Are Hybrid Cars Worth It: Ford Fusion Energi Review 

Took your advice and bought a low mileage 2019 Fusion Hybrid for my daughter yesterday. I'm amazed a car that size can get anywhere near 40mpg.

@@KrustyKlown I just bought the same model last week. I have zero complaints. From reading a lot of comments I believe I made a good buy. My wallet already thanking me for gas savings

The ford fusion hybrid is basically a Toyota

@@tarstarkusz charging an EV just seems like a hassle still. And the range isn't quite there just yet. I was considering a RAV4 Prime as a vehicle to camp with and go on long distance road trips, but the more I think about it the more I would lean to just the hybrid version instead of the plugin. I read somewhere that the majority of people with plugin hybrids never plug their car, they just use gas. Update on my Ford Fusion hybrid: now at 248,000 miles. Still on the original brakes, check engine still hasn't come on. AC ice cold like the day I bought it.

@@tarstarkusz well, idk what to tell you apart from the fact that I have never changed the brake pads and every time I rotate my tires I check them to make sure they are not worn out completely. They have close to a 1/4" left. For context I do not drive like a maniac. I try to always get the most Regen possible (wherever practical, I don't drive like a grandma either) when I slow or stop the car. Always try to be gradual to stop and get as close to 100% Regen as possible. My car stopped showing my electric miles driven because it doesn't go past 99,999mi for electric miles on the odometer, which is amazing considering I've never plugged in my car (since it's just a standard hybrid). It's not uncommon for people with EVs or hybrids to have brake pads last a ridiculously long time. I suppose until you drive one for an extended period of time (without racing all the time), you will see yourself first hand how long brakes last on EVs/hybrids Yes, it does need new shocks. And also the CX axle boot and tie rod end boots are worn out so those need replacing, but apart from that it has not given me any mechanical issues.

*CV axle

@@tarstarkusz maybe something is lost in translation, but my car's official name is Ford Fusion Hybrid. Hybrid cars here don't get plugged in unless they're specifically the plugin version, in which case they have more battery range. There's hybrid cars, then plugin hybrid cars, then full EV cars. My car's battery gets charged via braking Regen, hence why my brakes last so long. I live in Southern California in the desert with essentially no rust in my car. I'm not one of those people who has the AC on 24/7, I rarely have it on full blast

@@tarstarkusz Hybrid cars do not get plugged in. Research.

We also have a 2016 fusion hybrid titanium but... We got the Energi. No trunk space like you said and it only gets average 34.5 mpg. It was advertised as getting 95/85. 20 miles in and the electric battery is done unless you go 25 mph or under. I love the car. It is exactly like the MK but half the price.

I have the 2018 FF Platinum Hybrid and I love it. I call it my poor man luxury car. Love this car!

I have the 2017 and love it! Without climate control I get close to 30 miles on a full charge! Dunno about the best car ever... I've got the same gripes as every other owner (short range, small trunk, slow charging, etc) but it's been a great car! If it had the same specs as the Prius Prime I think it probably would be the best car available! My sister has a Lincoln MKC and, as a sporty crossover, I love the way it drives but it cost a lot more and gets half the mileage!

@@davisfamilyfun9583 you are not utilizing the tech right. I get 45.5mpg over 35k miles. It takes 2 weeks for the car to learn your behavior. When you are decelerating on a highway you shouldn't be breaking. You can also hold the pedal down, while slowing down to slow down slower then if you take your foot off the pedal. I've averaged 50mpg on a 100 mile trip there and back to Chicago for 2 weeks straight, 5 days a week, on the highway in the left lane with the flow of traffic. Use the EMPOWER mode to get the best mpg because it's the best Guage to understand the car with. You want to stay a little below 2 notches on the empower to maximize gas usage on the highway. I get thatsloghtly below 2 notch at 55, 61,(49mpg at those speeds with cruise control) and 67 mph. I'll get 43 to 44mpg going 70 to 74mph. Varying speeds from 70 to 90 and deaccerlatong by slightly holding the acceralator down, not the brake, got me 50 mpg to Chicago as mentioned.

