2013 Ford Fusion Energie Review
The Energi is still a car, the plug-in version of the Fusion hybrid. It uses the same hardware, a 141-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine bolted to a front-drive, electronic continuously variable transaxle containing a 118-hp traction motor. Combined system output is identical to the regular hybrid’s at 188 hp, but a larger, 7.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that eats up half the Energi’s trunk allows it to operate as an electric vehicle at speeds up to 85 mph. For people with short commutes or charging stations at work, the plug-in Fusion promises electric-only operation much of the time, while still providing the long-distance range expected from one’s primary vehicle. It’s a compelling pitch, especially given that the Energi is a legitimate five-passenger vehicle with an unassuming countenance, every bit as debonair as the regular Fusion sedan. When operating in EV mode, the Fusion is down 70 horsepower compared with hybrid mode, but the decrease is masked by the electric motor’s immediately available torque and good accelerator-pedal response, which makes launches from rest feel quick enough. Once you’ve selected the EV mode with a button on the center console, the car will heed your command unless you hold the pedal to the floor and keep it there. Even then, you’ll first get a warning query on the gauge display asking you to click “ok” on the steering wheel to start burning hydrocarbons. Love this car. Awesome Gas Mileage/ along with EV Mode.
Recommended
Verified Owner
