2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco: Gas Mileage Review

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco is the Korean maker's most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan that doesn't use a hybrid powertrain.

And it highlights the two parallel paths that automakers are taking as they work to boost gas mileage ratings to meet steadily rising corporate average fuel economy rules.

The Sonata Eco uses a smaller gasoline engine, a different transmission, and some other modifications to deliver the highest ratings of any non-hybrid Sonata.

Unlike the conventional gasoline Sonata, with its 2.0-liter engine, the Sonata Eco is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter four that produces 178 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

The Eco is also the sole Sonata to use Hyundai's own seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, rather than the more conventional six-speed automatic. It's also fitted with a high final-drive ratio.

The 2015 Sonata Eco is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined (28 mpg city, 38 mpg highway).

2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 4-door Sedan Limited Dashboard

That compares to the conceptually similar 2015 Ford Fusion 1.5 EcoBoost, which comes with ratings of 29 mpg combined (25 mpg city, 37 mpg highway), but uses a conventional six-sped automatic transmission.

We had driven the Sonata Eco briefly last October, during testing for our Green Car Reports 2015 Best Car To Buy award nominees.

But quick loops through the twisty Malibu canyons above Los Angeles are hardly representative of how most buyers will use a car like this.

So, last December, we got a chance to test its real-world fuel economy on a long Northeastern road trip--although it had a higher proportion of highway miles than many Sonatas may see.

Still, over 540 miles, the car's trip computer told us we had achieved a rating of 33.2 miles per gallon overall.

That's about what we expected to get from this particular mid-size sedan with two occupants and their luggage (especially in cold winter weather that required constant use of the heater and fans).

2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco, Malibu, California, Oct 2014

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Alert readers will notice that, with one exception, the photos accompanying this article were taken in Los Angeles--which is to say, they're not scenes of Vermont or any of the other scenic areas we traveled through. Chalk it up to a technical error.]

Other notes from our four days with the Sonata Eco:

• This Sonata's transmission is one of the softer dual-clutch units we've driven, though we experienced occasional lurching in quick on/off power applications
• For low-rolling-resistance tires, the ride was fairly soft--a good thing--though like many harder tires, they could get quite noisy on certain rough surfaces
• The Sonata Eco's power steering was among the numbest we've driven lately, requiring many small corrections to stay on center at highway speeds
• The relatively high fuel economy ensured a long distance between refills; we got more than 500 miles on our first tank of gas
• Kudos to the sedan designers who kept the rear seat high enough that a 5-foot-tall passenger could see out the rear side windows; that's not always the case these days

Overall, the 2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco has all the benefits and virtues of a big mid-size sedan.

2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco, Malibu, California, Oct 2014

Competitors include the Chevrolet Malibu (redesigned for 2016), Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry.

While we weren't wild about a couple of the driving characteristics, we could definitely live with this powertrain for what we'd expect to be combined fuel economy of 30 mpg or better over the long run.

Our Hyundai Sonata Eco test car carried a base price of $23, 275--about $2,000 higher than the least expensive 2015 Sonata.

A tech package added $4,100, consisting of a navigation system with an 8-inch touchscreen display, blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, leather upholstery with heated front seats, dual-zone temperature control, and a host of smaller upgrades and trim items.

2015 Hyundai Sonata Eco, Malibu, California, Oct 2014

Carpeted floor mats, a cargo net, a cargo tray, a first-aid kit, and wheel locks together added $375 more.

With a mandatory $810 "inland freight and handling" charge (aka destination fee), the bottom line came to $28,560.

Hybrid Sales War: Ford Fusion Outsells Chevy Volt in June

The battle for plug-in hybrid supremacy has been heating up month after month, but June saw – for the first time – the Ford Fusion Energi PHEV take the sales crown from the Toyota Prius/Chevy Volt powerhouses. It was a surprise, for sure – but, the more I looked at it, the less surprising that seemed.