Smart choice. Plugin hybrid vehicles are the best for short trips, but if you are doing lots of travelling everyday without the chance to charge the car then it is waste of money. SO, Good thinking :)

Have you have any problems with it since?

This comment 1000% Picked up a 2017 Platinum PHEV for less then half original price with 26000 miles. Way more luxury then I'm used to. One owner/no accidents/no rust/full doc history - original owner wanted a Tesla next. Works perfect for my use case of 15 mile trip to work and back. EV just too expensive and not enough long distance trip range.

I bought used as well and have been very pleased with my 2015 Fusion Energi. Daily driving is covered by battery most days. If I'm going farther I'll use the battery for the slower miles and switch to "later use of battery" mode or standard hybrid for the highway part. I get 70 mpg like this for 100 miles and down to about 50 mpg if over 200 miles traveled. I get a half tank of gas (6 gallons) every 3-4 months so it's perfect for my use.

jbn675478 just bring up mpg

@@brandonbartlett5667 efficient ICE don't fair too much worse with highway miles. So if the person is primarily a highway driver MPG isn't a selling point. Would take a hell of a lot of savings to recoup the much larger upfront costs. I'm currently looking into getting a hybrid myself because I do a lot of city driving. Might even get a EV with the backup gas like a Prime or Volt.

@@brandonbartlett5667 Just don't mention repair costs. Maybe over the life of the car it's about a wash, but the fixes unique to hybrids tend to be pricey enough that you're sidelined or spending months paying that off. Even a reconditioned battery is running about $900 now. New can be $3K. You can make multiple, significant repairs to a gas-only vehicle for the cost of replacing a battery in a hybrid. Again, maybe it's ultimately a wash. But those hybrid fixes are more apt to really hit you hard.

Not necessarily true. I live within 3 miles of my school and it takes me 40mintues to commute every day and I'm out of my house by 6:30

@@alextran8188 how is that possible that it takes so long?

i guess it is kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good site to stream new series online?

@Zion Remy try flixzone. You can find it by googling =)

@Rocky Melvin yea, been watching on flixzone for since april myself :D

@Rocky Melvin Thank you, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I appreciate it !!

@Rocky Melvin thank you, I went there and it seems like a nice service :D I appreciate it!!

You are a smart man. God bless

@@kedduff1814 Thanks, I'll take that compliment. It was just an observation that the lack of batteries is holding back the production of the current EVs, and doing little to reduce the amount of fuel burnt. So don't be too quick to rubbish hybrids.

Thanks for watching! Nothing wrong with keeping the Energi. It’s a good, reliable car that gets great gas mileage and will save you a lot of money in the long run.

alin84 you can go into any Ford dealership and buy the the CD pop it in and it will update it for you cost $30dollars

@@ChelleBear7 Apple car play is available only on Sync3, and the 2016 and older Fusion Energi has Sync2

In 4 years we should have more affordable EV options out there for sure. Good point on the plug in degradation, but battery chemistry also plays into the longevity. In any case, nice to hear that the Kia Niro is working out for you so well.

Very good news that this hybrid works well for your purposes. Sadly prior US “hybrid” technology was poor. My 2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid, battery still OK, requires the engine to start, barely goes 1mile and in 32 degrees or lower, the engine will hardly shut off to keep the battery warm. As you indicated, hybrids since 3 years ago, depending on brand, are much better. Thanks.

I want to here someone do this in mn. When I drove to work two days ago it was -26 without the wind. And my cousin finally got rid of his hybrid becouse of all the maintenance issues. Wich I see being caused by the many sub zero weather days. His car was even garages. Personally some day I would like to get an electric vehicle. As a second vehicle. Could never get one right now. Could never get my kids on week end. They live 180 miles away

@@robertbeckler5058 curious where are you that you get -26 or is that Celsius. Not sure how cold that is comparatively.

