2019 Ford Fusion Energi Test Drive Review: The Handsome Hybrid

2019 Ford Fusion Energi Test Drive Review: The Handsome Hybrid

The Fusion isn’t dead yet and still has plenty to offer.

Ford has read the writing on the wall for the sedan and hatchback in the US and we know it plans to discontinue all cars but the Mustang. Taking delivery of a car for a week that you know is going away in the next year or two feels more like a post-mortem than a test drive, but the reality is Ford isn’t rushing to cut the Fusion out of its lineup. It has been a solid seller since 2005, and rumor has it that the handsome sedan could still have a year or two before it reaches the chopping block.

When the Fusion Hybrid and the plug-in Energi models launched, they didn’t have much in the way of competition in the mid-sized sedan segment. Unfortunately for the Fusion, it was adapted to hybrid technology while competitors have been built with the technology from the ground up. That leaves the Fusion now lagging behind in some important areas. Numbers aren’t everything when it comes to cars though and, as we learned after spending a week with the Fusion Energi, it still deserves its place at the table. Our tester arrived with the Rich Copper paint job as its only added option, so the features we talk about here are all included.

Exterior Design: Modern and Mature

The 2019 Fusion’s facelift is very subtle on the outside and hard to spot. Those with sharp eyes might notice the new grill and LED headlamps and taillights. More importantly for buyers, the facelift also includes the Ford Co-Pilot 360 suite of technologies featuring blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlamps that are now standard through the lineup.

A lot has been said about the Fusion grill’s design being similar to Aston Martin’s while Ford owned the company, but it always struck us that just slapping a grill from another car on wouldn’t have worked without sculpting the front end around it. To us, the Fusion does remind us of Aston Martin but only in that the shape and silhouette are classic and timeless. During our week with the Fusion, the most common word used to describe it was handsome and a couple of people remarked they liked it because it’s not trying too hard compared with the over-creased looking cars and crossovers with lots of angles they’re seeing a lot.

Engine, Performance & MPG: Not Breaking Any Records

This drivetrain is the reason anyone would choose the Energi version of the Fusion, and its powered by a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine while the electric drive is supplied by a recently updated 9.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Power is then delivered to the wheels via an eCVT (Electrical Variable Transmission). On electric power only, the Energi is rated for up to 26 miles which is less than half of the most efficient plug-in hybrids on the market.

The Energi boasts 103 mpg with a full battery working with the gas engine and 42 mpg combined on gas only. With the cold weather, we couldn’t quite reach the 103 mpg but were close enough to be pleased with the economy. Driving around town the transition between electric power and the engine is smooth enough not to notice. The battery is also charged using regenerative braking and the display gives you useful feedback about how efficiently you are using that feature as you drive.

Interior Design & Features: A Complete Package

This is an area where the Energi really shines. The tester’s Russet leather-trimmed interior looks inviting against the black plastics and leather trim, and the invitation is worth taking up because the seats are outstanding. We’re talking comfortable and adjustable enough for Mercedes and Volvo levels of praise here. The key touch points are also nice and soft and helps to make the cabin a pleasant place to be for a commute or long freeway run.

In the center sits Ford’s 8-inch touchscreen running SYNC 3 which has come a long way from its first iteration to be a solid and well laid out system although the response time could be a little sharper. The latest version of the Energi’s SYNC 3 also includes Alexa and Waze integration as well as voice-activated navigation and SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link.

The 12 speaker sound system is solid and played well with everything we threw at it. All the controls are nicely laid out and although you can get into the more granular settings through the touchscreen, everything we needed on the fly is a button press away. As well as in the center stack, controls are mounted on the leather-wrapped steering wheel for the sound system, the cluster display options, and the adaptive cruise control with traffic stop-and-go included. Switching the lane assistance off or on is just a button press on the end of the indicator stalk away and although a dial selector for drive modes isn’t to our taste, it’s simple and logical to use.

There’s nothing really to fault inside the Fusion comfort wise and there’s plenty of room for rear passengers as well. There’s also plenty of storage space, including the deep center console.

Trunk & Cargo Space: Forced Minimalism

This is the biggest, or smallest to be more accurate, drawback with the Fusion Energi. When we first popped the trunk it was actually comical how little available space there is for storage. With the batteries taking up valuable space, only 8.2 cubic-foot is now available in the trunk. That lack of useable room highlights the problems faced with adding hybrid functionality to an existing platform rather than starting from scratch with a new design. There’s also no spare tire available. Instead, there’s a rescue kit next to the 110-volt charger also stored under the floor. Although the trunk space is a letdown, there’s still enough room for a some light grocery shopping or dropping in a couple of gym bags, so it doesn’t necessarily rule the Fusion Energi out as a daily driver. There’s no doubt it’ll be a deal-breaker for many though.

Driving Impressions: Smooth Transitions

Once you stop shaking your head at the lack of trunk space, the Fusion Energi is a pleasure to cruise around in. The suspension is well tuned for comfort and the steering is on the weighty side to help keep things precise and smooth at cruising speeds. Under acceleration, the electric motors counter the extra weight of the batteries well and make the Energi zippy around town. On the freeway, there’s no problem holding speed and there’s very little road noise. Ford has done a great job of making the Fusion Energi not feel like it weighs just under 4,000 lbs.

The adaptive cruise control is smooth and makes stop-start traffic less frustrating while lane-keep assist isn’t too intrusive and brings just the right amount of vibration and urgency to the steering wheel when you drift too far. The driving experience was initially marred by the regenerative braking, and although the feel is very natural at higher speeds it took a bit of driving around the city to learn to bring the Energi to a halt smoothly. Once the brake pedal is mastered, it doesn’t feel like you’re driving anything but a regular Fusion. Helping that is the fact you don’t have to be as light on the accelerator in order to prevent the gasoline engine from coming on when it’s not needed.

Reliability & Issues: Nothing Unexpected

The Fusion is a mature platform now along with the hybrid system, and in our short time with it had no problems. The unusually cold California weather went below freezing and at night we saw the battery performance drop, but that’s an issue for any car using electric power until battery technology takes a big leap forward. We only saw 21 miles driving on just electric power in very cold weather, but we did also have everything running to keep warm – including the heated steering wheel.

Price & Trims: Keeping it Simple

The Fusion Energi starts at the Titanium trim level with a cost of $34,595. When you weigh that up to the normal Fusion Hybrid in Titanium trim at $34,485 it makes a lot of sense if it’s convenient to charge at home or have charging stations at work. The 20-26 miles of driving on purely electric power is low compared to other plug-in hybrids, but it’s worth considering what you actually need along with the benefits of the smooth ride and looks the Fusion Energi brings to the table. The Titanium level is well loaded, and the only extra option of note that isn’t an accessory, such as a hood protector or cargo carrier, is the moonroof for $1,095. With the Rich Copper paint for $395, our tester weighed in at $35,885 with destination and delivery included.

Verdict: A Viable Option

The Fusion Energi won’t smoke anyone from the lights or raise the hairs on the back of your neck on a windy road. What it will do though is get you and some passengers where you’re going comfortably and in some style while saving gas. Stacked up against the competition, it doesn’t win on numbers but it has the looks, luxury level, and technology to still be in the game. With so few mid-sized sedans surviving the crossover onslaught, the Fusion Energi is definitely worth serious consideration before the ax drops. That’s assuming you don’t need a lot of trunk space, of course.