is the size of the trunk. A regular gas Fusion has a 16 cubic foot trunk. The hybrid's trunk is 12 cubic feet and the Energi's trunk is 8 cubic feet.

 

I have not experienced the "tendency to bounce" darrelld described above. My experience is of a very smooth and quiet ride.

 

I think that if you have the opportunity to charge cheaply and frequently, the Energi is a good choice. If you are on the road for long distances and/or you need the trunk space, the Hybrid is probably a better choice.