@@UndecidedMF When looking at things on an emissions standpoint an Acura MDX non hybrid with 22 mpg gaining 5 mpg (30%) going hybrid would be the equivilent emissions reduction of a Toyota Prius gaining 44 mpg. That Acura hybrid system only utilizes a 1.3 KWh battery, adds only $1,500 cost to vehicle, and pays for itself in fuel savings within 5 years. Less if you included increased brake replacement lifespan. Tesla's Gigafactory has a 20 GWh production capacity has enough to ensure ALL 17 million vehicles sold yearly become a micro / mild hybrid with a 1.3 KWh battery pack. When those batteries are used purely for the Model 3 production it would support 266K vehicles to be manufactured. Which would be better for the environment and the majority of society? 266K Tesla Model 3 owners who most likely previously drove a 31 MPG vehicle combined reducing carbon emissions by 478,800 tons with perception of welfare for the middle class to wealthy.. or 17 million vehicles whose national average is around 25 mpg adding 4 mpg (16%) by mandating mild hybrids at minimum bumping national average to 29 mpg achieving a combined emissions reduction of 11,730,000 tons of CO2. 11,730,000 ÷ 478,800 = 24.498 times difference

Wow! That’s a lot of miles in 2 years. Sounds like it’s the perfect car for you.

How come you saved thousands if you only put 60 miles!!!!

Land Shass 60K is 60,000 miles. Just to clarify. And the hybrid car has saved me from paying more in fuel expenses from its fuel consumption, from using far less fuel. It does get 42 MPG in the city, and 44 MPG on the highway.

It’s always funny hearing how many folks are in this neck of the woods. And no kidding on how good the Fusion looks ... no other hybrid comes close to it. It was a very reliable car for me.

I loved my Ford Fusion Energi.

I'm looking at a 2019 right now for budget. Is there anything you don't like this far into ownership? How is it holding up mechanically? Any insight is appreciated, thank you!

$7,000! That's a real bargain on a really good car. Thanks for watching!

I am thinking about buying a used Toyota Prius

@@Woke365 I don't think you can go wrong with a used Toyota Prius. My parents used to be owners of a Prius and they loved it!

Very smart. Used Leaf's are the best deal on the market if your looking for a great efficient commuter car assuming your commute can be accomplished without range anxiety. I've seriously consider a used Leaf but my commute is 104 miles round trip which might work except I have no charge option at work.

@@mmanjin Just proves that Nissan makes crap cars these days with terrible resale value. Stick with Toyota.

Nice features included with your Optima, especially the heated steering wheel for those cold Chicago winters.

That sounds so cool how do you plug it in your house? Ima search it up but i would like your experience

@@jads_so_enigmatic7941 just a normal house plug with provided charger

Definitely. With more EVs showing up with ranges between 250-300 miles, you’d be covered too if you have a good place to charge while at the in-laws.

You’re absolutely right that you have to crunch the numbers, but it all comes down to what price range of car you’re looking at. You can’t compare a $30k hybrid or EV to someone who actually is going to be looking at a $15k car. Often times the best path is a used hybrid because the gap between full gas and the hybrid is far, far smaller. I love your theoretical autonomous car scenario! I can really get behind the stop at Rooney’s. 😁

Nice! Gotta get what works best for you and sounds like you did. Hope it lasts 10+ years too.

Thanks! I’ve been delayed twice on my Model 3 delivery, but supposedly tomorrow is the day. How do you like the Leaf?

We love it, my wife drives it mostly and it works well for her commute (45 miles round trip).The Leaf is very much an economy car though, it has more road noise than the fusion does. I work from home, so the Energi only gets used to run up to the grocery store, grab lunch, etc, or when we take road trips. I would love to have a model 3 or a used S even, but as little as I drive, its just not worth the car payment at this time, but it is constantly tempting me!!

The Leaf and Bolt have always struck me as great bang for the buck (I’ve never driven them but have really wanted to try them out). Nothing wrong with economy if it ticks all the boxes for you. I just picked up my Model 3 today! So my 894 day wait is over (not that I was counting). Videos to come on that little guy.

@@UndecidedMF congratulations! I subscribed. Looking forward to your thoughts on the m3!