Consider that Ford’s Fusion is not only a good-looking hybrid, but a good-looking car, rife with styling influences from Jaguar and Aston Martin (both former Ford properties). Add to that the fact that Ford’s Fusion is a larger, roomier hybrid than Chevy’s Volt – and that it’s about the same price! – and maybe you, too, can start to see what people see in the thing.

One more Fusion bonus: it doesn’t shout “Hybrid!”

As far as the numbers go, the Ford Fusion chalked up 1,939 deliveries and beat out the consistent-selling “competition” at GM, which sold just 1,777 Chevy Volts – despite drastic discounts at dealers in key markets like California and Florida.

So, does this mean that Ford’s hybrid star is on the rise, or is this just a result of Chevy Volt and Toyota hybrid shoppers holding out until the all-new 2016 Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius models arrive? Let us know what you think in the comments, below.

Source: Green Car Reports.

Ford Lightweight Concept Car Drops 23% Of Its Weight - VIDEO

While the 2015 Mustang is probably putting on some weight for its 50th anniversary, the rest of the Ford lineup is on a serious diet. This Ford Fusion has shed nearly 25% of its weight through the “holistic” use of lightweight materials like aluminum and carbon fiber.

While the name “Lightweight Concept Car” isn’t what one might call inspiring, by replacing almost all the steel bits with aluminum, Ford shed about 800 pounds off the curb weight of this Ford Fusion. It’s the same tactic applied to the 2015 Ford F-150, which resulted in a 700 pound diet despite sticking with a steel frame.The Fusion also utilizes ultra-high-strength steel, magnesium, and carbon fiber throughout the body and drivetrain in order to the pounds, lowering the Fusion’s curb weight by some 23%.

In Ford’s own words, this mid-size Fusion weighs about as much as the subcompact Fiesta, or about 2,600 pounds. That could help the Fusion achieve Fiesta-like fuel economy of 40 MPG or more, which would put it at the front of the pack without embracing any sort of hybrid tech.

Of course developing a mostly-aluminum concept isn’t cheap, and even though Ford plans to add more aluminum parts to cars across its lineup, it won’t happen overnight. There’s also more exotic (and more expensive) materials, like carbon fiber reinforced plastic, that Ford has dabbled with in the past, but aluminum is going to be the way forward for Blue Oval vehicles. Ford has yet to even price the 2015 F-150, but it has to do something about the growing weight of all its vehicles, and going aluminum makes the most sense. Heavy cars and high MPGs just don’t mix, and the most efficient gas engines in the world can’t alter the laws of physics.

Across the board, automakers have added features, some mandatory, some not, that have increased the average weight of new cars year after year. A standard 2013 Ford Fusion weighs in at some 3,400 pounds, depending on options, and while it’s not exactly a “heavyweight”, all that heft isn’t helping fuel economy.

The Blue Oval invested big into its EcoBoost engine, and outlets like Consumer Reports haven’t been all that impressed by the real world MPGs. If the next generation of Ford vehicles goes on this kind of extreme diet though, those smaller turbo motors could the kind of hybrid-rivaling MPGs we’ve been looking for.

Source: Ford

PlantBottle Ford Fusion on Display at Chicago Auto Show

We first met Ford’s PlantBottle Fusion Energi PHEV last fall, when Ford announced a partnership with Coca-Cola to develop a line of sustainable, recyclable, and bio-degradable plant-based plastics for use in Ford’s automotive interiors. At the time, the company talked about plant-based fibers being used in the seats, headliners, etc., but the question was out there: how does it feel?

And, by “it”, I mean this …

… it’s a sharp-looking interior, sure. The Ford Fusion Energi has all the modern mainstream touches that its competitors have- big touchscreen, thick steering wheel, sporty-looking seats, a giant knob in the middle of the dash, etc. It also has a few neat-o touches like a repeating “leaf” graphic in the seat inserts and a shock of neon-green- well, it’s not exactly piping. It’s like piping, though. Unfortunately for Ford, however, the seats felt weird.

