Disclosure: The Ford Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid featured here was provided to me for a week compliments of Ford!
Mother, Daughter time during the summer is a tradition. BlogHer14 in Northern California was in the agenda this year and so was FORD! A gorgeous Blue Ford Fusion Energi Plug-in Hybrid car to be exact! We drove the Ford Fusion Energi to San Jose from SanFran and after the conference headed back to tour San Francisco, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe! It was great to experience the smooth powerful ride and overcaming the initial shock of the car being turned on without me knowing it! The remote keyless system “priceless”! A great “stress-free” feature. Searching for my keys was something less to worry about, since we already had the luggage and swag to deal with!
The 2014 Ford Fusion Energi is Ford’s newest plug-in hybrid and differentiates itself from the competition in many ways. It can go twenty-one miles on electric alone, and when you use your gas power, the electric batteries recharge while driving. The EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings are 108 MGBe city, 92 MPGe highway and 100 MPGe combined. They are also estimating an average fuel savings of $6,850 over the course of five years. WHAT??? Yes!
Facts
• Capable of hitting a top speed of up to 85 mph in electric-only
• Inflatable rear seat belts are now available on both Fusion Energi trim levels – SE Luxury and Titanium
• Two new exterior colors, Dark Side and Sunset, replace Ginger Ale and Bordeaux Reserve
• Charged through a port conveniently located on the driver’s side. When plugged in and charging, a light ring illuminates and makes it easy to determine how much power the vehicle’s battery contains
California Residents Qualify $5,000 in electric vehicle rebates
The Ford Fusion Energi is impressive, smooth power. When starting with a full tank of gas and fully charged battery the EPA-estimated range is 620 miles! In case you missed that, we are talking about driving 620 miles on fourteen gallons of gas and one full charge! This is the equivalent of driving from Orlando to the Keys and back home again without stopping for gas or a charge! After my seven day tour of California I only used $15-$20 worth of fuel (at California prices to boot)! Are you impressed yet? Even more impressed, when I learned that California residents who purchase or lease hybrid cars, are eligible for a Rebate! Administered by the CSE for the California Air Resources Board, the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) offers up to $5,000 in electric vehicle rebates.
Saving Energy
There are several ways this beauty saves energy. One of those ways is through its Regenerative Braking System. This system recovers more than 90 percent of the energy used during breaking and sends it back to the battery for later use. So, each time you stop at a red light or use the break to slow for a turn, you are sending valuable energy back to the car!
MyFord Mobile App
Now, how cool is it, that you can monitor the Ford Fusion Energi from your smartphone! With the MyFord Mobil you can do just that! The subscription is complimentary for the first five years, after that, subscription fees do apply. With the smart phone application, owners/drivers can monitor charging, receive alerts, find charging stations, plan trips, locate their vehicle when they are not in it, monitor CO2 emissions, how much you save on gas, start remote vehicle preconditioning, use grid power to heat or cool the vehicle interior, program charging with utility input, allow the car to charge when it’s most convenient or when electricity prices are lowest, remotely lock/unlock doors, remote start. Charging stations are all over California, something I haven’t seen much in Florida yet.
The Ford Fusion Energi’s lavish interior makes your driving experience a “luxury ride”. The heated steering wheel really made this Florida Mamacita feel more at home when driving in chilly Northern California, cause believe it or not, it was cold in San Francisco! Thanks to our cool Skype windbreaker jackets (Blogher swag!), we rode it off!
My daughter enjoyed playing with the SYNC with MyFord Touch features, it is hands free with voice command. Browse music using voice commands, pull music from your phone by saying “Bluetooth audio”, enjoy audible text messaging, voice or touch climate control, and 911 assist will call 911 for you when you can’t (don’t worry, we didn’t need to try that out).
Trunk Space
My only let down with the Ford Fusion Energi is the the trunk space, its very limited due to the . I think the trunk may be sufficient for daily activities, but for our travels. We don’t travel light especially when returning from a conference with all the goodies and swag! We had to place most of the luggage in the back seat.
Driving a an electric/hybrid car has been a wonderful experience for me. Those who have never experienced one before will be pleasantly surprised at the power hidden within the quiet. There are still so many features on/with the Ford Fusion Energi that I haven’t explored. I can’t wait to get back in it again on my next car trip!
Conclusion
If you’ re in the market for a crossover to a hybrid, then the Ford Energi Hybrid car may be the perfect choice for you! Smooth power, save LOTS of money on gas, keyless system, and California residents, you get HOV lane access! In May, I had the opportunity to drive the Ford C-Max, also a plug-in hybrid, and the difference I see between Ford Fusion Energi, is that it is a more stylish, larger sedan and the price is higher. The Ford C-Max hybrid is cheaper in price and a station wagon.
Visit the Ford website, follow Ford on Facebook and follow @Fordlocal on twitter to stay up to date with their latest news.
Special thanks to Ford for allowing me to test drive the Ford Fusion Energi Plug-in hybrid – luxury at its best!
