Hybrid 400 Mile Drive

[NewNole2001]

I picked up my 502A FFH on Tuesday and today took it for a 400 mile drive. Due to the holiday weekend traffic on the interstates and not wanting to push the engine too hard during the break-in period, I stuck to US Highways, using the Nav system to figure it all out. I got 36.8 mpg over the course of the drive.

 

A few comments:

 

The Nav system is nice, but cannot compete with even a low end TomTom in terms of ease of use. There is no option for "POI near Destination," or at least I didn't see it today. Searching for Shopping POIs is unnecessarily difficult, as you must figure out what category of shopping the store you are looking for is. I know there are ways to search for places by name, but we were looking for either a WalMart or Target along our route, and using voice commands this took a while to figure out.

 

The Nav System will tell you to turn right or left while showing a picture that clearly says to go straight.. WTF?!?!

 

The car has plenty of power to pass other cars when necessary.

 

Maybe it's just how I sit, but I wish the driver's seat was about 1/2 inch further to the right.

 

The car is incredibly quiet at highway speeds.

 

Was the sunglasses case designed for child sunglasses? I have normal sized Oakley Flak Jackets or whatever they're called, and they don't even begin to fit in there.

 

The Sony Sound system is awesome, just plain awesome.

 

The anti-lock brakes work okay in a panic stop situation. They generally kept the wheels from locking up, and the stopping distance from 65 was impressive. (There was a deer.)

---

 

So overall, I hate the GPS, but will learn to live with it and its idiosyncrasies. Aside from that the car is awesome.

[ypsiarbor]

I picked mine up a 500A Thurs. I drove 100 miles (on Fri) first day averaged 44.8 mpg how cool is that! Very quite. Very Very happy. Sync is working pretty well-I'm still learning how to use it.

[maxpower220]

I have half jacket Oakleys and they fit in the sunglass holder, just at an angle that doesn't look like it should work.

 

This car is a lot more quiet than my wifes previous S60R, even with the sunroof cover open.

 

POI in the Nav is difficult. However, we eventually got exactly what we were looking for. Too many items are "not allowed" when driving over a slow speed.

 

I really like the Jukebox and USB line in options for music and pictures.

[cuehara]

POI in the Nav is difficult. However, we eventually got exactly what we were looking for. Too many items are "not allowed" when driving over a slow speed.

 

Studies have shown that people believe their multitasking skills are a lot better than they are. The second it takes to change focus from the dash to the road covers a hundred feet at 70 mph.

 

It may be aggravating to be nannied, but in this case, its warranted. I saw a guy driving in front of me on the highway with his head over looking at something on the center stack. He was like that for a good half minute.

 

If the nav could figure out that a passenger was operating it, that'd be another thing, though...

[cuehara]

So overall, I hate the GPS, but will learn to live with it and its idiosyncrasies. Aside from that the car is awesome.

 

Updated maps also cost an arm and a leg for stock nav. They'd sell more if they cushioned the blow, but the best advertising would be to have a best-in-class nav similar to the way Sync adds value.

 

Do you have any thoughts on the Sirius Travel Link? The real-time traffic info would help my daily commute immensely if it works (stay on the freeway or take the bypass).

 

Another question, how's the trunk look? When I checked it out, the battery cover in the trunk looked pretty...mmm, flimsy. I've been thinking about ways to clean that up. It looked like it was just a piece of interior carpet with some spray-on backing to give it shape.

[maxpower220]

Studies have shown that people believe their multitasking skills are a lot better than they are. The second it takes to change focus from the dash to the road covers a hundred feet at 70 mph.

 

It may be aggravating to be nannied, but in this case, its warranted. I saw a guy driving in front of me on the highway with his head over looking at something on the center stack. He was like that for a good half minute.

 

If the nav could figure out that a passenger was operating it, that'd be another thing, though...

 

First, I was sitting in the parking lot of a store to figure it out. Second, the car doesn't allow you to give inputs for a lot of things when driving. With Sync, it is all voice activated, so you aren't pushing buttons, you are speaking out loud.

[Carnivore]

I picked up my 502A FFH on Tuesday and today took it for a 400 mile drive. Due to the holiday weekend traffic on the interstates and not wanting to push the engine too hard during the break-in period, I stuck to US Highways, using the Nav system to figure it all out. I got 36.8 mpg over the course of the drive.