How do I mean “weird”, exactly? I couldn’t say- but they definitely felt a bit “off”. Maybe they felt too sticky, or not sticky enough- but they certainly didn’t feel like cloth and they certainly didn’t feel like suede (neither Alcantara, Novasuede, or the kind that used to be a cow suede), and I sincerely wish I could do a better job of explaining the tactile sensations I got from the PlantBottle stuff. That said, if the in-laws asked me how it felt, I’d tell them it felt “cheap”.

So, yeah. The PlantBottle interior feels cheap.

Still, that doesn’t mean the plant-based plastic future is a bad idea- the technology may just need time to catch up, you know? Until then, you can check out some of the close-up details that went into setting this particular Ford Fusion Energi apart from its more pedestrian brethren in the photos, below.

Source: Gas 2

Ford Fusion Hybrid Wins Canadian Green Car Award

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid has been awarded the inaugural Canadian Green Car Award. The Canadian Green Car Award is chosen by a panel of expert members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

This marks the second time that the Ford Fusion Hybrid has won an award for the AJAC. At last Fall’s Testfest the AJAC awarded the Ford Fusion Hybrid the Best New Family Car for Under $30,000.

The Canadian Green Car Award competition looks at fuel economy and emissions of course, but more interestingly the award considers other environmental features within each chosen vehicle such as the use of recycled or naturally sourced materials. Additionally, the competition puts the car manufacturers under the microscope by into account the businesses green operations.

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid is rated at 47 mpg across the board, though customers and publications have averaged much lower fuel economy, prompting complaints and lawsuits. That said, it is also a front runner in the use of recycled materials such as soda bottle carpets and soybean seats, and the Canadian Green Car award takes the whole automobile into account.

Runners up for the Canadian Green Car Award were the Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid, Hyundai Sonata hybrid, Mazda3, and the Volkswagen Turbocharged Hybrid Jetta.

Source: vancouversun.com

Ford Fusion To Get new 1.5 Liter EcoBoost Engine

Yesterday the automotive blogosphere was inundated with rumors that the Ford Fusion would soon be getting a 1.5 liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost engine option. Well those rumors were half right; the Fusion will indeed get a 1.5 liter EcoBoost engine, but it will have four cylinders, not three, and it will replace the current 1.6 liter engine offering.

This engine is the same engine that is being offered in the Ford Mondeo being sold in China, and will reportedly offer 177 horsepower (at 6000 RPM!), about the same as the 1.6 liter engine. Why is Ford doing this? Good question, one we don’t exactly have an answer for.

Right now the 1.6 liter EcoBoost is the only engine in the Fusion offered with a manual transmission. According to the original rumor-starting post on the Blue Oval Forums, the 1.5 liter engine will come with a six-speed automatic transmission only, and the 1.6 liter engine would be offered alongside it. We’ve since come to learn that the 1.5 liter will replace the 1.6 in the Fusion, though the 1.6 liter EcoBoost will continue to be offered in other models.

While Ford’s EcoBoost engines have proven popular with consumers, some outlets have found the engines falling short on promised performance and fuel economy. Ford already offers a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine in Europe, and will make it available for sale in America soon. Other automakers the world over are working to downsize their engines, but are Americans really ready to embrace buzzy, tiny engines? Ford thinks so, but what do you think?

Source: Road & Track

Ford concentrates on control strategies for low-cost start-stop system for Fusion

The new Ford Fusion will be the first non-hybrid Ford vehicle available in the US with Auto Start-Stop. Priced at an incremental $295, Auto Start-Stop can improve real-world fuel efficiency by 3.5%, and can pay for itself in fuel savings in less than 18 months, according to the company.
In its quest to keep the system very affordable, Ford wanted to keep the supporting battery a 12V battery, but also didn’t want to compromise durability, said Birgit Sorgenfrei, Ford’s Auto Start-Stop program manager. The company focused heavily on developing control strategies not only to ensure smooth and robust restarts and driver comfort, but also to minimize the negative impacts of the start-stop duty cycle on the Advanced Glass Mat (AGM) battery. As a result, Ford engineers have more than 25 patents pending for innovations developed in the electronic control strategy for the $295 system.
One of the critical parameters for a start-stop system battery is dynamic charge acceptance (DCA). In a recently published paper with colleagues from RWTH Aachen University and Digatron Industrie-Elektronik GmbH, Eckhard Karden of Ford Research and Advanced Engineering Europe noted that:

Stop-start and regenerative braking are the hybridization features used for micro-hybrids, while avoiding the need for a high volt (above 60V) electric motor and traction battery. In it most widespread and lowest cost implementation, the topologies of a micro-hybrid vehicle’s powertrain and electric power supply system are the same as in conventional vehicles with internal combustion engine, i.e., a 14V generator with modified control algorithms and one lead-acid battery (or sometimes two) perform the brake energy recuperation.

Together with novel vehicle functions like electrically assisted brakes and steering systems, or cabin pre-heating during key-off, micro-hybridization confronts the starter battery with substantially increased energy throughput by micro-cycling with a typical amplitude (depth of discharge, DOD) around a few percent state of charge (SOC) or less. Fast recharge of the battery during these micro-cycles under a broad range of real world usage conditions, like temperature and driving profiles, is a pre-requisite for consistently high availability of stop/start and other essential functions for the customer.

It has been proposed to characterize the recharge ability of vehicle starter batteries as dynamic charge acceptance (DCA). Fuel savings due to regenerative braking critically depend on the DCA of the battery. With an appropriate modification of the alternator control strategy, lead-acid batteries can provide brake energy recuperation functionality.

—Budde-Meiwes et al.

While the energy throughput of AGM batteries is generally sufficient, DCA is an acknowledged challenge as the battery can’t handle more than a half to a third of the power the alternator can provide.
Although other approaches to lead-acid such as PbC or alternative electrochemical systems such NiZn can offer weight reduction, promise longer service life and better charge acceptance, there are as yet unproven at volume and over time, and system integration into 14 V power supply systems could pose a challenge, Ford says.

AGM batteries are actually a very good solution for start/stop. They are used extensively throughout European applications. It is a more durable 12V lead-acid battery. It has been proven in bench testing as well as being able to deliver on the target.

Many of the patents associated with [the Fusion start/stop system] make sure that the system recognizes the battery capability and works to those. The power of our system is that the controls that are used to determine if the engine shuts down or is started take into account the battery, both in terms of short term charge availability as well as in terms of lifetime. We want to make sure that both are maintained in a healthy zone.

We look at what kind of current draw is being used in the vehicle, the powertrain controller makes the decision based on those measurements to ensure that the battery remains healthy.

—Birgit Sorgenfrei

The Ford system. Until now, most non-hybrid vehicles with Auto Start-Stop have only been available with manual transmissions, but US drivers overwhelmingly opt for automatic transmissions. The new Fusion is the first Ford vehicle to offer Auto Start-Stop with a self-shifting gearbox. Since an automatic transmission needs to maintain internal hydraulic pressure even with the engine off, Ford added an electrically driven pump to the transmission along with the upgraded starter motor and the absorbed glass mat battery.
In order to minimize launch delays after a restart, the engineers wanted to keep the transmission in gear even with the engine off as opposed to shifting it into neutral. This required some unique control algorithms for the engine and transmission, Sorgenfrei said.
The control software includes a simulation model of the electrical system that constantly monitors the accessory loads. The model factors in the current draw from features like headlights, climate control, audio system and window defoggers to predict how much power will be available with the engine off and how fast the battery will drain. If the electrical load is demanding too much from the battery, Auto Start-Stop may be disabled to prevent a rough restart or being stuck with a flat battery.
Voltage blending is another technology Ford is seeking to patent. While the engine is running, the alternator produces about 14 to 15 volts, but the battery only produces 12 volts with a full charge. When the Fusion is slowing down with Auto Start-Stop enabled, the load model tracks the vehicle speed and deceleration and then calculates when to ramp down the voltage from the alternator to the battery-only level before the Fusion stops. This blending helps to ensure the driver doesn’t experience any light dimming or sudden fluctuations in ventilation fan speed.
The Auto Start-Stop team has also filed several patent applications related to the signal monitoring and controls for the climate control system. In addition to the cabin temperature and humidity, Auto Start-Stop monitors the temperature of the evaporator core that starts to rise before the occupants even feel a change inside the car. When this happens, the engine will restart sooner.
The 2013 Fusion with Auto Start-Stop also provides coaching to the driver.