Looks like a fun and cute car to take a girls road trip in!! I love all the fun pictures you took! I haven’t ever seen a hybrid like that, looks really cute!
Ford has some amazing features, ones that really up the bar when it comes to the driving experience. I drool over some of the features. Someday – I keep telling myself, I so want a new car!!
This sounds like such a great car. Thank you so much for the great review about what it is all about!
I’m really excited about this new Ford Fusion range. I had one of the first Fusion models and absolutely loved it back then, but I have been hoping Ford would release a more energy efficient model!
I would love a hybrid for my husband who drives alot.
That would be great if he drives so much. You will really see the difference in your pocket with gas costs.
This sounds unbelievable! I really want to test drive one of these too…and maybe get this for our second car.
What beautiful scenery photo’s! Looks like a nice comfy ride!
Great moments in CA.. I love Ford!
Oh wow, I’m seriously going to have to look in to this. I plan on buying a hybrid car with our tax return next year and I’m working on checking them all out now. I commute 25 miles per day to work. It doesn’t sound like much but when you drive a HUGE Ford Expedition, it’s a little too much on gas. I love my car though, don’t get me wrong… it’s perfect for all my kids. But dang, it’s just me heading to work and I’m drowning in gas! LOL Thanks for all the info, I’m definitely interested.
I recommend you do it. It is an experience you will never forget. Let me know if you need help or information.
I have a friends who just LOVES her Ford Fusion. Looks like an awesome car!
Looks like you two had a great time and the car looks great— very spacious. I am in LOVE with that blue color. It’s SO vibrant!
I am determined that my next new car will be a hybrid. This will be a top contender.
I highly recommend one! Save so much time stopping for gas and money!
I love the new Ford Fusion and been dying to get one… Thanks for a great post, loved all your pictures and hopefully soon I will be riding in style like you guys did….
That would be the downside for me too. I like a lot of trunk space to keep anything I pick up at thrift shops when traveling.
Very cool car! I love my Ford Focus that i have because it is good on gas, and nice to drive.
The Ford Fusion looks like a great car. I’ve heard really good things about it, and I actually looked into getting one at one point. I decided to keep my truck for awhile longer, though.
Ford has great, strong trucks too!
What a great day… I love spending one-on-one time with any of the kids… and that rebate? how awesome
I remember those blue call boxes from my time growing up in CA. I can’t believe they are still the same. I really want to get a hybrid. Seems like you two had a nice trip to Blogher. When you go to Bloghher you do need a lot to trunk space. I can totally understand why you were let down a bit about that.
Yup! You know all the swag we get to take home!
What a great looking car!!! I had no idea that ford was that advanced with electric cars. Looks like you had a great trip!
Se ve que la pasaron genial!… hasta me hiciste extrañar a mi mamá!.. Saludos Myrah!
Awwwww!
85 mph in electric-only is absolutely amazing! I didn’t even know they could do that! So cool!
They do and you don’t even feel the road!
ay que lindo ese carro yo quiero uno tambien!
Excelente tour y lo mejor de todo la compañia, un viaje inolvidable. Los carros híbridos son lo máximo para estos recorridos.
I went to Blogher this year and wish I had a cool car like that for the trip. Looks like you had a great road trip.
It was great to have spent a few more days after the conference in this gorgeous Ford!
Such a cool car! I love the idea of a plug in vehicle, but there aren’t any in a size that would work for my family right now!
We are thinking about getting a new car. Thanks for this great review.
Looks like you two lovely ladies had a great time! Love the room that the Ford Fusion offers and that it’s a hybrid – score!
Yes, hybrids are another ballgame!
Awwwww! It looks like you guys had a blast. The Fusion is really nice. Love the color!
Yes, that blue is impressive!
Que linda experiencia… Y me encanta que puedas compartir todas estas vivencias con tu hija. La marca Ford es genial.
Totalmente de acuerdo Teresa, son unos genios al maximo!
I miss my ford! Looks like you had fun on your road trip – the car looks pretty nifty 🙂
It certainly is a beauty!
A pasear se ha dicho en el Focus.
Este es un Fusion Hybrid Yadira.
Qué buen paseo! Me encanta ese carro!
I would love to have a car like this just to save on gas. Of course it is cute too but I hate spending almost $5 per gallon and it only get me about 15 miles.
That looks like a lot of fun. A great car too!
El carro me encanta y me parece fabuloso ese rebate de $5000 para quienes vivimos en California.
Ese paseo por la costa de San Francisco es uno de los más bonitos.
A hybrid would be nice for saving money. That one looks like a regular car and wouldn’t know a difference.
This car looks amazing. I had my eye on a different hybrid but now I am going to test drive the Ford. Great post and what a fun trip!
Yes! Lori, please test drive it and tell me what you think!
I drove one of these when I rented a car and loved it!
I love Ford. That shade of blue looks really nice.
Mayrah qué dulce un viaje con tu hija, una experiencia hermosa y encima en ese autaso WOW!! Good for you guys!!
I just love this color, OMG.. That mother and daughter bonding is so important, i love all your tips and recommendations..