Review Your Ford Fusion Hybrid for Parents Magazine!

[parentsmag]

I'm an editor for Parents magazine, looking for an owner of a 2008-to-present Ford Fusion Hybrid to quote in an upcoming story. We need someone with one or more young kids to tell us how the Fusion functions as a family car. If you're interested email me at emily.johnson3@meredith.com.

 

Thanks!

[Grey]

The Fusion Hybrid is only a 2010 model at this point. It was available in early 2009.

 

As you are collecting comments, look at the option content. While very impressive in all configurations, the 502A package with Navigation, Blind Spot alert, rear camera, lane change alert, etc. compares electronically with much more expensive luxury vehicles. The granddaughters still call it the American Idol car.

[CmelChappy]

I'm an editor for Parents magazine, looking for an owner of a 2008-to-present Ford Fusion Hybrid to quote in an upcoming story. We need someone with one or more young kids to tell us how the Fusion functions as a family car. If you're interested email me at emily.johnson3@meredith.com.

 

Thanks!

I have a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid that is a wonderful car in all respects except one, it is the worst riding car ever. I wouldn't consider putting anyone in the rear seat, big or little. I start out driving it in a good mood, but after a number of stiff, harsh jolts, I start gritting my teeth. The dealer tells me that it is designed that way because of the 250 lb battery pack behind the rear seat. The Ford Fusion Form is full of people who experience the same hard riding characteristics, but most of them accept it as the norm nowadays. I am going to check with several other Ford Dealers and if they agree with my local dealer, guess I am stuck with it. Started up a dirt road with some washboard surface and the suspension is so stiff that it jolted and hammered so hard that I had to stop, turn around and leave. This is really sad as the car is as good as any made when going down a smooth highway, but driving on bad road or in town where the recession has caused many bad spots in need of repair to get worse, it is awful. Tar strips, manhole covers and minor potholes must be avoided as well as rough road surfaces. I would buy a 2011 model if Ford would get their act together and soften the suspension a bit, but never another like the 2009. The Fusion Hybrid is a high mileage family car and why in heaven's name is Ford putting a stiff, racing suspension on it. PHOOEY!

[Rimfaxe]

Wow, I'm surprised as nearly all of the reviews say that the car drives better and is more of a 'driver's car' than the hybrid Prius and Camry. I have an older Camry and I can tell you that that thing wallows all over the place- its a cushy ride, but I would much prefer a little stiffer suspension for better feedback and control.

 

I also have two small children- 3 ys and 4 months. I'm interested in knowing the amount of backseat room for car seats-- do the front seats have to be jacked forward to fit the car seats in the back? I'm also concerned about the amount of storage room in the trunk. The next car will need to serve as a family travel vehicle, so being able to pack in the trunk for a long weekend with the whole family is a requirement. We don't travel heavy, but the other car (a Subaru Legacy sedan just barely makes it work.

[Grey]

Wow, I'm surprised as nearly all of the reviews say that the car drives better and is more of a 'driver's car' than the hybrid Prius and Camry. I have an older Camry and I can tell you that that thing wallows all over the place- its a cushy ride, but I would much prefer a little stiffer suspension for better feedback and control.

 

I also have two small children- 3 ys and 4 months. I'm interested in knowing the amount of backseat room for car seats-- do the front seats have to be jacked forward to fit the car seats in the back? I'm also concerned about the amount of storage room in the trunk. The next car will need to serve as a family travel vehicle, so being able to pack in the trunk for a long weekend with the whole family is a requirement. We don't travel heavy, but the other car (a Subaru Legacy sedan just barely makes it work.

 

Get thee to a Ford dealership and check out any new Fusion, Lots of room. Remember, the back seat does not fold down in the Hybrid if you need lengthy storage. The Fusion is a mid-size car - not an econo-box.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Grey

[xmech2k]

...and the hybrid loses quite a bit of trunk space to the battery.

[billwat]

Wow, I'm surprised as nearly all of the reviews say that the car drives better and is more of a 'driver's car' than the hybrid Prius and Camry. I have an older Camry and I can tell you that that thing wallows all over the place- its a cushy ride, but I would much prefer a little stiffer suspension for better feedback and control.

 

I also have two small children- 3 ys and 4 months. I'm interested in knowing the amount of backseat room for car seats-- do the front seats have to be jacked forward to fit the car seats in the back? I'm also concerned about the amount of storage room in the trunk. The next car will need to serve as a family travel vehicle, so being able to pack in the trunk for a long weekend with the whole family is a requirement. We don't travel heavy, but the other car (a Subaru Legacy sedan just barely makes it work.

 

 

Don't listen to everything you read on the internet. The poster above you is the only person I have heard complain about the car's ride. Prior to the FFH, My wife and I have had several sortied trucks, a 1997 Chrysler Sebring Coupe, 2003 Dodge Neon and a 2007 Toyota Matrix. The FFH rides better than any of that lot.

