2010 Prius versus Ford Fusion Hybrid: My Review

Other than being hybrids these cars have not much in common.

Ford has cross licensed some of Toyotas HSD technology to use in its vehicles and it is paying off with some of their improvements.

I too have driven the Fusion and it is a nice sedan with a micro trunk like the Camry Hybrid. It is smooth riding and heavy. Steering is typical American but light considering the size/weight of this mobile.

I have to comment on the pricing also, the Fusion starts at $28K which is considerably more expensive than the Prius. Even factoring in the Tax Credit it is in a different price class and the top price can be close to $40K which is Lexus category. The comprison would be better with the Lexus HS 250h in terms of pricing and car class since it too is a sedan.

I would suspect the Lexus 250H will lose out to the FFH after reading 1st drive reviews of the yet to be releaseed Hybrid Luxury mobile. The Lexus will not outmileage the FFH nor outpower it so at the same price point the FFH would win out even if the Lexus wins out with the new ergonomics and interior luxuries of the HS 250H

My 2 cents

My 2 cents

 

You forgot to mention that the Prius has multiple price points. Only at the top end does the Prius cost as much as the FFH. We couldn't justify the FFH on that basis alone. (Got a Prius III.)

 

Depending on real world milages I would expect the Lexus to be around 38+ based on TCH real world reports. I'm still waiting on the FFH to see real figures on the GreenHybrid data base. It' seems possible to me that the higher speed available on EV mode on the FFH when ran on the specific tests for the EPA rating could yield a different result than what people (lots of them not just a few) will see.

I like the FFH. I directed my daughter in purchasing a FF. I just don't like it nearly as well as the Prius.

I know after driving the TCH for 67,000 miles its abilities. EPA underrates the ability of this car.

Time will tell. About FE as well as Ford Quality. I hope both turn out well. There is room for more than one referred hybrid car in this country.

 

No.

The FFH does not top out at "close to $40K." Wild exaggeration! You obviously haven't looked at it very closely and just assumed it cost alot. The FFH with the top option package that includes Moon and Tune package, power leather seats, nav with SYNC, Blindspot Information System, etc, lists at $31,940

The Prius V is $29820 with just added navigation ($2120 less than the top Fusion, but missing several features).
The Prius actually then tops out $580 higher than the Fusion at $32,520 with AT package. So, the Prius is really the one that gets closer to the HS250 in price after being optioned out.

Once you subtract the $1700 tax credit from the cost of the Fusion and adjust for equipment (8-way power seat, automatic headlamps, backup sensors, much better nav system, Ford SYNC etc.) the Fusion is really less expensive because that is quite alot for $420 and that is not even giving any credit for just being an overall nicer interior, ride and being considered a step up in size/weight class.
The credit will not last forever, but it is here now.

If you are looking at a IV and V, the prices get very comparable depending on how you option them.
Yes, the II and III are not very comparable, but the Fusion Hybrid does not ever list anywhere near $40,000 fully optioned out with factory options.

There are also some standard features on the V that the Fusion doesn't have, but I would use/notice things like 8-way power seat and automatic headlights much more than I would notice/use headlight washers and LED vs "normal" head lamps.

 

even though Fusion might win the majority of the categories is it enough to make up for the difference in reliability thats the real question?

If so then I'd call it a landslide but American Cars are iffy on this. I realize this might be a stereotype but its not one to be taken lightly.

 

My mom is purchasing a fusion hybrid or milan hybrid later this week. I'll post my own review then. For now, I can't imagine wanting any other hybrid than the prius, but we will see.

 

I think a hybrid like that would be great. Sometimes, the compromises for aerodynamics or weight that have to be done to get the last one or two mpg out of a Hybrid are the deal killers that turn people off because they car looks weird or is missing some important feature.
Fusion and Camry hybrids look "decent" though.

 

Yes and the trunk is small for its size class because of battery storage, but is not "micro" either.
The Camry Hybrid has a 10.6 cu ft trunk.
The Fusion Hybrid has 11.8 cu ft trunk.
A BMW 3 series sedan has 12 cu ft capacity, so the Fusion Hybrid has a usable trunk even though it is quite a bit smaller than a regular Fusion and doesn't fold.

 

Sorry they won't let the X-Plan be used even for my family

If I remember right, a loaded FFH would be about $30,000 and then less $1700. I really thought hard about it before the credit dropped as most people were intrepreting the IRS code as saying if you bought it (signed the papers) before June 1 you would be eligible for the $3400. I don't know, if my Ford saleman buddy would have gotten a white one in first I may have bitten. But he got a black one and I won't buy a black car again. I could have been satisfied with the FFH but after the opportunity passed for the $3400 credit I decided to wait and see more about the Prius. Very little was out at that time about the 250h. By the time I got more info on the Prius, especially the V I was pretty well sold, but still wondering about the 250h. However "rumors" placed it at $40K and Motor Trend seems to verify that today.

 

The Camry trunk was very space effecient. I crammed a lot of stuff in there when travelling. It carried the baby stoller for the grandkids easily (and they were huge). I just don't see it as an isse, nor did the FFH turn me off in that respect.

 

I think it is an issue to a point and the main reason hybrid sedans don't sell as well as the Prius.
I think some people/analysts like to say the hybrid sedans don't sell as well as the Prius because they don't look weird enough and don't scream to everyone that you have a hybrid and are single-handedly saving the planet, but I think the REAL reason is that the Prius is more practical because of the hatchback and the sedans smaller trunks turn off buyers.
A really attractive looking hybrid with no compromise in cargo capacity and that had a good price would outsell the Prius.

 

I wish Ford success with the FFH, in fact I'd like to see a million of them on the roads, instead of 15 - 25 mpg pieces of crap. Personally though, I find it very unlikely I will ever buy a car that is not Toyota or Honda. Decades of quality and attention to detail from those two companies were hard earned, so unless they prove they have become the latest 'Sony', my money is in their pocket.

It also helps that I like their designs much more than competitors, so for me there is no compromise required. I'm still amazed at how much car a $23k G3 Prius package II delivers. Web1 is spot on wrt to hatchback design in my case. I have never owned a sedan, and never will.

 

I think the Gen III looks pretty good in the right color with package V wheels and the foglights, but there are really better looking cars for the price.
Even though many buyers like the looks or had the looks grow on them, I bet there are many more that buy the Prius in spite of the looks instead of because of the looks. Especially on the Gen 2 they say: "Ugh, the looks!! But what else am I going to get that has [this or that aspect of the car]?"

 

Heck its a good thing you don't do this for a livin. Because buying Ford means you got to keep it a long time because nobody wants it. But you should post this on the fusion site if there is one.

 

I think you'll enjoy reading my impressions of the new 2010 Prius as compared to my FFH.

 

I read it and what do you expect from a guy who already made a mistake and bought the ford. "I approached my FFH half worried that a Toyota salesman would have keyed it. As I got in I was delighted by the upscale, solid, "real car" feel of my FFH compared to the 2010 Prius."

The only American car I wouild ever considering buying is a Pickup.