Consumer Reports says Ford's Fusion Hybrid is equal to Toyota Camry, only sportier
2010 Ford Fusion hybrid - Click above for high-res gallery
Ford's new 2010 Fusion Hybrid has earned plenty of accolades since it debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show last fall, and the latest praise comes from Consumer Reports. In its most recent round of testing, the entire Fusion lineup did well, but CR singled out the hybrid model and declared it "essentially tied" with long-time favorite, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. The Fusion racked up 34 mpg, beating out the Kia Optima in a test of mid-size family sedans.
Compared to the Camry, CR agreed with most other reviewers that the Fusion felt sportier:
"The new Fusions are very impressive especially the Hybrid," said David Champion, senior director of CR's Auto Test Center. "The Hybrid successfully blends excellent fuel economy with driving pleasure, something all other hybrids have failed to do."
Although we've disagreed with some of Consumer Reports' previous assessments, this is one case where we're of the same mind. Check out the official press release after the jump for more of CR's thoughts.Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Photos Copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
PRESS RELEASE:
Hybrid Ford Fusion Gets Excellent Rating in Consumer Reports, Now on Par With Toyota Camry Hybrid
Four and six-cylinder versions much improved, Audi Q5 tops tests of compact luxury SUVs
YONKERS, N.Y., Aug. 3, 2009; The new Ford Fusion Hybrid is now Consumer Reports' top-rated domestic sedan. Essentially tied with the Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Fusion Hybrid achieved an excellent 34 mpg overall in CR's fuel economy test and offers sportier driving.
The newly freshened four- and six-cylinder versions of the Ford Fusion family sedan are much improved and now compete with the best models in the category. All three versions were quieter and more refined than previous versions.
Consumer Reports also tested four- and six-cylinder versions of the freshened Kia Optima in its tests of family sedans in the September issue.
"The new Fusions are very impressive especially the Hybrid," said David Champion, senior director of CR's Auto Test Center. "The Hybrid successfully blends excellent fuel economy with driving pleasure, something all other hybrids have failed to do. All have a comfortable ride, agile handling, and the innovative display on the Hybrid encourages frugal driving."
Prices ranged from $20,365 for the four-cylinder Optima to $32,360 for the Fusion Hybrid, which included a $5,000 package that added navigation, leather seats, a moonroof and other options. All of the cars in this group are Recommended based on test scores and the cars' previous reliability history. CR only Recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR's Annual Car Reliability Survey of its more than seven million print and web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.
The Audi Q5 was top in CR's test of compact luxury SUVs, also in the September issue. A combination of performance, comfort and refinement has made the Q5 one of the top-rated models in the growing compact luxury SUV market. (Note: The Audi Q5 was one of the top-rated cars ... Subaru Forester 2.5XT Limited -- $28,860 is listed in first place.)
Full tests and ratings of family sedans and compact luxury SUVs appear in the August issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale August 4. The reports are also available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org.
Family Sedans
The Ford Fusion Hybrid's ride is supple and controlled, with good isolation from bumps. The Fusion Hybrid, ($32,360 Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price as tested, base hybrids start at about $28,000), is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric motor that combine for 191 hp and delivers 34 mpg overall and can be propelled up to 47 mpg on electricity alone in CR's own fuel economy tests. The CVT transmission performs smoothly. Braking is Very Good. The interior is well-finished. Due to the battery pack, the Hybrid's trunk is smaller than the non-Hybrid's and its seats do not fold down.
The Kia Optima is a sensible, well-rounded sedan that's competitively priced. It might not be an exciting drive, but it's roomy, rides well, and handles securely. The Optima LX, ($20,365, MSRP as tested), is powered by a 175-hp, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that accelerates smoothly and gets 25 mpg overall. The five-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and smoothly. Braking is Very Good. The Optima has a nicely-finished interior. Cargo space is Excellent.
Compact luxury SUVs
The Audi Q5 is quiet, agile, and fun to drive. It has a composed ride and a meticulously finished interior. The Q5 Premium Plus, ($42,800, MSRP as tested), is powered by a 270-hp, 3.2-liter V6 engine that delivers very strong and smooth performance and gets 19 mpg overall on premium fuel in CR's own fuel economy tests. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts responsively and very smoothly. Braking is Excellent. The Q5 has a well-finished and luxurious interior with wood and chrome detailing, lined storage compartments, and padded trim. Trade-offs include confusing controls and modest rear-seat and cargo space.
The Volvo XC60 is quick and civilized, and it benefits from Volvo's safety advances. Handling is sound, but the car is not as sporty to drive as its competitors. The XC60 T6 AWD, ($42,245, MSRP as tested), is powered by a turbocharged 281-hp, 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that is lively but gets an unimpressive 17 mpg overall. Braking is Very Good. Many interior panels are soft to the touch, and the satin-look metal trim is well done. Cabin storage is moderate.