 

The ride does have a sportier feel to it, especially compared to some other 'family' rides out there (my other comparisons being a late 90's Buick Park Avenue and a late model Toyota Avalon). The steering is fairly tight and I think you get a good feel for the road, but certainly nothing that I would describe as harsh.

 

As far as spacing goes: the back seat leg room is a little shorter in the hybrid (darn batteries!), but we have a 1 year old and I don't have a problem when I need to put his fairly large car seat in the back. There isn't any space between the back of my seat and his seat, but I am not sacrificing leg room. The trunk is significantly smaller than the standard Fusion though. However, with a little forethought most average needs can be met. My in-laws came for the holiday and all of their luggage for a two week stay, short of a computer bag, was able to fit in the trunk. There certainly is enough space for a large-ish suitcase, a mid-size bag and a small bag. Certainly not the kind of car you would want to take camping though!

[AndyInBuffalo]

I'll add my opinion of the Fusion having a harsh ride as well. I have a Fusion SE with 17" wheels.

 

I took it to my dealer's service to see if they'd swap my wheels for 16" wheels and to see if there is anything else they can do. The mechanic confirmed that the ride is rough and the seats hard.

 

The Fusion is designed to impress people with cornering ability. Well guess what, I go across potholes and manhole covers and all sort of other bumps than the need to take a corner hard. For highway driving, this car is wonderful. For city driving, it's pretty rough.

 

One of the supervisors at the dealer service garage also confirmed that the Fusion rides rough.

 

There is a lot I really like about the Fusion, but the bumpy ride is primary on my mind.I'd love to love the car more and will see whether going down in wheel size and buying a more comfortable touring tire will help.

 

Andy

2010 Fusion SE upgraded from a 1999 Contour Sport

 

[acdii]

The 2010 Hybrid, and the other models except the Sport are all the same basic chassis, only the drivetrain itself differs, and the addition of the battery pack in the trunk that prevents the seats from folding. I used to have a 2009 Camry Hybrid, the trunk in the Fusion has more room. The ride across all models, except the Sport is the same, they all wear the same rubber, with the exception of the base SE. If you want to improve the ride, change the wheels and tires, that is where you are getting the harshness from. Higher sidewalls help cushion the impacts from the road.

 

The rear seat leg room is a difference of 4/10ths of an inch, not really much at all. There is plenty of room for most car seats out there. Installing them is a breeze, but if the head rests were removable, it would be even easier to install them. The top strap may leave a mark in the leather or cloth after a while.

 

So if you were to take all of us with a 2010 Fusion, you will get a good consensus of the car overall, those with the Hybrid can add in their hybrid experiences, the cars in general are the same. I did test drive one, but could not afford it, I got the Sport instead, since I was able to get 0% financing, and it was at least $3500 less. From the road test I did, it is a bit slower than the Camry Hybrid, but handles so much better. It is more comfortable than the Camry, has a bit more trunk space, though rear seat room is less in the Ford. The hybrid system I felt was a better design, the dash is just awesome, made the one in the Camry look mediocre. The quality between the two was quite different, the Camry interior looks cheap, felt cheap, and had wear in the cloth after only 10 months of use. The interior quality of the Fusion was quite apparent, much tighter fit, seat material of higher quality, material on the door panels much softer and better looking. Ford did a really nice job designing the car, although too many buttons in the center stack, something they need to improve upon.

 

As far as kids go. I have a 3 YO and a 4 1/2 YO, I bought two identical car seats, Graco, that are convertible, rear or front facing, and can be taken down to a booster for up to 100lbs. They fit in very nicely, the kids can get in and out of them easily, we can get them in and out without hitting our heads. They love riding in the car too, the windows are at just about the right height that they can see out them, but still high enough that the rest of their body is below window. The LATCH system is easy to get to, so getting the seats in and out is just a couple minutes of work. There is still enough room between the seats for a bag with their stuff in it. Since the car handles better than the Camry, I personally feel they are safer in the Ford than in the Camry.

[Blue Oval]

I can't imagine how anyone could say anything negative about the ride. My 2010 FFH is one of the smoothest and quietest cars I have ever driven and that includes my boss's BMW 750Li which lists close to $100K. Each time I drive the Fusion I shake my head in awe and silently applaud Ford engineers for their diligence in getting it right! Perhaps suspension improvements were made along the way...mine was assembled in September of 2009.

[acdii]

I can't imagine how anyone could say anything negative about the ride. My 2010 FFH is one of the smoothest and quietest cars I have ever driven and that includes my boss's BMW 750Li which lists close to $100K. Each time I drive the Fusion I shake my head in awe and silently applaud Ford engineers for their diligence in getting it right! Perhaps suspension improvements were made along the way...mine was assembled in September of 2009.

 

That is because a lot of the people who test drove the Fusion and didn't like the ride are accustomed to the soft sloppy ride in the Camry and Accord. To them it feels like they are in a car with square wheels. I came from driving a Camry and said to my wife, do you think this ride would be a bit harsh after a while? She said we would get used to it, you know what, she was right. For improved handling, you need to have some stiffness to the suspension, which translates into a stiffer ride where you feel more of the road. Me Likey