2016 Ford Fusion Hybrid & Energi Models To Get $900 Price Cut & Eco Mode

[hybridbear]

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096816_2016-ford-fusion-hybrid-energi-models-to-get-900-price-cut

 

The addition of an Eco Mode is the bigger news to me.

[corncobs]

We have been somewhat asking for this, haven't we?

 

Nice to see that you can pick yourself between Eco or Comfort as far as the heating goes.

Edited February 19, 2015 by corncobs

[mwr]

"the conventional Fusion Hybrid faces the prospect of an entirely new fourth-generation Toyota Prius hybrid as well, expected to be unveiled sometime this year as a 2016 model."

 

I don't see the Fusion Hybrid and Prius as being in competition with each other. They're completely different types of cars.

[CCalvinN]

I agree with mwr. The FFH's natural competition is the Accord, Camry, Sonata, and Optima hybrids.

[Hybrider]

When I was shopping for my FFH, I did look briefly at the Prius station wagon...BUT, it was a "station wagon", a style that does very little for me at a visceral level. :) Speaking of station wagons, most of the crossovers these days look to me basically like they are just high-rider station wagons.

[B25Nut]

"Nice to see that you can pick yourself between Eco or Comfort as far as the heating goes."

 

It appears that if you choose EcoSlect driving mode to tone down the heating, you'll also have to put up with more gradual acceleration, so that would never be an option I would use. For me, it is a safety and courtesy issue. The current performance of the FFH is just the way I like it.

[corncobs]

"Nice to see that you can pick yourself between Eco or Comfort as far as the heating goes."

 

It appears that if you choose EcoSlect driving mode to tone down the heating, you'll also have to put up with more gradual acceleration, so that would never be an option I would use. For me, it is a safety and courtesy issue. The current performance of the FFH is just the way I like it.

You are absolutely correct!

I would see it the same way as it is with cruise control you can pick ECO which softens the acceleration when maintaining speed. I probably would keep the performance ECO button off but the AC ECO button sounds interesting.

 

If it would behave like a few of us already do manually it would be great. Like that the ICE is really only running when the car is moving. If I'm sitting on a traffic light or waiting to turn and the ICE runs just because I have the heat on it annoys me so I turn it off.

[lolder]

i suspect the ECO mode will behave like the Prius, if you floor it, the acceleration will be the same. It merely changes the shape of the power curve versus pedal displacement.

[acdii]

A more practical use would be to be able to disable EV at highway speeds, except when coasting, or down grades.

[Waldo]

A more practical use would be to be able to disable EV at highway speeds, except when coasting, or down grades.

 

The reason for ECO mode is to allow the customer to accept compromises in order to gain efficiency. EV mode at highway speed doesn't present a compromise in terms of driveability or customer comfort, therefore Ford must have determined that it is already operating in the most efficient manor.

[B25Nut]

A more practical use would be to be able to disable EV at highway speeds, except when coasting, or down grades.

 

Even though theory says differently, I'm still convinced that the software update that increased the EV speed from 62 to 85 mph is the primary reason my mileage saw a 6 mpg increase. This may be due to my particular driving environment, but I get my best mileage on my daily commutes when my EV times on the freeway are the greatest.

[acdii]

I find mine does better at 55-60 when its all ICE with a full battery. I have tried it many many times on the same route with botht eh EV/ICE mix, and straight ICE, and the best MPG at that speed was with straight ICE.

[B25Nut]

Even when I'm 85, you won't ever see me voluntarily driving at 55-60 mph. EV works great for the 68-72 mph range that I drive, with an occasional 80 mph to pull ahead of a covey of cars. 42.9 mpg makes me very happy.

=

[acdii]

If I drove that fast around here, I would have a stack of tickets and very high insurance rates. On the interstate though I do the limit or slightly above. The reference for turning EV off is for rural highways of 55. Thats where I found the ICE works best at without EV. 65+ just turn ACC on and let the car do its thing, 38-43 MPG at those speeds with 5 people in the car is what I have seen. In 50+ temps I regularly saw 47 or better when using all ICE at 55 MPH. This is also on undulating rolling hills and several stops. Once I hit city traffic, I used EV a lot more where I could capture energy when braking, and regen from ICE going up slight inclines. That usually put it above 50 MPG for those few short miles, so the overall average was 47 or better.

 

[hybridwannabe]

This is the "S" 2016 Fusion model though, not the "SE" or "Titanium" model correct? At least that's how I understand it. Almost worth it to wait since they'll be ditching the terrible Microsoft Sync system (I have Fiesta 1.0 w/Sync boo) and offer a lower price. You can't get many options with the S model. No sunroof or Sirius/XM. Truly a base model.

[Hybrider]

Good eye, hybridwannabe!

 

When I originally read that article posted by HB, I read it as all 2016 hybrid Fusion models would have lower prices than the 2015 models. But after your post, I went back and reread the article, and I think you are right that they were talking only about the base models, the 2016 FFH S and the 2016 FFE SE.

[hybridwannabe]

Good eye, hybridwannabe!

 

When I originally read that article posted by HB, I read it as all 2016 hybrid Fusion models would have lower prices than the 2015 models. But after your post, I went back and reread the article, and I think you are right that they were talking only about the base models, the 2016 FFH S and the 2016 FFE SE.

 

Haha yea I was a bit excited at first because I could probably wait and receive the lower price and get the new QNX system to boot for the 2016 year. But I see no reason if it's just the S model. Not that it's a bad model, but I want my Sirius/XM at the minimum for my long journeys. Maybe they will change their mind and bring it to all models? One can hope!

Edited February 23, 2015 by hybridwannabe

[hybridbear]

Is it really only the S trim or is it just unclear reporting?

 

The 2016 Order Guide makes no mention of Sync 3 being available in the 2016 Fusion.

[Waldo]

This is the "S" 2016 Fusion model though, not the "SE" or "Titanium" model correct? At least that's how I understand it. Almost worth it to wait since they'll be ditching the terrible Microsoft Sync system (I have Fiesta 1.0 w/Sync boo) and offer a lower price. You can't get many options with the S model. No sunroof or Sirius/XM. Truly a base model.

 

The S model will always have the same Sync Gen 1 system, even when Sync 3 comes out on the higher end models. Sync Gen 1 has always had pretty good reviews and never had any stability issues.

[Waldo]

Good eye, hybridwannabe!

 

When I originally read that article posted by HB, I read it as all 2016 hybrid Fusion models would have lower prices than the 2015 models. But after your post, I went back and reread the article, and I think you are right that they were talking only about the base models, the 2016 FFH S and the 2016 FFE SE.

 

The Titanium also gets a $900 price reduction, so it is across the board. But a couple options like the moonroof and SE tech package went up $100 each.

[acdii]

Well they always increase an option when they lower the base. In fact they did that on the 13 models mid production. Reduced base a bit, but increased the tech and Moonroof.