The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 certainly has its virtues, but it trails most of the competition in this class. It's quick, quiet, agile and nimble in routine driving. The GLK350, (41,760, MSRP as tested), is powered by a 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers excellent performance but gets only 18 mpg overall on premium fuel. The seven-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Braking is Very Good. The interior is nicely finished, with padded surfaces and imitation leather covering the seats. Cabin space is similar to others in this group.
With more than 7 million print and online subscribers, Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and advice on consumer products and services. It conducts the most comprehensive auto-test program of any U.S. publication or Web site; the magazine's auto experts have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars. To become a subscriber, consumers can call 1-800-234-1645. Information and articles from the magazine can be accessed online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
RMN 4:35PM (8/04/2009)
Thats good for Ford i think Consumer Reports car testing is useless.
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Tricky dicky 4:40PM (8/04/2009)
+1 on that, good news for their insular followers who drink CR kool-aid.. I would sooner trust a talking billygoat than I would CR but they do have their nutswinging masses.
PJ 4:53PM (8/04/2009)
I can never help but run defense for CR on these posts. As with everything else, the key is "follow the money." CR buys their own test cars anonymously, lives with them for a couple months, and then reports on their experiences. Buttering up advertisers or press-fleet managers isn't part of the equation. They make their bucks from circulation rather than ad space, which is the exact opposite of the buff books.
Now, absolutely, their reviews are written for the average Joe/Jane who wants to read just as much about lumbar support as they do about handling. And you might disagree with the results of their self-selecting reliability survey, as distinct from their comparison-test reviews. But having driven just about everything they test, I find their assessments of individual vehicle traits exceptionally accurate (even if, weighing things like performance more heavily than they do, I may disagree with their overall rankings).
You don't get that kind of transparency from the buff books, where they don't tell you what they *really* think of a car until it's 3 years old and the initial advertising blitz is over and paid for.
Snowdog 5:20PM (8/04/2009)
+1 for PJ.
I would much rather have people who don't take advertising, who do buy their cars like the rest of us, who don't get flown to resorts to be wined and dined before they "review" the car.
CR does the most comprehensive unbiased testing out there IMO, because they don't accept any money/payola/trips and they don't take cherry picked cars from manufacturers. Sure individual reviewer may still have some personal bias, but with a panel of testers that likely comes out in the wash. At least they aren't in the manufacturers pocket.
bwzd7p2 8:55PM (8/04/2009)
I think that those who have doubts about CR that go beyond just that they didn't rank your favorite car highly or that you think style should outrank everything else should visit http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/how-we-test/introduction/how-we-test-introduction.htm and see how their test program works. These are mostly gearheads testing, but kept in check and reality by the editorial board higher up. Also click on Videos link near the top of the page, then go to the Cars section and check out some of the video reviews, say the G37 and G8, if you think the folks there really don't know how to drive.
Not THAT Matt 1:28AM (8/05/2009)
I remember reading an issue of CR last summer, where they tried saying (in some comparison) that... the Dodge Grand Caravan maybe? got 13 MPG city, and then went on to say the Toyota Sienna got like 27 or 28 highway?
And that's when I realized they were a) full of sh*t, and b) clearly disliked anything non-Toyota.
Sorry, but the Camry has been consistently rated one of the worst mid-sized cars in mid-sized comparisons for a reason - it's not a nice car. I'm sure when it's refreshed in the next year or two it will be nicer, but until then they're selling half a million a year based solely on the "Toyota is the most reliable ever" Kool-Aid.
My girlfrend's baby'd 01 Camry has 199,200 miles on it, and is one of the most painful cars I've ever had the misfortune to drive. Just saying.
Snowdog 8:11AM (8/05/2009)
Matt, your comments are quite misguided, misplaced and ill informed.
Unlike other publications which seemingly report arbitrary mpg numbers. CR does three specific mpg tests for every car they test. They have two proscribed tests City (very tough), Highway (easier than EPA) and they do a 150 mile driving loop.
Their combined number as reported is a combination of all three. All three of these tests are available for every car they test. But you have to buy their publications or subscribe online to see the full breakdown. The free video reviews usually only include the combined number.
Go watch the reviews of the new Matrix and Insight if you think they have a Toyota/Honda Bias. Then watch the Fusion review.
They have a bias for good cars and against crappy, poorly designed ones and the badge doesn't really play into it.