 

Se being in FL, im guessing you had the AC running the entire time? IN my Camry Hybrid having the AC on, reduced the MPG about 4mpg

[NewNole2001]

I have half jacket Oakleys and they fit in the sunglass holder, just at an angle that doesn't look like it should work.

 

This car is a lot more quiet than my wifes previous S60R, even with the sunroof cover open.

 

POI in the Nav is difficult. However, we eventually got exactly what we were looking for. Too many items are "not allowed" when driving over a slow speed.

 

I really like the Jukebox and USB line in options for music and pictures.

I finally figured out how to get my sunglasses in there yesterday.

 

Updated maps also cost an arm and a leg for stock nav. They'd sell more if they cushioned the blow, but the best advertising would be to have a best-in-class nav similar to the way Sync adds value.

 

Do you have any thoughts on the Sirius Travel Link? The real-time traffic info would help my daily commute immensely if it works (stay on the freeway or take the bypass).

 

Another question, how's the trunk look? When I checked it out, the battery cover in the trunk looked pretty...mmm, flimsy. I've been thinking about ways to clean that up. It looked like it was just a piece of interior carpet with some spray-on backing to give it shape.

The Travel Link traffic info is so limited as to be pointless. Unless you are in a major metro area, there is no traffic info. The weather map has been really nice.

 

Se being in FL, im guessing you had the AC running the entire time? IN my Camry Hybrid having the AC on, reduced the MPG about 4mpg

Yeah, had the AC running the entire time. Probably won't get too many chances to see how much it lowers the gas mileage until October or so.

 

Did my first fill up today. Averaged 34.1 mpg with mostly US Highway driving. Did not really adjust my driving style to the car, and the girlfriend had the trunk filled with suitcases for the 4 day trip. (don't know why)

[NewNole2001]

Oh, forgot to say, drove 100 miles (exactly) through the mountains then back to Greenville. 50.3 mpg according to the trip computer, but I think it is a bit optimistic by about 3 mpg.

[svjim]

Oh, forgot to say, drove 100 miles (exactly) through the mountains then back to Greenville. 50.3 mpg according to the trip computer, but I think it is a bit optimistic by about 3 mpg.

 

Just got back from a 400 mile round trip. Filled up the car at the half way point and the odometer read 503 miles and 14 gallons of gasoline for 35.9 mpg. Coming home on mostly interstates (Hw5, Hw80, Hw680) we averaged 38.3 mpg and so for just having the car for a little over a week I am pretty pleased with the highway fuel economy. I don't really have an accurate around time measurement. Although, if I don't run into a lot of stop lights, it is getting pretty easy to go quite some distance in EV mode at speeds between 35 and 40. At 45 it gets pretty tough to stay in EV mode.

[Will_Robinson]

Thought I'd share my first long drive experience as well...

 

Drove w/1 one passenger about 240 miles from Detroit to Toronto, spent 1-2 days navigating downtown Toronto w/2 passengers using the onboard Nav, and then back to Detroit.....Did it all on a single tank of gas! I averaged about 36-38 mpg on the highway (70 mph) and 45-50 mpg in the city. Ran the A/C probably 50% of the time. Truck was full of baggage, but nothing excessively heavy.

 

Some comments:

1) On the highway, driving behind a large 18-wheeler truck really did break the wind for me and allowed me to boost my mpg a few during select segments of the trip.

2) On both the Canadian freeways and the downtown Toronto streets, the Nav system did a great job. My only gripe is that when you intentionally take a different route, it keeps trying to get you to take a U-turn & such to get you back on the original route. Our Navigon 2100 max unit does a quicker job of recalculating the new route and taking over on-the-fly. With the Ford system, we found it better to just cancel the route and then start again with the same destination.

3) Very quiet in the cabin when driving on the highway. In the city, the car was so quiet that people often couldn't even hear me coming (got a lot of people inquiring about the car and how it could be so quiet).

4) Travel Link was useful for us (find restaurants, POIs, etc.) and also alerted us to construction well in advance.

5) Sony sound system is best-in-class. I challenge anyone to find a better sounding factory-installed system.

