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Hey Guys! I am considering a Ford Fusion Hybrid Energi as my next vehicle. I currently drive a 2013 Ford Escape but want to go hybrid and downsize to a Full Size Sedan instead of a SUV. My concern is where I live and the performance of Hybrids in the cold. I live in Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canadas North. For the past week it hasn't gone above -15C (5F) but most nights it will get to an average of -20C (-4F). In the very cold months in January and February it will sometimes get down to -50C (-58F) for a couple days during the winter. Block heaters are a MUST in the winters here. It gets so cold that the part of a tire that touches the ground will freeze flat overnight so that you can feel it when youre driving in the am. That being said our spring and fall are quite mild... 5 - 15C (41-59F) and summers can get quite hot 30C (86F). Does anyone have experience with these types of cold temperatures and Hybrids or the Energi in particular?? The Local dealership sells them so I am assuming they would be okay. I realize that the electric mileage would be drastically reduced in the extreme cold. Sorry about all the conversions, I am just assuming that there are many Americans here vs Canadians.

Ok, before I begin, I KNOW that hybrids suck in cold weather. I understand that they traditionally run cooler then the normal engine. With that being said..... I have noticed that I have little heat when operating my vehicle in cold weather, below 25 degrees. I can drive around town for an hour and it still will be luke warm at best. During that entire time, I monitor the engine coolant temp gauge. The engine warms up to just at the C line, on the bottom of the gauge. Then it fluctuates from the C line, all the way down below the C line to the beginning of gauge like it was just started. Temp never goes above the C line. Then when I drive it on the interstate, the temp gauge appears normal and the engine temp goes to the middle part of the gauge, and I then have comfortable heat. I took it to the dealer last winter and complained about this but was told it was normal. I have noticed a decrease in gas mileage since I bought the car. I was first getting about 575miles to a tank, now I only get 400 if I drive easy. Anyone have any suggestions?