The 2018 Ford Fusion Energi offers an upscale cabin, good head- and legroom for passengers, and an easy-to-use infotainment system. However, it has a cramped trunk, and rivals offer longer electric-only ranges.
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Is the Ford Fusion Energi a Good Car?
The Ford Fusion Energi isn't a bad car, but there are better plug-in hybrids out there; it's worth shopping around before you make a final buying decision. The Fusion Energi has a comfortable ride and good acceleration for city driving, but its electric driving range doesn't stack up well against rivals.
Should I Buy the Ford Fusion Energi?
The Fusion Energi's mileage and range aren't as good as other plug-in hybrids, but it offers a generous list of standard features, a high-quality cabin, and a user-friendly infotainment system. If you're willing to forego some driving range for those amenities, you should consider the Fusion Energi. However, if you frequently take long trips, you should look elsewhere because competitors offer longer electric-only ranges and more cargo space.
We Did the Research for You: 24 Reviews Analyzed
We researched and analyzed 24 professional reviews and combined that analysis with information like performance specs, available safety features, gas mileage estimates, and much more to create our comprehensive 2018 Ford Fusion Energi review.
The Ford Fusion Energi was introduced for the 2013 model year, and aside from some trim updates and added features, it has seen few major changes since then. As a result, this overview uses applicable research and reviews from the 2013 through 2018 model years.
Why You Can Trust Us
The autos team at U.S. News & World Report has more than 75 years of combined experience in the automotive industry, and we’ve been helping consumers make informed buying decisions about cars, trucks, and SUVs for a decade. Our reviews our impartial; we don’t accept expensive gifts, trips, or incentives from car companies, and ads on our site are placed by an outside company.
How Much Does the Ford Fusion Energi Cost?
Pricing isn't yet available for the 2018 Ford Fusion Energi. For reference, the 2017 model starts at $31,120, and the top-of-the-line Platinum trim starts at $39,120. There is one package available with the 2018 Fusion Energi: the Driver Assist package ($1,320 in the 2017 model). It includes features like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and lane keep assist. The 2018 model carries over relatively unchanged from the 2017 model, and it will be available in summer 2017.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Ford dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Ford deals page.
Ford Fusion Energi Versus the Competition
Which Is Better: Ford Fusion Energi or Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid?
The base Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid is almost $3,500 more than the 2017 Fusion Energi (2018 pricing is not yet available), but it isn't that much better. The Sonata Plug-in Hybrid gets 99 mpg-equivalent combined city/highway and has an all-electric driving range of 27 miles. Compare this to the Fusion Energi's 97 mpg-e combined city/highway and all-electric driving range of 21 miles. Both cars have peppy city acceleration but struggle on the highway. They have comfortable and cushioned rides but lack exciting cornering abilities. Additionally, they both come with similar features, including standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The little bit of extra mileage and electric-only range you'll get out of the Sonata Plug-in Hybrid isn't worth its extra expense.
Which Is Better: Ford Fusion Energi or Ford Fusion Hybrid?
The Ford Fusion Hybrid won't get the electric-only driving range the Fusion Energi will, but it will give you a balance of green driving and fun handling. Not only does the Fusion Hybrid have good fuel efficiency, but it also has fun driving dynamics. This hybrid version of the Fusion gets 43 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. It feels composed in corners and has responsive steering. For the 2017 model year, the Fusion Hybrid cost about $5,800 less than the Fusion Energi, though the Fusion Energi comes with more standard features (most of those features are available in the Fusion Hybrid). Unless your heart is set on a car with substantial electric-only range, go with the Fusion Hybrid for its good mix of performance and fuel economy.
Which Is Better: Ford Fusion Energi or Chevrolet Volt?
The Chevrolet Volt can go 53 miles on a full charge and gets 106 mpg-equivalent combined city/highway. Compare this to the Fusion Energi's 97 mpg-e combined and all-electric driving range of 21 miles. The Volt is fun to drive and has lively acceleration, but it starts at $33,200, which is pricey among its rival hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Considering its high price, you'd expect a high-quality interior, but the Volt's cabin features quite a few hard plastics – though its design is attractive. Both cars come with similar standard features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Volt also comes standard with a Wi-Fi hot spot. Thanks to its hatchback body style, the Volt has more cargo space than the Fusion Energi (10.6 cubic feet vs 8.2), plus rear seats that can be folded to expand capacity. If you can afford it and don't mind some plastics in your cabin, go with the Volt for better mileage and better performance.
Compare the Fusion Energi, Fusion Hybrid, and Chevrolet Volt »
Fusion Energi Interior
How Many People Does the Fusion Energi Seat?
There is seating for five in the 2018 Ford Fusion Energi. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat are standard. A heated steering wheel is available.
There is good head- and legroom in the front seats, though the sloping roofline cuts into headroom for tall passengers in the back. The Fusion Energi's seats are comfortable and supportive, though some may find them a bit narrow. The adjustable driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel make it easy to find an ideal driving position.
Fusion Energi and Car Seats
There are two sets of lower anchors in the rear outboard seats and three top tethers for installing child safety seats.
Fusion Energi Interior Quality
The Fusion Energi is built with high-quality materials throughout its cabin. It has a sleek and organized dashboard. The pricey top-of-the-line trim adds luxurious trimmings – including additional leather – throughout the cabin.
Fusion Energi Cargo Space
The placement of the Fusion's battery intrudes on cargo space, leaving 8.2 cubic feet of trunk space, which is small for both the midsize sedan class and among hybrids and plug-in hybrids. For more space, the Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid has 9.9 cubic feet, and the Chevy Volt, which is a hatchback, has 10.6 cubic feet, and its rear seats can be folded down to expand the space even further.
