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According to current propaganda, Toyota’s Prius c (2012 EPA-estimated 53/46/50 city/highway/combined mileage ) has “the highest rated city fuel economy of any vehicle without a plug,” whereas Ford’s new Fusion Hybrid (EPA-estimated 41 city/36 hwy/39 combined) is “expected to be America’s most fuel-efficient non-rechargeable sedan.”
Consider me confused.
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Easy.
Ford Says it’s the most fuel efficient SEDAN.
Prius c is a hatchback.
The Ford is “America’s”. The Toyota is not. Ford thinks this matters.
Fusion is Mexican made, last time I checked Mexico is not part of America, it used to be the other way around.
Of course Mexico is part of America. Central America is America, no?
One’s a sedan, and one’s a hatch? Is there a prize?
.. “any vehicle.”
IMO, both claims require the caveat that they’re using EPA estimates. They should also make clear whether it’s actually the EPA’s number or merely their own (a la Honda Civic Hybrid, now mired in lawsoup).
But let’s assume both EPA city estimates are accurate and valid.
The Prius C’s is 53.
The Fusion’s is 41.
By EPA city numbers alone – *ALONE* – the Prius claim resonates better.
The Fusion’s claim is both vaguer (stating merely “most fuel-efficient” without stating by what measure) and narrower (sedan).
Ford knows their number is lower, and so they have to stoop to semantic gymnastics.
Prius, in point of fact, has the higher EPA city mpg of a car without a plug. The Fusion does not.
It also says city fuel economy. The regular Prius matches it in combined (at least in EPA test).
Size matters. What about, the most fuel efficient vehicle not available in orange?
Bertel,
The Prius c is the most fuel efficient non-plug-in VEHICLE on the market. The Fusion is the most fuel-efficient non-plug-in SEDAN, which is bested by the most fuel-efficient non-plug-in vehicle. Easy enough.
“The Prius c is the most fuel efficient non-plug-in VEHICLE on the market. The Fusion is the most fuel-efficient non-plug-in SEDAN, which is bested by the most fuel-efficient non-plug-in vehicle.”
Your interpretation is mostly correct. But Ford is fudging more than that.
The Fusion is rated 41 city/ 36 highway, with a combined rating of 39 mpg.
The Camry LE hybrid sedan is rated 43 city/ 39 highway, with a combined rating of 41 mpg. That is higher than the Fusion. (The XLE is a bit lower at 40/40, combined 38.)
The Honda Civic hybrid is also a sedan, and it is rated 44/44. Also above the Fusion.
So Ford’s claim has more parsing than may be apparent. The “America’s” reference was deliberate; for their claim to be correct, you have to ignore the import brands.
Nope – as Quentin says below, the link in the article refers to the current 2012 Fusion. Autoblog says that the 2013 Fusion will be bumped to an estimated 47 city/44 highway.
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/09/2013-ford-fusion-hybrid-detroit-2012/
The EPA calculates combined mileage at 55% city/45% highway, so 47/44 comes to 45.65 MPG combined, which I assume would round up to 46 MPG combined.
Still topping the other sedans, but not topping all non-plug in cars. The “America’s” reference is referring to cars sold in the US.
Hang on. the New Ford Fusion gets 41mpUSg city, 36mpUSg highway and 41mpUSg combined.
The New Toyota Camry gets 39mpUSg city, 43mpUSg highway and 41mpUSg combined.
So how can the new Fusion call itself “America’s most fuel-efficient non-rechargeable sedan”? At best, it’s a draw between the Camry and Fusion…..?
Those are the numbers from the current Fusion. The one due out in the fall is 47mpg city, 44mpg highway.
I imagine it is more of the same with the Fusion hybrid, though. The EPA numbers make it look a lot more efficient than it is compared to the competition.* They run on battery power to a higher speed which means that the gas engine isn’t running as much on that short 11 mile cycle. At some point, the piper must be paid, though, and the gas engine has to recharge that battery.
*From motor trend:
Test :: 2010 FUSION HYBRID : 2009 CAMRY HYBRID
30/45-mph frequent-stop test :: 24.9 mpg : 26.5 mpg
50-mph occasional-stop test :: 34.4 mpg : 34.0 mpg
70-mph highway test :: 33.1 mpg : 34.4 mpg
The Fusion is rated at 41/36 and the Camry was rated at 33/34. Pretty clear to me that the difference in efficiency is as different as the EPA test implies. I think the big difference is that the Fusion runs the electric motor only up to 47mph versus 30mph or something of the Camry. The new Fusion electric motor goes up to 62mph, which I’m sure plays a huge role in the bump on the EPA ratings of the new Fusion. The electricity for that electric motor has to come from somewhere, though.
Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/ 112_0901_2010_ford_fusion_hybrid_2009_toyota_camry_ hybrid/viewall.html#ixzz1mSWXkXln
Who cares. Any reasoned person knows you’ll never achieve those numbers unless you’re heading down a 6 degree hill, with a tail wind, with 3 teaspoons of fuel in the tank and Twiggy driving…..
Tell that to the hyper-milers. It’s actually pretty easy to beat EPA numbers in real world driving, especially in a hybrid. I imagine Wayne Gerdes is already planning how he’ll get 100mpg out of a Prius C.
i easily beat the EPA estimates in Los Angeles traffic, driving a very ordinary stick-shift Honda Fit.
I always get pissed when I can’t plug in my sedan.
I’m ticked that I can’t get 40 mpg out of my 2004 Impala, but I’m keeping her for now…
I’ve been averaging 30.5 – 31.5 this winter, strictly back-and-forth to and from work, mostly highway between 62 and 64 mph. More in the warmer months.
My next car – uh, well, I have no idea, yet.