The main thing I see is that CR will actually give really poor reviews to some cars, unlike most publications, owners of that car then forever get a hate on for CR. I suspect in the future we will have a bunch of Honda Insight owners whining about CRs bias against Honda and its pro Ford bias. :-)
I thank these discussion for opening my eyes to the value of CR. I don't remember ever buying a copy but after all the whining I checked out the "how we test videos" and was impressed. I will definitely use them for me next major purchase of anything.
bobby1234 6:37PM (8/05/2009)
Hey PJ then tell me why in 2007 CR gave the Fusion ALL black and white circles and in 2008 (you know when people started saying it was reliable) then they got rid of the black and replaced it with red. Ford didn't change on damn thing about the Fusion in one year. Check it out. My dad unfortunately orders the mags. It's pretty disturbing all the crap I see them putting in there.
PJ 4:34PM (8/05/2009)
Matt, I have the issue with the minivan test you're referring to.
CR's reported test mileage was 11 city/26 highway for the Caravan, 13 city/28 highway for the Sienna.
Considering that the Dodge is 200 lbs heavier and has an 0.3-liter bigger V6, that's actually a pretty good showing. Not sure where you're seeing the conspiracy.
Tdogg 4:43PM (8/04/2009)
Equal? Camry still can't be number 2 for them huh?
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zamafir 4:46PM (8/04/2009)
Agreed. Fusion has better fuel economy, is more fun to drive, has a better interior and better infotainment. I'd say it's better in every way.
Epyx 4:49PM (8/04/2009)
LOL - I was thinking the same thing.
"The Hybrid successfully blends excellent fuel economy with driving pleasure, something all other hybrids have failed to do."
Soooo - would that statement not make the Fusion BETTER than the Camry? What does the Camry bring to the table that the Fusion does not and thus leveling the playing field?
Also - "$32,360 for the Fusion Hybrid, which included a $5,000 package that added navigation, leather seats, a moonroof and other options." That is a great price for a Hybrid with all those options.
why not the LS2LS7? 5:01PM (8/04/2009)
I agree with that sentiment. The Ford Fusion Hybrid is better from what I can tell.
zamafir 5:36PM (8/04/2009)
@Epyx - yup, cheaper than I paid for the Camry Hybrid with horrid nav. It's cheaper, drives better, gets better mpg, and feels a LOT nicer inside, and i'd say looks a lot nicer outside. No brainer.
Farmboy 7:01PM (8/04/2009)
Yeah Tdogg. It is really sad. Automotive journalists are still stuck on the Toyota teat. They don't see how chaffed it really is, if you get where I'm going with that. :) It is also true in automotive journalism that it is easily assessed and believed that Ford cannot produce the best, even though the Fusion Hybrid is a real winner.
With that being said, despite the fact that CR is being stubborn, as usual with Ford, it is still a big deal right now to be said to be on the same level as Toyota, as theirs, and Honda's quality are usually highly appraised.
Randy 8:48PM (8/04/2009)
"Equal? Camry still can't be number 2 for them huh?"
That's got to be the NEW funniest thing I've read all year!
Cheers...
the4thheat 9:06PM (8/04/2009)
Well to be fair some people like cushier and less sporty rides. Like Buick and Grand Marquis buyers. And the Camry Hybrid is ever so slightly cheaper.
But all that stuff aside I would say the Camry get a couple extra points for Toyota's hybrid synergy drive system having proven long term reliability since it's been around for over a decade now.
I think as far as the actual driving a new car experience goes the Fusion Hybrid probably wins, but the Camry gets some points for being the safe and cushy bet.
Honestly if I was shopping for a car I'd just go with whether I wanted a cushier or a sportier ride to decide between the two so I think CR saying that they're equal isn't really wrong. Kind of like back when the Accord and Camry were basically the sportier and the cushier versions of each other, neither car was really totally superior to the other and you'd be well off buying either of them.
Tdogg 10:00PM (8/04/2009)
@Farmboy
Good point. It really is a big deal if an American car is number 1 too.
@the4thheat
From what the video review explained, Fusion did have a soft ride but sportier handling.
bwzd7p2 11:07PM (8/04/2009)
For those of you talking price and reliability, you don't know what you're talking about. Neither figures into CR's overall ratings score. Sometimes they call certain cars out for being a good value in a list or in the report, but it doesn't change the score one bit. Reliability affects if the car is recommended or not, but as long as the verdict is Average or better, it gets a Recommended as long as the score is high enough (for sedans, it's 65 now). But again, it doesn't change the score.
Again, let me point out, fuel economy and acceleration are weighted heavily and the Camry was faster and gave better mileage in both highway and city driving, but worse in CR's 150-mile trip. Also, the Fusion's rear seat wasn't as accomodating as the Camry and they have more carps with some of the Fusion's controls, such as how low the HVAC ones are.
One other thing to note: CR recommended the Fusion hybrid based on the excellent record of the gas-only versions (probably taking into account that the Escape Hybrid has done well, too).
Venom 4:47PM (8/04/2009)
I notice this site does an inordinate job of pushing Ford products.
It can't be a coincidence.
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