When Auto Start-Stop is disabled because of a high accessory load, we wanted drivers to understand why so that they could opt to switch some things off if it’s appropriate. If the rear defrost is still on but the window is clear, they can switch it off to gain the efficiency benefit of shutting down the engine when the car stops.Auto Start-Stop engineering supervisor Kirk Pebley

Ford Hybrid Vehicle Sales in US Up 73%

The Uber Practical Ford Fusion






Here is the day's big news as Ford is reporting their sales of hybrid vehicles is up 73% over the same nine months from 2008. What is the data really telling us though? It could be telling us that 2008 was an abysmal sales year or it could be telling us that Ford did not have many hybrid vehicles available last year. Hopefully, the data means that people like the hybrid offerings from Ford and this is the reason for the big increase. Maybe all the credit goes to its newest hybrid offering, the Ford Fusion.

From Green Car Congress:

Ford Motor Company’s US hybrid sales for the first nine months of 2009 are 73% higher than the same period in 2008, fueled by the introduction of hybrid versions of the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, which went on sale in March 2009. In contrast, total reported hybrid sales in the US dropped 14% (from 257,533 to 220,593 units) during the same period. (Earlier post.)

Through September, Ford has sold 26,016 hybrid vehicles, up 73% versus the 15,015 units for the same period last year. Toyota, still the number one provider of hybrids in the US with 144,351 units sold in the first nine months of 2009, saw its hybrid sales drop 28% from the same period in 2008 (200,450 units).

Honda, the second leading seller of hybrids in the US during the first 9 months of 2009 with 29,958 units, saw its hybrid sales rise 8% compared to the same period in 2008 (27,793 units).

Hybrid customers increasingly are considering Ford. More than 60 percent of Fusion Hybrid sales have been from non-Ford owners, and more than half of those are customers coming from import brands, mostly from Toyota and Honda.

—David Finnegan, Ford hybrid marketing manager

Ford’s 2009 hybrid sales have been fueled by the introduction of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids. Combined sales of these mid-size hybrid sedans for through September were 12,602 units, according to Ford—48.4% of the total. Both vehicles deliver an EPA-certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.

While the introduction of the Fusion Hybrid has spurred sales from non-Ford owners, Ford said, its longest-running hybrid nameplate, the Escape Hybrid, has proven popular with Ford customers operating taxi, lifeguard and government fleets due to the combination of fuel efficiency and durability. The front-wheel-drive Escape Hybrid delivers 34 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway.

In 2005, San Francisco became one of the first cities to adopt hybrids into taxi service, with hybrids accounting for 14% of its current fleet. Each of the original fleet of 15 Escape Hybrids exceeded 300,000 miles per vehicle before being retired and replaced with more Escape Hybrids. There are almost 200 Escape Hybrid taxis on San Francisco’s streets today.

New York has more hybrid taxis in service than any other city in North America with 13,237, of which more than 2,000 are Escape Hybrids. New York recently began retiring its original fleet of Escape Hybrids put into service in the 2005 model year after accumulating 300,000 and 350,000 miles per vehicle.

In 2009, federal agencies have purchased more than 3,000 hybrids from Ford, more than any other automotive brand. Included in the sales were 1,900 vehicles acquired through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the purpose of improving the fuel economy of the federal fleet. The US Army was the single largest purchaser among the government fleets, acquiring 400 Fusion hybrids.

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid




Ford has announced a base price of $27,270 for its new 2010 Fusion Hybrid sedan. Basic features like dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights, keyless entry, power windows, mirrors, and locks, capless refueling, traction control, and ABS are all standard equipment. Also included is a six-speaker stereo, eco-responsible seats, 17-inch wheels, traction control, and a reverse sensor.

