What can Ford do to make the Fusion Even better?

[djminfll]

After the first few days, the efficiency leaves on the center right display are pretty useless. As is a compass in that same location. Better to be able to put some of the screens that are available on the center left display on the right side. This way I wouldn't be switching the left display from screen to screen all the time and ignoring the right one.

I personally like the leaves, more because they impress passengers in the car. Out of everything available on the right side, the leaves are the only ones i use, especially because the compass, the radio and the phone are all avbl in the MFT screen. But you have a great suggestion, to be able to move some of the left screens to the right side.

[milleron]

I put the factory floor mats on the battery shelf, those buggers are sticky, nothing moves off of them.

What a great idea! I'm off to do that.

 

For me, the silliest omission is the daytime running lights. Considering all the cutting-edge tech that Ford put on, or makes available on, this vehicle, leaving out an option for DRLs is such a silly oversight that it's nearly insulting. Could they have done that to save a trickle of discharge from the HVB in an attempt to up the EPA numbers?

[neod192]

Could they have done that to save a trickle of discharge from the HVB in an attempt to up the EPA numbers?

I doubt it, because the fleet Fusions have them and the EPA rating is the same.

[mokee]

How about a spare tire.

[djminfll]

How about a spare tire.

I agree. Couldn't they fit a donut spare under the trunk? I don't feel comfortable having only fix-a-flat in the event of a blowout.

[hybridbear]

One thing that I think would be a great idea is on the battery display, instead of the circle thing going around when you apply brakes, a bar graph right next to the battery showing amount of regen being sent to the pack would be better. In fact it would be best if it was staged in such a way as to show you how much braking to apply to get the most and when you are about to apply too much braking that would put it into the service brakes. Maybe like yellow green yellow red, with yellow displayed when not enough pressure, green when just the right amount, yellow again when giving too much, and red when you exceed it. From a programming standpoint, shouldnt be too hard and since the display is LED Graphics, it can be a backwards compatible upgrade. For that matter, it doesnt even need to be a bar graph, the turning circles itself could change color.

Great idea! I like the idea of having the circle change color to tell you if you can brake harder or if you're braking too hard. A bar graph or slider would be nice that would show where you are along the potential for regen.

 

After the first few days, the efficiency leaves on the center right display are pretty useless. As is a compass in that same location. Better to be able to put some of the screens that are available on the center left display on the right side. This way I wouldn't be switching the left display from screen to screen all the time and ignoring the right one.

Agree!!! I've been saying this since day 1!! Also, give us more than 1 MyView screen please.

 

I like the shelf but neither seems deep enough and top shelf needs a small ridge on it, stuff is always falling out when I open the glove box.

We agree too! My wife hates that fact that stuff is always falling out. We also hear the items sliding around in there once they've fallen off the shelf and are sitting against the door. Having a lip on the shelf would fix all of that.

 

Other items I think would improve the car:

• Make push button start standard on SE and Titanium Hybrid, leave only the S Hybrid with a key
• Include ambient lighting standard on the SE and Titanium Hybrid, leave only the S Hybrid without
• Perhaps make the hybrid the SEL trim instead of SE then if it doesn't work to have the above options on the SE trim
• Include the Titanium style tail lights on all hybrids to differentiate the hybrid/Energi models from the gas Fusions rather than using them to differentiate Titanium versus all other trims (Honda did this with the Accord Hybrid back in 2006/7 and I really liked that our Accord Hybrid stood out from all other Accords because it had better looking tail lights)
• Bring back the touch-sensitive buttons, I'm so glad we have a Job 1 car with the touch buttons because they're awesome!

[anguyen]

How about better fuel management in Atkinson motor, when ever Atkinson motor kick in at low speed it either in below 20mpg or mid 20mpg, when crusing it show geting around mid 30mpg. I think ford needed to do more research on fuel management on Atkinson there are plenty of room to improve when Atkinson kick in at low speed.