Fusion Energi Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation
The 2018 Ford Fusion Energi comes with a fair share of technology. Standard features include an 11-speaker sound system, push-button start, remote start, and the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which includes an 8-inch touch screen, two USB ports, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for smartphone integration. It also comes with AppLink, which lets you use voice commands to access apps on your phone. Available features include voice activated navigation and a moonroof.
The SYNC 3 system is user friendly, and the touch screen is responsive. It is easy to integrate your smartphone into the system, and it responds well to voice commands. Physical buttons lay underneath the touch screen to control some audio and climate functions.
For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto? Then, see the Best Cars With Apple CarPlay and Best Cars With Android Auto.
Read more about interior »
Ford Fusion Energi Performance
Fusion Energi Engine: Highway Struggles
The 2018 Ford Fusion Energi comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that make a combined 188 horsepower. A continuously variable automatic transmission is standard.
The Fusion Energi can pull away from a stop with ease, thanks to the boost it gets from the electric motor. On the highway, however, the Fusion Energi struggles a bit when accelerating to highway and passing speeds. Fortunately, the transition from electric to gas is mostly unnoticeable.
Fusion Energi Gas Mileage: Good, but Not the Best
There are no EPA fuel economy estimates available yet for the 2018 Fusion Energi. However, Ford estimates that the Fusion Energi will get 43 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway in hybrid mode, which is average for a midsize hybrid. The Fusion Hybrid gets the same estimates, while the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid gets less in the city (39 mpg) but more on the highway (45 mpg). Ford also estimates that the Fusion Energi will get 97 mpg-equivalent combined city/highway in electric-only mode.
The Fusion Energi has an all-electric driving range of 21 miles. This is a bit less than the Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid, which has an all-electric driving range of 27 miles. The Chevrolet Volt, however, beats them both with an all-electric driving range of 53 miles.
The Fusion Energi comes standard with a 120-volt charging cord, which allows you to fully charge your car in about seven hours.
To learn more about mpg-equivalent, read Decoding MPG-e.
Fusion Energi Ride and Handling: Comfortable, Not Exciting
You won't be carving corners in the Fusion Energi, but you will enjoy a cushioned drive over bumps and dips in the road. The Fusion Energi's tires are made for fuel efficiency, not road grip. Additionally, the Fusion Energi's steering is light, offering little feedback. Front-wheel drive is standard. The Chevy Volt, on the other hand, feels composed through corners.
Read more about performance »
Ford Fusion Energi Reliability
Is the Ford Fusion Energi reliable?
J.D. Power and Associates has not yet rated the 2018 Ford Fusion Energi for predicted reliability. The 2017 model, which has few differences from the 2018 model, received a 3.5 out of five rating, which is about average for its class. Three is considered average among all vehicles.
Ford Fusion Energi Warranty
The 2018 Ford Fusion Energi is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Hybrid powertrain components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid have some of the best warranties in the class: a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Hyundai covers its hybrid battery with a lifetime warranty.
Read more about reliability »
Fusion Energi Safety
Fusion Energi Crash Test Results
The 2018 Ford Fusion Energi has not yet been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2017 model, which has few differences from the 2018 model, received four out of five stars from the NHTSA in the only category it was tested in: rollover crash tests. The Chevrolet Volt received a perfect five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, receiving five stars in every crash test – frontal, side, and rollover. The Volt was also named a 2017 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.
Fusion Energi Safety Features
Standard safety features in the Fusion Energi include a rearview camera, rear park assist, and MyKey, which lets you set volume and speed limits for secondary drivers. Available safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist.
Read more about safety »
Which Ford Fusion Energi Model Is Right for Me?
The 2018 Ford Fusion Energi comes in three trims: SE, Titanium, and Platinum. All models come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a continuously variable automatic transmission. Pricing for 2018 is not yet available.
Go for the Titanium trim with the Driver Assist package. You'll get the base trim's tech and comfort features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as the upgraded seating and sound system that the Titanium trim adds. You'll get some of the safety features that are included in the top-of-the-line Platinum trim – such as lane keep assist and rear cross traffic alert – by adding the Driver Assist package.
Ford Fusion Energi SE
The base Fusion Energi SE comes standard with an 11-speaker sound system, satellite radio, push-button start, remote start, rear park assist, heated front seats, leather-trimmed seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a rearview camera, and the SYNC 3 system, which includes an 8-inch touch screen, two USB ports, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.
The Driver Assist package is available for this trim. It adds features like rain-sensing wipers, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, a heated steering wheel, and blind spot monitoring.
Ford Fusion Energi Titanium
The Titanium model comes with base trim features and adds sport front seats with leather upholstery, a 12-speaker sound system, and HD Radio.
The Driver Assist package is also available for this trim.
Ford Fusion Energi Platinum
The top-of-the-line Platinum trim comes with lower trim features and adds premium leather seats, a leather wrapped instrument panel and armrests, ventilated front seats, voice activated navigation with predictive traffic and weather, two 4.2-inch driver-information displays, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, parallel and perpendicular park assist, pre-collision assist with pedestrian protection, a moonroof, and a heated steering wheel.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Ford dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Ford deals page.
See 2018 Ford Fusion Energi specs and trims »
The Final Call
The 2018 Ford Fusion Energi offers a luxurious cabin, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a comfortable ride. However, it has a cramped trunk, sluggish highway acceleration, and its rivals offer longer electric-only driving ranges. It's a decent car but others, like the Chevy Volt, are better.
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