Someday all electrics will be the standard. For today I love my 2016 C-Max Energi. It sits up like a small SUV, good power, and I use little to no gas during the week due to the plugin feature, and I can go over 500 miles between gas fills when I skip town. I recommend buying any hybrid 2-3 years old as they coming off lease. I paid half of the new price even though it looks and drives like new. I am not a Ford guy but I love this car.

I had a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid for 4 years and it was great. I loved the power of the C-Max compared to the Prius. I believe Ford and Toyota's hybrid systems aren't co-developed but because they're so similar they co-licensed each other's technology to avoid lengthy lawsuits. The current 2018 RAV4 Hybrid is pretty brilliant so I have high hopes for the 2019 RAV4 Hybrid. Next year Ford should reveal the 2020 Ford Escape and it's getting a Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid version, most likely a PHEV. I'm eagerly waiting to see how the new Escape Hybrid looks and drives. I'm curious if the Escape Hybrid will have an electric motor in the rear like the old Escape Hybrid and Rav4 Hybrid or a mechanical drive shaft like the Lincoln Aviator PHEV.

C T 2019 To 2018 RAV4 hybrid, more power 219hp, better mileage 39/40. The hybrid up charge for 2019 RAV4 is just $800, that's amazing. It was several thousand in my 2013 Cmax (based on Fusion Gas to Fusion Hybrid differential). Rear electric drive is standard on all 2019 Rav4 hybrids! The Dynamic Force 2.5 has dual injection, direct and port, which should help reduce the intake valve carbon deposits showing up on DI engines. If I sound sold, I am, just waiting until they hit the dealerships. I typically keep a vehicle 15 years if satisfied. Currently upgrading from a 2003 Lexus GS 300 Sport Design only has 134k. My only concern was the nickel metal hydride batts instead of lithium ion like the Cmax. After studying Toyoto's battery philosophy I came to agree, lithium ion for Plug-in and EV, nickel metal hydride for straight hybrids. Nickel metal hydride batts are just bullet proof, take a lot of abuse. You want to take in as much energy from coasting and stopping as you can and immediately put it to use the very next acceleration from a dead stop plus a performance boost when you want it like an electric turbo. The 2019 RAV4 hybrid is getting the P710 eCVT coupled to the 2.5 Atkinsson. My HF35 transmission in my Cmax failed at 59k. New trans $5900 plus labor to remove entire engine/trans, replace trans reinstall complete engine/trans. 2 weeks at dealership mostly waiting on new tranny, not a stock item! Entirely covered by warranty, got a loaner too. The trans got more and more noisy as it ate itself from the inside, loudest when just beginning to shift from positive torque to coasting. My guess on the failure mode was the intermediate transfer counter shaft did not have correct preload (too much) when the trans housings were assembled resulting in galling the bearing/race probably mostly in the first thermal cycle of the trans. Premature wear occurs from galling resulting in accelerated bearing/race wear to plain sloppy fit to no preload and excessive clearance and end play to destruction! It was not a lubrication issue. The problem occurred 2013- to 2015 I think, Ford shifted trans assembly to another site and the problem went away. It affected all Cmax, all Fusion hybrids, and Lincoln MKZ hybrids. If you have an early model I would be happy to talk to anyone with trans noise, don't wait if you have trans noise. Ford was aware the the problem in 2014, there were TSB's issued with corporate instructions to contact owners, I was never notified by my dealer to bring in for check.

You're so right. I actually had 2 C-Maxes. A 2013 C-Max Hybrid SE from new and never had any problems through 70k then traded in. And a 2013 C-Max Hybrid SEL bought used with 22k miles. The used SEL got it's transmission replaced under warranty right after I bought it at 22k mi. It was making a slight grinding noise and I only knew it was a problem because the SE didn't make the same noises. I saw the previous owner averaging 37-39 mpg and after the new transmission I got 42 mpg.

C T I kept thinking it was tire whine, actually bought new tires to confirm it wasn't the tires. I bet your used one was traded in because of the noise. I get 38.5 winter 42 summer. My biggest pain is passenger side temperature blend door motor drive, failed at 38.5K miles, failed again now ! Either plastic teeth on gears or electrical slide contacts for position intelligence. Any experience in this?