Better brake regen

Make use of battery more when accerate car from dead stop to at least 45 mph befor Atkinson motor kick in.

Add equalizer to entertainment system

Better quality on sunglasses holder

Battery should move to the underneath of carriage and give back truck space.

Dual exhausts on hybrid

Make upgrade software available to Ford users, most of us got wireless, when I park in the garage I can link wireless in my 13' FFH.

 

Most of his can be done via software.

[vangonebuy]

Fix the interior rear door handles.

Why do we need to pump them twice to open the rear door?

[hermans]

Fix the interior rear door handles.

Why do we need to pump them twice to open the rear door?

It's a safety issue. People thinking that the child locks were activated found that they were in fact not. Ford added the extra pull as an added measure.

[aaronj1159]

It's a safety issue. People thinking that the child locks were activated found that they were in fact not. Ford added the extra pull as an added measure.

And they're certainly not alone. I know VW and BMW are both in the same boat.

[hybridbear]

Fix the interior rear door handles.

Why do we need to pump them twice to open the rear door?

It's also really convenient. I like this system much better than cars where you can pull and pull on the rear handles and the doors will never unlock.

 

How about better fuel management in Atkinson motor, when ever Atkinson motor kick in at low speed it either in below 20mpg or mid 20mpg, when crusing it show geting around mid 30mpg. I think ford needed to do more research on fuel management on Atkinson there are plenty of room to improve when Atkinson kick in at low speed.

Better brake regen

Make use of battery more when accerate car from dead stop to at least 45 mph befor Atkinson motor kick in.

Dual exhausts on hybrid

What don't you like about the regen brakes? They work way better than the Toyota hybrids.

 

The ICE only comes on when it's absolutely needed, thus when it does come on it runs under a high load to charge the battery. This is actually the most efficient way the ICE could be programmed because it's programmed based on BSFC (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption). The higher load that is placed on the ICE in those situations leads to the smallest percentage of energy loss when converting energy stored as gasoline into kinetic energy moving the car or electrical energy stored in the battery. If the ICE ran at a lower load you would see higher instant MPG on the screen but it would have to run for more time which would lead to lower overall fuel economy.

 

Accelerating in EV mode is not efficient. It's better to accelerate with the ICE and use EV mode to cruise because the ICE is more efficient under heavy loads and the electric motor is more efficient under light loads.

 

Dual exhausts add weight which Ford didn't want on the hybrid otherwise I would lobby for dual exhausts too.

[hermans]

It's also really convenient. I like this system much better than cars where you can pull and pull on the rear handles and the doors will never unlock.

 

What don't you like about the regen brakes? They work way better than the Toyota hybrids.

 

The ICE only comes on when it's absolutely needed, thus when it does come on it runs under a high load to charge the battery. This is actually the most efficient way the ICE could be programmed because it's programmed based on BSFC (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption). The higher load that is placed on the ICE in those situations leads to the smallest percentage of energy loss when converting energy stored as gasoline into kinetic energy moving the car or electrical energy stored in the battery. If the ICE ran at a lower load you would see higher instant MPG on the screen but it would have to run for more time which would lead to lower overall fuel economy.

 

Accelerating in EV mode is not efficient. It's better to accelerate with the ICE and use EV mode to cruise because the ICE is more efficient under heavy loads and the electric motor is more efficient under light loads.

 

Dual exhausts add weight which Ford didn't want on the hybrid otherwise I would lobby for dual exhausts too.

if weight is a real issue why does my MKZ hybrid have the dual exhaust. BTW it is not a true dual exhaust.

Edited July 23, 2013 by hermans

[Allegany]

I think they should add adjustable pedals like in the Taurus. They should also make the passenger seat more adjustable up and down as well as forward and back.

[B25Nut]

I have found that about half the times I use the knob to adjust the audio volume I accidentally activate the heated seat due to its touch sensiive button. I would like to see a change there. I don't realize it's on until I begin to sweat.

[clummus]

they could make sure ALL the FFH s get EPA. No more under performers like mine.

