2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
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Ford Fusion Hybrid
It's an unlikely claim, but the Ford Fusion hybrid is in fact the most advanced car on this list. Through the body of this unpretentious family sedan runs the sturdiest bridge between the tech of the 20th century and that of the 21st.
The Fusion's hybrid powertrain is so refined and compact that it's almost not there, but the driver-selectable, power-tracking gauge display gives the game away: It is Donkey Kong addictive, challenging its driver to run on electric power all the way up to a possible 47 mph. This is a boon to both car guys and the unafflicted — you can drive it for fun (a hybrid first) or for mileage (a class-leading 41 city/36 highway), which is also fun.
On the subject of in-car entertainment, Ford's Sync system offers Sirius Travel Link, featuring weather, sports, traffic info, even movie times. This is the car as home computer, only voice controlled, organizing data for the driver and keeping distractions to a minimum.
That both of these elements function so seamlessly is the essence of the Fusion hybrid experience. It undersells itself in a decidedly un-Prius-like way, but its modesty can't obscure its greatness. Fuel-economy numbers, handling, ride, interfaces — there is only virtue, no vice, making the Fusion hybrid the most mainstream and thus the most important alt-fuel vehicle on the road. It decouples fuel economy from economy-car ennui. We admire it as much for what it isn't (polarizing, showy, cramped) as for what it is. And it is both fun to drive and interesting to drive, offering up new definitions of performance and entertainment.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
BASE PRICE: $28,350
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter inline-4,156 hp, 136 lb-ft; AC permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor, 106 hp, 166 lb-ft; combined system, 191 hp
TRANSMISSION: continuously variable automatic
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 107.4 in, Length: 190.6 in, Width: 72.2 in, Height: 56.9 in, Curb weight: 3800 lb
FUEL ECONOMY: EPA city/highway driving: 41/36 mpg
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