Charles, I didn't have any climate control problems, we traded both out last year. When it rained hard, it would trigger the front parking sensors on the SEL, easy to just turn it off on those days. And of course MyFordTouch on both would occasionally crash but it happened less after updates in 2015. I have a Focus ST with Sync3 and the system is much, much better.

Im getting a 2016 with 106 miles on it and I have the same worry. Did you have to get a new hybrid battery and do you know around how much they go for? 🙏🏽

@@jepg6696 I actually didn't get to that point of having to replace it because it was destroyed by hail earlier this year and the insurance totaled it but before it was destroyed it was at 150,000 with no issue whatsoever so you should be good. Refurbished batteries are just under 3 grand but a new one will run you 5 grand. Depending on your financial situation, if it ever goes out, it might be worth it to get a new car at that point.

I’m excited to see what VW has coming. It’s looking like we’re going to be getting more squarely into the mid-$20k price range over the next couple of years. Prices are slowly working their way down.

@@UndecidedMFI hope you are right, I really want a hot hatch electric for under 30k! People are overpaying for cars right now and getting some ridiculous 72 month loans, so we'll see. Maybe if there is an economic downturn and more competition pricing and selection will improve!

Ha! Nice to see another fellow New Englander here. Thanks for subbing and watching. I totally hear you on why you’re thinking of going hybrid over BEV for now. Folks that don’t have a set place to charge at home or work might have a tougher time figuring out a charging routine that works for them. That will get better in time, but you gotta do what best for you right now. The Prius has an awesome track record, so I think you’d be making a good choice there ... and saving a good deal of money on gas.

Thanks for watching! And man ... how times have changed.

Yes! and $38/month savings is just not compelling enough to me.

Thanks for watching! That is a little crazy that NZ is slow to adopt when gas is so pricey. With the uptick in charging infrastructure from companies like BP (building out in a Europe right now), I hope places like NZ will start to see more investment too. Curious if NZ folks are interested, but government and companies are lagging behind, or if folks just don’t care/know yet.

Undecided with Matt Ferrell There is great interest, Prius hybrids sell well, but cost and range-anxiety are issues. The Hyundai Kona petrol (compact SUV) starts at $32,000, the EV model from $74,000!!!

Wow! That’s pricey. I hope costs come down, but it sounds like an import cost issue.

I just bought a 2019 energi, absolutely love it. Plug it in at home and get those free miles. I don't have to plug it in but at night why not, just like my cell phone. But I agree on the trunk space, super small. That's the biggest downside.

I’m thinking of getting a used 2018 ford fusion hybrid. Will my maintenance and repair costs be a lot?

@@kofiafram5282 I've owned my 2019 for just shy of 2 years. I have not had any maintenance costs except for the normal stuff (filters, oil chgs, etc). However, the battery (12V) that's in the trunk (not the hybrid battery) only lasts for about 3 years (max). I just had mine replaced (under warranty). From what I've read online plan on replacing that battery every 3 years. I bought this car used with 16K (it was a certified vehicle). No issues and I've been happy with the car.

Thanks!

wow, any other major repair other than oil changes? How's the battery holding up?

Those are all great reasons ... and a good car. But 97% of people don't need an EV to recharge in under 15 minutes given common driving patterns (daily roundtrip commutes under 50 miles). Longer trips are simple if you're car has access to a fast charging network, like a Tesla on Superchargers. For non-Tesla's that network is still pretty sparse, but it's getting built out. It really comes down to being pragmatic and picking the right car for your specific needs in your location. Like you point out, the Honda is the perfect choice for you, but and EV may be a better choice for someone else.

The Ford C-Max is a great car. When I was I bought the Ford Fusion it was a flip of the coin between the Fusion and the C-Max.

Mine is great and you don't loose trunk space.

There are definitely places where a hybrid makes the most sense. It’s a great car ... really enjoyed it.

