2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, and poor FE reason

I offer the following information on my first road trip in a 2013 FFH.

Background - I'm a longtime hybrid owner having driven a GEN II Prius since 2005, a 2010 FFH for the past 3 years and now a recently purchased 2013 FFH. I routinely utilize most hyper-miling techniques except drafting, and I generally maintain the speed limit. Tires on the 2013 FFH are Michelin Energy. Tire pressure is set at 50 psi.

Road Trip - Out and back from Boulder to Ft Collins, CO on 1/6/13. Ambient temperature was 34 °F, avg elevation 5400 ft, negligible wind. Mostly county roads with speed limits 40 to 55 mph. Vehicle had 98 mi on odometer at start of trip. Round trip FE was 52.8 mpg. Outbound leg was 56 mpg, return leg 49.6 mpg. Elevation change outbound was -500 ft. Return was after dark an headlights were used. FE readings from vehicle computer agreed with installed Scan Gauge readings to within 1.0 mpg.

For comparison, I have made this trip many times in the 2010 FFH typically getting 51 mpg in winter. For the 2010 FFH, the actual FE (total mi/gal used) was 1 to 2 mpg less than shown by the car's trip computer. I have not yet calibrated the 2013's trip computer.

With the 60+ mph EV mode, I find the 2013 FFH much easier to pulse-and-glide at all speeds <60 mph. The 2013 FFH driver interface (Smartgauge) is much improved making it easier to operate this vehicle efficiently compared with the 2010 FFH and certainly much better than the Gen II Prius. With barely 100 mi on the odometer of the 2013 FFH, I anticipate further improvement in fuel economy as the vehicle break-in progresses and its learnable functions adapt to my driving style.

With regard to the tire type or brand influencing FE, it has been my experience that inflation pressure is by far the most significant parameter. At higher inflation pressures, differences between tire brands or rubber composition are likely to be less apparent.

 

Thanks for the report!

 

Is it doing better than 2010 now?

 

And 62 mph is the magic number on these newer Ford hybrids.

Again, the EPA test's highest average speed on any test cycle is only 48.4 mph.

 

acdii, with my c-max I am usually in the 30''s mpg doing 65 to maybe low 40's until the battery is about 80% charged. When that happens I can be upper forties or even fifties. I saw 60+ briefly today (and no, not down a big hill but there may have been a slight drop in elevation). Again that was at 65. Until the battery gets nearly full too much is being pulled off the engine for regen to get decent mileage. My tanks right now are at around 40-41 although I had one that was around 34. I live in SE Wisconsin so it's cold. I am not happy with my mileage because I did much better in my HCH-II (and I could leave the heat on all the time) but I don't think there is anything "wrong" with my car. I agree there is something wrong with yours.

 

Racine. A full pack is the only time I see decent mileage when the ICE is on. Even at low speeds if the ICE is on and the battery needs charging(and at low speed it always does so as you have seen you have to use EV mode as much as possible), it's a dog.

 

Interestingly but not surprisingly, this is what we see in the Prius when you run the battery charge below 50%. While the ICE is aggressively charging the HV battery back up to 60%, your mpg drops by about 10mpg or so.

 

Three words, get a Camry Hybrid and all your troubles will be solved. Ugh!

 

wait... isn't that more than three

 

1) camry, 2) hybrid, 3) ugh!

 

Good luck. I'm sure that would eat at you if they can't fix it. It is best to take the loss. But really ford should buy that car back from you.