[corncobs]

I have found that about half the times I use the knob to adjust the audio volume I accidentally activate the heated seat due to its touch sensiive button. I would like to see a change there. I don't realize it's on until I begin to sweat.

Why don't you use the volume control on the steering wheel? I'm not 100% sure but I might have used the knob a max of 10x since I got my FFH.

[djminfll]

Why don't you use the volume control on the steering wheel? I'm not 100% sure but I might have used the knob a max of 10x since I got my FFH.

I don't think I've EVER used it! I only use that button to turn the audio Off and On.

[corncobs]

I don't think I've EVER used it! I only use that button to turn the audio Off and On.

I have never turned mine off ;-)

[DeeCee]

I have found that about half the times I use the knob to adjust the audio volume I accidentally activate the heated seat due to its touch sensiive button. I would like to see a change there. I don't realize it's on until I begin to sweat.

Same issue here. I usually use the steering wheel buttons but sometimes reach for the volume knob and a short time later the sear starts to get warm and I notice the seat heaters are going full blast. Not sure why we even need the seat heater touch buttons where they are as they are available on the MFT screen.

[acdii]

I was thinking, How the heck you are turning on the seat heaters, and remembered the HyTi has different controls, the seat heaters are only through MFT in the HyTi, the SE is on the console too.

[B25Nut]

Why don't you use the volume control on the steering wheel? I'm not 100% sure but I might have used the knob a max of 10x since I got my FFH.

 

Like DeeCee, I usually use the steering wheel controls, but sometimes I'll be looking at the knob when I want a volume change and that's where my hand goes. It wasn't until this month that I realized what was causing the seats to turn on.

[rfruth]

My 2010 gets above EPA numbers, wonder if the 2014s with 18 s will do the same or better ?

[JonE]

I'd also like console buttons rather than the hyper sensitive touch types that turn seat heaters and whatnot on with the slightest touch. Then when I'd like to quickly adjust the hvac up or down it frequently won't always respond! Give me a tactile button.

 

I'd also like a few choices in stereos, like the old days. I thought the stereo in my SE was adequate until I rode in the backseat one time, very poor bass response back there. I don't even think there is a sub or anything on the back shelf. Then I was reading that it is difficult to add speaker components due to the noise canceling system, don't like that either.

 

I'd also like to have co-pilot control of navigation while driving, could be made available when the passenger is seat belted in. I hate when the stereo doesn't work when the seatbelt is not clicked in on the passenger side. My wife frequently unbelts as we're rolling into our driveway, I'd just like to hear the end of the song...

 

More padding in the sunglasses holder please.

 

I did buy a spare, the 16" convenience spare from a 2012 Focus works perfectly in the space under the trunk floor. Purchased from a salvage yard for $125 and it was like new, added a scissors jack, lug wrench and it all fit under there. I wrapped the fix a flat in a bag and stuffed it in with the car battery behind that rather flimsy panel on the left side of the trunk.

 

Trickle charge option via the block heater socket would be great! Get a full hybrid battery every time you start out, brilliant.

 

 

 

Otherwise I pretty much love the car, 44.9 mpg lifetime, so,far.

[46stang]

1: I may be flying solo on this but I would like the 2.0 liter Ecoboost motor at 240hp, combined with the electric motor and that would be 300+ HP. I would gladly give up a few mpg's for another 100+hp.

2: The ledge on the glove box shelf is an excellent idea, I would like that, too.

3: Also as suggested the battery charger for the HVB would be nice. Leaving every morning with a full charge would definitely increase mpg.

4: Better trunk spacing. Instead of making the battery pack 5 inches tall and placing it at the front of the trunk giving us the oddly proportioned trunk space we have, Why not build it 2.5 inches thick and spread it across the entire trunk floor giving us a better overall trunk space.

[hermans]

3. Also as suggested the battery charger for the HVB would be nice. Leaving every morning with a full charge would definitely increase mpg.

 

It's called the Energi........