That’s not too bad. I do wish that Ford would include those updates for free with the car, which is something you get included with cars like Tesla.

No apple or android integration...

@@WatsitTooyah apple n android have nothing to do with cars

Make sure your ECO button is turned on. It will help with that hot acceleration off the line.

My brother in law had the Cmax Energi and really liked it too. They’re great cars.

Used hybrids are an amazing bargain. But that’s really disappointing that Ford doesn’t provide the map updates for free. Many cars come with Apple CarPlay or Android Audio, which side steps the need for the car maker to provide navigation at all. And Tesla’s have free navigation included.

@@UndecidedMF the "sync 3" Ford systems have those also, but independent navigation that doesnt need a phone or data signal is separate

My 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Sync does not work with my iPhone. I am now about to buy a used 2016 Plug-in Ford Fusion Titanium...am on the fence with a 2017 FF Titanium Hybrid...almost same mileage and price....cooling seats on plug-in but NOT on Hybrid. ...I live in perfect road condition climate....so @Undecided with Matt Ferrell I had a great trade-in on my 2013, and am getting a great deal no matter which I choose...but HOV lane driving and electric-plug -in parking...two perks for Energi option not discussed....for me HOV commute where I live saves time daily which is priceless,

I hadn’t considered the HOV perk in some locations. That is pretty nice.

When I bought mine the price gap was smaller than the $8k you were seeing. If I remember correctly, there were some special sales going on at the time. While it would absolutely not make up for the $8k price difference you were seeing, the maintenance costs on the Energi were pretty much non existent in the time I had it. The brakes were wearing better than any car I had before because of the regen braking and I didn’t have to change the oil as frequently. There’s generally less maintenance on a hybrid vs. a traditional ICE car. If you can find an Energi model closer in price (used is usually the way to go for that), it’s definitely worth it.

@@UndecidedMF Nice. I must have bought mine right before the specials. You are right about the oil changes. It's up to 5k miles per. Still, Wmass is rough on the body.

No kidding. New England isn’t easy on our cars. Between the winters and all of the potholes ... good luck.

Hybrids that were designed to be hybrids, or EVs that were designed to be EVs, is definitely the way to go. The Fusion was a nice car and got good mileage, but it is a retrofitted gas car ... so it has a harder time matching the efficiency of something like a Prius.

I have a 2015 prius c gets 58mpg combined 62in the city and 48on the interstate as tested over 11months

That’s some incredible mileage you’re getting on the C-Max. Many EVs on the market today would be a struggle for a weekend trip, like the Nissan Leaf, but with ranges getting longer like 300+ miles on the Tesla Model 3 it’s becoming less of an issue. I actually just got back from a 380 mile trip and had zero issues charging on the go via the Tesla Superchargers. We went from 10% charge when we stopped for lunch to about 75% full in 30 minutes. Another 15 minutes would have gotten us to 90%. Even a quick pit stop (aka bathroom break) for 5 -10 minutes added 100 miles to the car. Overall, the trip took no longer than our usual run with a gas car. But as you mentioned ... the key to that success was the fast charging on the Tesla Supercharger network. Without that it wouldn’t be a viable option. Fast charging is a must.

Thanks for watching.

I had a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid for 4 years and it was great. Low gas prices and the 47 mpg debacle didn't help it's sales. I got 41 mpg overall. I loved the power of the C-Max compared to the Prius. Sharing parts with the Focus & Escape and the design by Ford Europe should've kept costs down. Next year Ford should reveal the 2020 Ford Escape it's getting a Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid version, most likely a PHEV. I'm eagerly waiting to see how the new Escape Hybrid looks and drives.

How can you deplete the battery? Normal driving keeps it charged

@@JayBlazingProphecy im pretty sure hwy driving will not charge the battery. i think the only time batteries are charged is when you are braking. thats why you get better mpg in the city.

Fair point. The stronger the regen, the less you have to ride the brake. Driving an EV now, I really like a strong regen, which allows for one pedal driving most of the time.

They are pretty good reliable cars. Good to hear that it’s working out so well for you, and totally agree on the infotainment system.