The 2013 FFH isn't the first time Ford has seen EPA MPG controversy

[hybridbear]

I was doing some research on the history of the FFH and discovered that the new FFH isn't the first time some have questioned Ford's EPA ratings. Just as how we've come to the conclusion that the FFH was specifically engineered to get high EPA numbers while hybrids from Toyota have not been it appears that the 2010 FFH may have been designed the same way.

 

All three articles cited below call out the 2010 FFH for not coming close to EPA numbers in comparison to other hybrid competitors, most notably the first gen TCH.

 

From Edmunds

http://www.edmunds.com/ford/fusion-hybrid/2010/long-term-road-test/2010-ford-fusion-hybrid-200000-miles-of-fuel-economy.html

 

According to the EPA our Fusion Hybrid should return mpg of 36 highway/41 city/39 combined. After 20,000 miles of mostly city driving we've averaged 32 mpg, well below EPA estimations.

 

From Motor Trend

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/112_0901_2010_ford_fusion_hybrid_2009_toyota_camry_hybrid/viewall.html

 

If our early numbers hold up, the Fusion Hybrid would be a rare instance of the EPA relapsing into the world of mileage make-believe.

...

So what do we make of the Fusion's 41/36? Our 500 miles behind the wheel didn't support it.

...

Trouble is, our early observations have the Fusion's overall number floating around 33.5 mpg. Hey, that's an excellent result in our book. Except that it leaves a yawning, 5-mpg disparity betwixt it and the government's combined average of 38.5.

...

According to the EPA, the new Fusion achieves 41 city mpg and 36 on the highway compared with the Camry's 33 and 34, respectively. Our impromptu testing revealed a very different result, however. While the Camry confirmed its EPA numbers, the Fusion didn't. How come? Good question. A clue could reside in these graphs, which were created by recording rpm and mph data from their OBD2 ports. What's apparent here is that, while the Camry might be capable of slightly greater pure EV acceleration, the Fusion's range of EV operation extends to a noticeably higher speed --- a potentially exploitable difference. [italics added]

 

Hmmm...very interesting...

[acdii]

Mine always did. Only exception to that was when it was really cold out then it would get slightly below it.

 

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/acdii/fusion-4

 

 

I no longer have the lifetime, dont know what happened to it.

[jeff_h]

Mine always did. Only exception to that was when it was really cold out then it would get slightly below it.

 

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/acdii/fusion-4

 

 

I no longer have the lifetime, dont know what happened to it.

 

Same here, 39.8 MPG over 145k miles - better than expected as 90% of my miles are highway

 

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/jeffh/fusion

[hybridbear]

But both of you also get great mileage in your 2013 FFHs. I just found it interesting that back in 2009-2010 there were some grumblings about the FFH mileage and some comments about Ford possibly having programmed their car to ace the EPA tests.

[acdii]

When I first got the car it didnt do too great, only managed to get 34 in it, then I had a hard reset done, and retrained the car, after that it got EPA.

 

It is all in how you first dive the car, and many new Hybrid drivers got in it driving like they always did and thats where many of the issues happened. Same can be said about the 13 FFH and Cmax. Even the Prius and Camry were low for the first few K miles before they started seeing EPA consistently.