2017 Ford Fusion Energi Review

The SE Luxury comes well-equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED foglights and taillights, heated mirrors with driver-side auto-dimming, keypad entry, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, remote ignition, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, leather upholstery, heated power front seats (eight-way driver and six-way passenger), driver memory settings, 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a 110-volt household-style power outlet.

Standard technology features include voice controls, the Sync 3 interface (with an 8-inch touchscreen and twin 4.2-inch configurable screens in the instrument cluster), a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity and an 11-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and two USB ports.

The Titanium trim adds a rear spoiler, ambient interior lighting, front sport seats, an eight-way power passenger seat and an upgraded Sony audio system with 12 speakers and HD radio.

The optional Driver Assist package bundles automatic high-beam control, automatic wipers, a blind spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and intervention, and a heated steering wheel. Stand-alone options include adaptive cruise control (includes frontal collision warning and mitigation), an automated parallel and perpendicular parking feature (includes front and side parking sensors), a sunroof and a navigation system. On the Titanium, you can also get ventilated front seats.

The Platinum includes all above features, in addition to upgraded leather upholstery, additional leather trim and a power-adjustable steering wheel.

Eighteen-inch wheels are optional on the Titanium and Platinum, while inflatable rear seatbelts are available on all trims.

The One To Buy

Fuel economy is the same no matter which Fusion Energi trim you pick, so it's more about getting the right mix of desired features. Our pick, though, is the base SE Luxury. It comes nicely equipped with standard features, including the new Sync 3 interface, and is available with plenty of options, so it's unlikely that you'll want a whole lot more.

The 2017 Ford Fusion Energi is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor that's fed by a lithium-ion battery pack. The combined output of 195 horsepower is sent to the front wheels. The battery pack, which is considerably larger than that of the standard Fusion Hybrid, allows the Energi to reach speeds of up to 85 mph or to be driven up to 20 miles on electric power alone. That said, aggressive driving will cause the gasoline engine to start up at much lower speeds when the car is in its default EV Auto mode.

While official fuel economy estimates have not yet been published, we don't expect them to change much from last year's model. The EPA gave the 2016 Fusion Energi an energy consumption estimate of 37 kilowatt-hours (kWh) used per 100 miles (the lower the number here, the better), which is essentially a measure of how efficient the Energi is during all-electric driving. For comparison, the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid uses 34 kWh per 100 miles.

Once that all-electric range is used up, the Energi's powertrain operates like that of the Fusion Hybrid and earns an EPA rating of 38 mpg combined (40 city/36 highway).

In Edmunds testing, a Ford Fusion Energi in Hybrid mode went from zero to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, a decently quick sprint for such an eco-focused model. In electric-only EV Now mode, however, the Fusion Energi needed a painfully slow 15 seconds to accomplish the same task. Obviously, EV Now mode is intended for maximum efficiency and is best used in leisurely driving conditions.

Ford says the battery can be fully charged in seven hours with a 120-volt power source or in 2.5 hours using a 240-volt source. We validated these claims in our testing.