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Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrid Real World MPG

26 messages,  Last post on Dec 30, 2012 at 12:19 PM

You are in the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Fusion, Mercury, Hybrid Cars, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

    

Messages Page 4 of 4

#25 of 26 Re: Long term update [acdii] by mb013962

Dec 30, 2012 (11:52 am)

Replying to: acdii (Dec 27, 2012 7:14 pm)
That's weird because consumer reports got 25mpg city 40hwy 34combined in the 1st gen fusion hybrid but 35city 41hwy 39combined in the new one

#26 of 26 hybrid v. I4 by pod

Dec 30, 2012 (12:19 pm)

I have a 2010 MilanI4 (2.5L) automatic and have consistently recorded 31-33 mpg average (measured miles/ measured gallons) in mixed driving which only include 5-10% stop and go city but does include 60% residential (non-highway) driving. On the highway I estimate that I get about 36-37 mpg going 67 mph in mostly flat terrain (the computer says 37-39).
I am not a hypermiler or slow driver but I am a realtively slow accelerater. From a light it may take me 8-10 secs to get up to 50-55 mph residential traffic which does not seem to bother the traffic patterns at all (people are not tailgating me and swearing at me). The car cost $18.8 new and I have put only 29,000 miles on it.
It is a great handling, tight, quiet car. The only maintenance has been oil filter and oil change and tire rotation every 5000 miles ( a package at local ford dealer for $30 per service). I changed the air filter at 15,000.
If economy is the principal reason that you are considering a hybrid, consider how many years or miles it would take to "pay off" the difference between a new hybrid and an outgoing 2012 fusion 4 cylinder ICE model without the (mainly unnecesary even stupid gismoes) say in the trim level just above base trim. Yes the 2013 looks different (better to most; meh to others) but how much is a pretty face worth? Going hybrid requires many many city miles to get pay back on the purchase price difference.
My conclusion is that city driver who see lots of stop and go are the major beneficiaries of hybrids. Other drivers are unlikey to see a cost benefit for many many years if ever. There is no ICE that does well in stop and go traffic even with the newer stop/start technology which is obtrusive in its early execution.
Fortunately the lower trim Fusions have all engineering excellence of the gussied up models and handle as well. In fact, I would not even consider buying a car with screens that need to be read and that would take my eyes off the road. Never. Ever. I expect that in time the NHTSB will ban such screens after they are proven to cause accidents. If economy is your aim consider the lower trim Fusion 2012s which are nicely incentivized and getting better all the time as they are fewer left on the lots.

Messages Page 4 of 4

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