Ford has high hopes for the Fusion hybrid, which can operate on the electric power at up to 47 miles per hour. The hybrid features a 2.5-liter inline-four with 155 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque bolted up to a CVT transmission.

The Fusion uses a beefier NiMH battery pack and can travel up to 47 mph in electric mode. The Ford Fusion's strongest selling point will be is city mileage rating of about 40 mpg, which is only topped by the Toyota Prius. All car makers should strive for better city mileages as the majority of commutes entail this type of driving.

Ford has collaborated with design consultant group Ideo to create a new system to monitor fuel economy and other information. The system, clumsily dubbed SmartGauge with EcoGuide, is a reconfigurable gauge cluster made up of a large, centrally located analog speedometer flanked by two 4.3-inch LCD displays. Four default layouts can be chosen as a basis of customization, from a bare-bones look at vital vehicle stats to an information-laden view designed for—and with the help of—hypermilers. Why Ford wants to promote the dangerous driving techniques involved with hypermiling, I'm not sure.

The SmartGauge displays are bright and easy to read, but I worry that this is another step toward total driver distraction. One such distraction is a display featuring a tree branch that grows more leaves as the vehicle is driven in what’s determined to be an environmentally friendly manner. Drive like a hooligan, though, and you’ll kill the tree. This hokey, literal interpretation of efficient driving can be turned off or substituted for a more useful gauge, but it will be interesting to wipe out whole forests once you drive the car.

Again, there is one feature that Ford forgot to add, namely a plug. This car could have been designed infinitely better with the ability to plug in at home and recharge the battery pack. Given a 10 to 15 mile all-electric range and its top speed of 47 mph, imagine running all your errands without the gasoline engine ever starting.

This car will be a winner for Ford and hopefully, they will produce enough of them to meet demand.

The 2010 Ford Fusion $3400 Tax Credit

Are you in the market for a new hybrid car? According to the sales figures, you are in the minority! Nevertheless, the Ford Fusion is a great product offering from Ford that is a hybrid-electric vehicle offering outstanding city mileages. The Fusion will average about 41 mpg in city driving which is a significant improvement over most sedans, which usually come in at less than 25 mpg.

Get to your dealer before March 31, 2009 in order to qualify for the full rebate. I would be interested in this vehicle except for one thing, there is no plug. I want the option of all electric operation and the ability to use my electricity for recharging.

From Green Car Congress:

Buyers of a new 2010 Fusion Hybrid or Mercury Milan Hybrid this year will qualify for a $3,400 tax credit.

The credit amount is based on a vehicle’s potential fuel efficiency. The Fusion Hybrid carries a 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Fusion Hybrid travels up to 47 mph in pure electric mode, faster than all other hybrids currently on the road. In addition, the system’s Intake Variable Cam Timing (i-VCT) allows the hybrid to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa, delivering a near imperceptible hybrid driving experience to the customer.

The 2009 Escape and Mariner Hybrid FWD models qualify for a $3,000 tax credit; 4WD models $1,950. Owners of previous model-year Escape and Mariner hybrid models may also qualify for varying credit amounts from $1,950 to $3,000. The credit is only available to the original purchaser of a new, qualifying vehicle.

Ford Hybrid Tax Credit Amounts
Vehicle	1 Jan 09 to 3 Mar 09	1 Apr 09 to 30 Sep 09	1 Oct 09 to 31 Mar 10	1 April 10 and later
2010 Fusion and Milan Hybrids	$3,400	$1,700	$850	$0
2009 Escape and Mariner FWD Hybrids	$3,000	$1,500	$750	$0
2009 Escape and Mariner 4WD Hybrids	$1,950	$975	$487.50	$0

Customers who purchase a Ford or Mercury brand hybrid by March 31, 2009 will remain eligible for the full tax credit amounts. Beginning April 1, 2009 customers who purchase a hybrid will only be able to claim a partial tax credit.

Since Ford Motor Company reached the 60,000 vehicle threshold in the 4^th quarter of 2008, the tax credit amounts are reduced by 50% beginning in the second quarter of 2009 and by an additional 25% beginning in the fourth quarter of 2009.