Ford crossed it’s most popular selling sedan with a hybrid and came up with one great ride. The 2017 Ford Fusion Energi Titanium is one Burgundy Velvet ‘Green’ Machine, and we like the way it works.
The exterior features the same solid design as the gas variant. The front grille is prominent and leads well into the aggressive LED headlamps. During deer-hour on Camano Island, these lights lit up the roads like daylight; perfect for seeing those doe-y eyed creatures.
Body lines lead past 17-inch premium painted luster nickel wheels to the tail end with a rear spoiler on the trunk lid. Cargo capacity in the truck is a bit compromised versus the gas-powered variant. While the gas Fusion has 16 cu.ft. of truck space, the Energi has a scant 8.2 cu.ft. The size of the trunk makes it difficult to go on Costco runs or take people to the airport, but for our long day out at the state parks or heading to work, the trunk space was just fine.
Space in the trunk may be squeezed, but the interior capacity is ample. And, no, not the skinny adults of some articles, but real-sized adults. It’s a spacious interior with leather-trimmed seats and seating for five.
The leather seats were comfortable for the many miles we put on the Fusion Energi. Drivers have 10-way adjustable seats with memory settings, a leather wrapped steering wheel and aluminum sport pedals.
The already quiet EV mode is enhanced by active noise cancellation technology. Three microphones in the Fusion Energi detect noise levels while opposing sound waves are emitted to counteract the unwanted noise. Driving through the Camano Island and Cama Beach State Parks, the Fusion Energi wasn’t just quiet, it blended into the forest beyond the windshield (or silence, if the windows were up).
One doesn’t drive the Ford Fusion Energi Titanium in silence, though, because it has a kickin’ stereo system. It comes with a 12-speaker Sony sound system that hits all the highs and lows, along with the Sync 3 infotainment system and an 8-inch touchscreen. Sync 3 has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, navigation, and dual zone climate controls.
Optional equipment on our tester vehicle included Enhanced Active Park Assist, Adpative Cruise Control, BLIS and cross traffic alerts, voice-activated navigation, and a driver assistive package with even more. We found these well worth the added cost as it keeps the drive calm and easy.
As much as the interior rocks, its what’s under the hood that makes this burgundy car green. It has a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine and plug-in hybrid electric motor connected to an E-CVT transmission. The system gets an estimated 610-miles on a full charge and a full tank of gas.
Range anxiety (which we have first-hand knowledge of) flies out the window while driving the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi Titanium and one relaxes into the seats. It’s a serene place to be while driving through Seattle traffic and even more better when combined with the serenity of the peaceful parks.
It’s also got a bit of pep in its step. Stomp on the accelerator and the electric motors kick in for a bit of instant get-up-and-go.
With all that is so good about the Ford Fusion Energi Titanium, it makes one wonder why Ford has only sold around 5,000 of them this year.
It’s got a great infotainment system, an eco-friendly engine, a spacious and comfortable interior (and, yes, a really small trunk), along with some smooth styling. The 2017 Ford Fusion Energi Titanium has MSRP of $39,690 (as driven) but also has some discounts from federal and local agencies, depending on where you live.