[cngrevolution]

I will chime in as well. I had a 502a ordered at my local dealer in Dallas area. I found the same color/options at a dealer in los Angeles, so went out and bought it, on X-Plan! White tri coat, with charcoal int. I picked it up and after having owned 2 prius's a camry hybrid and a honda civic hybrid this car hits it out of the park!! It is the best most comfortable car i have ever owned. I drove back from Los Angeles and made it into Dallas last night. If i used the cruise at about 78mph I was getting 36.4mpg which is outstanding, now when I used my foot at the same speeds I got 39.5-40mpg. In the city with less than 100 miles on the car I was getting 46-49mpg. I think once she breaks in I should easily get into the 50's. As far as the stereo it is unreal! The best factory stereo I have ever heard and better than many aftermarket systems. This car might be a keeper for the long haul. :)

[svjim]

If i used the cruise at about 78mph I was getting 36.4mpg which is outstanding, now when I used my foot at the same speeds I got 39.5-40mpg. In the city with less than 100 miles on the car I was getting 46-49mpg. :)

I must have a lead foot or just not misunderstanding the real time display when freeway driving. I felt that every time drove manually on the freeway that according to the real time display my mileage really dropped off, but that if I kept it in cruise control that the mileage was higher and was much steadier. Is there a secret to freeway driving? We got a little over 38mpg on a 400 mile trip just completed with three adults and a full trunk and driven primarily at freeway speeds. I am actually happy about that since we just got the car and figure it will probably get better as the car breaks in.

[cngrevolution]

It will get better as it breaks in. I have had quite a few hybrids so I have learned how to drive them. If you use your foot and get up to speed then when your on flat ground if you slowly take pressure ever so slightly off the pedal and watch the gauge you will be amazed how the mpgs will climb. The cruise just maintains speed but with your foot you can control it much better. I just drove from Texas to Detroit and I traveled between 75-80 and maintained 40.1 mpg for the whole trip. The second time I filled up the miles to empty were 641!

[hybridfam]

Im a little dissapointed just completed my first tank of gas and only got 500 miles and averaged 34 mpg's, thats exactly what my Camry Hybrid gets, I thought the Fusion was suppose to do better? Hopefully there is a breaking in time!

[NewNole2001]

Im a little dissapointed just completed my first tank of gas and only got 500 miles and averaged 34 mpg's, thats exactly what my Camry Hybrid gets, I thought the Fusion was suppose to do better? Hopefully there is a breaking in time!

It gets better. I live in an area with a bunch of hills which kills my gas mileage, but I've been averaging 39 mpg on this tank. I have about 1300 miles on the car so far.

[Oman]

I am about to put in my 3rd tank of gas. I'm averaging 38.2 on the computer, and a calculated (gas fill / miles) 37.8. There are a fair number of smaller hills and my drive is about 50% 70MPH Hwy. I'm pretty lead-footed but I have to admit my driving style has toned-down a bit with the gauges staring me in the face all the time - this is a good thing BTW.

 

Jon

 

 

It gets better. I live in an area with a bunch of hills which kills my gas mileage, but I've been averaging 39 mpg on this tank. I have about 1300 miles on the car so far.

[NewNole2001]

I am about to put in my 3rd tank of gas. I'm averaging 38.2 on the computer, and a calculated (gas fill / miles) 37.8. There are a fair number of smaller hills and my drive is about 50% 70MPH Hwy. I'm pretty lead-footed but I have to admit my driving style has toned-down a bit with the gauges staring me in the face all the time - this is a good thing BTW.

 

Jon

Yeah, I just hit 200 miles on this tank of gas and I've just passed the 3/4 tank mark.

[kirkster57]

My salesguy just called and I can pick my FFH up tonight! Woo Hoo! I am excited.

 

kirk

[rickkel]

Se being in FL, im guessing you had the AC running the entire time? IN my Camry Hybrid having the AC on, reduced the MPG about 4mpg

 

I'm surprised that you had that much of a negative effect on MPG using the A/C Both the Camry Hybrid and the FFH have an electric compressor for the A/C instead of a belt attached to the gas engine. This has two positive effects: 1) less drag on the gas motor when it's running thus better mileage at high speed and 2) you can leave the A/C on when you are in stop & go traffic because your gas motor will turn off. Our 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid doesn't have this feature and when you slow down the electric motor won't kick in unless you push the "Economy" button on the climate control panel - and if it's really hot having the compressor turn off when in electric mode can sometimes be very uncomfortable.

 

Of course having the A/C burn down your hybrid battery will make the gas engine come on more often because it needs to charge up more often, but I'd imagine the difference would be a lot less than 4 mpg. Is it really that big of a drag on the gas engine to charge up the hybrid battery vs. just running in general? I would think not, but I'm not an engineer.

 

Of course I'm only thinking out loud because I've only had my FFH for a week. But I've done test runs with and without the A/C back and forth to work and haven't noticed any significant difference. I'll know more when the weather turns really hot.