Toyota versus Ford - arguing about mileage of their midsize cars
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
When Ford announced the fuel mileage statistics of its new 2010 Fusion Hybrid, the Blue Oval made a big deal about its fuel mileage ratings, which, at 41 mpg city and 36 highway, bests the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Toyota kindly retorted that its Camry is bigger than Ford's Fusion. We wonder if that's supposed to be a good thing. The Prius is also considered a midsize car based on its interior volume, so, depending on your point of view, both the Camry and the Prius could be considered logical competition for Ford's latest hybrid sedan.
For what it's worth, the Prius, Camry and Fusion all have an interior volume of around 100 cubic feet, give or take a foot. Splitting hairs? Most definitely. We would hazard a guess that most people cross shop the Fusion Hybrid with the Camry Hybrid, being that they are normal-looking sedans from the outside, putting the Prius on a higher green pedestal anyway.
We agree with Toyota's official blog response that all this doesn't really matter, just so long as each manufacturer is putting its best foot forward when engineering its new cars and trucks to get the best fuel mileage possible. In this case, this is exactly what appears to be happening.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
[Source: Toyota]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Luke 6:17PM (1/27/2009)
I'm just glad to see Ford taking this step. I just hope they go forward with the EV plans they've been talking about. I will be their first customer if they do.
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Yakker 6:35PM (1/27/2009)
Physical size isn't the real issue; it's performance: The Camry hybrid's engine has 40 more horses than the Fusion hybrid, so with normal driving, and especially aggressive driving, the Camry will get lower mileage automatically--but you're getting much more performance.
If Toyota really wanted rile things up, it would point out that Ford uses key hybrid tech from Toyota, according to the articles below in the New York Times and Detroit News. I think it's cool that Ford improved the tech to get 41 mpg, but since Ford and Toyota have collaborated at least since 2004 on hybrids, it seems ungentlemenly for Ford, and the media, to say that it "beats" Toyota on the hybrid front. Especially since Toyota has refrained from pointing out their licensing agreement, as well as the fact that the Toyota loses some mpg for more performance.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/10hybrid.html?ei=5007&en=f985594d347f34b8&ex=1394341200&adxnnl=1&partner=USERLAND&adxnnlx=1190193579-dAqK/edssbAOVNqvv1vd5A
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/08/A01-272872.htm
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jfsvo 7:08PM (1/27/2009)
yakker - Do we really need to go over this same old factually inaccurate claim again? Ford and Toyota did not "collaborate" on anything... Ford simply developed similar technology that happened to be patented by Toyota. Perhaps you are referring to the transmission previously used by the FEH was outsourced to Aisin, which is 23% owned by Toyota. That is the extent of their "collaboration."
Also, the reported 0-60 times of the Fusion Hybrid are much closer to the Camry than the Prius.
Ackbar 6:57PM (1/27/2009)
Yakker, those articles are old and only pertain to the Escape Hybrid. The FFH does not use Toyota's hybrid system. Also, the TCH does have better 0-60 acceleration, but it looks like FFH handily beats it in overall handling. So it depends on what's more important to you.
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MikeW 9:29PM (1/27/2009)
Hopefully the '10 Camry hybrid gets some updates, then Ford should talk.
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jharlan 10:12PM (1/27/2009)
I am an American, and would like to have the opportunity to buy an car made by an American company, with quality on a par with Toyota, Who has made the finest cars in the world at any price for decades. I like what Ford is saying and doing. You have all seen the TV commercials where every car manufacturer claims to have the most fuel efficient offering of cars. Car commercials are like political commercials. We better stick to ABG info to make our decisions. I can trust them!
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KT 1:18PM (1/28/2009)
Ford should be more concerned with how ugly and bland that new Fusion is.
What happened to bringing the good looking Fords from Europe to the US? Why do we get stuck with such ugly, boring, bland, old-fogey Fords?
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Brn 1:10AM (1/28/2009)
"Ford should be more concerned with how ugly and bland that new Fusion is. "
Compared to the Camry? Um, the Fusion is a much better looking car.
TheUkrainian 10:37AM (1/28/2009)
Bland? lol Toyota is the leader (other than a few Chevy's and Chryslers) at producing bland cars. I'm guessing you think that the 2010 Fusion is also all new? Well, it's not. It's a mid-cycle refreshing. Compared to what Toyota did with the 2010 Camry, the Fusion might as well be a whole new car. If you want Euro-Ford, wait until 2012/13 when the Mondeo and Fusion will be globalized. The 2010 Fusion is the step between American Ford design and Globalized Euro Ford Design.
ziv 10:58PM (1/27/2009)
The Fusion is faster than the Toyota Prius! And has better gas mileage than the Toyota Camry Hybrid!
Or, Toyota beats Ford on speed with the Camry Hybrid and on mileage with the Prius!
I don't care if we sell it one way or the other, I think Ford is doing a decent job and the new Fusion Hybrid will be an excellent car.
And jfsvo is right, the old Escape Hybrid was so close to Toyotas hybrid system that Ford and Toyota came to an agreement that if Ford let Toyota use Ford direct injection patents, Toyota would not object to Fords hybrid technology. No money changed hands, and the new Ford tech is not covered by the earlier agreement because it is even more obviously not a patent infringement. Even Wikipedia is up to speed on that.
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gorr 11:01PM (1/27/2009)
The problem is the price of fuel then the price of this fuel-saving gadget that add 5000-10 000$ more to the car and add weight that impede performance , acceleration, breaking and control. Formula one tried to adopt this gadget for performance enhancement but didn't figure it yet if it work.
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BradYourCarGuy 8:49AM (1/28/2009)
It sounds like the kind of arguing that shows how tight the market has become. this type of market and arguing also brings about heated competition which brings about better products. No more just sitting satisfied with the current status quo. Its tough out there. This type of competition is what will make it better for the makers and the consumers alike.
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nardvark 11:05AM (1/28/2009)
Erm, so basically Toyota is saying "Crap, they made a better car. How can we spin this to minimize the damage?"
Not that the Toyota Camry Hybrid is a bad car. It isn't. My uncle has one, and he's been "happy with getting low 30's." It's a luxury purchase. He gets to drive a full-size car, and feel good about the mileage I get on my compact car that costs half as much. It's clearly not an economic choice.
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jem 5:09PM (1/28/2009)
Hey Uk, Is Ford going to make it to 2012/13? I think that the FFH looks more like a copy of the Camry, especially the interior. Minus all those cheap looking little buttons in the center stack. Under hood looks like a copy as well, w/cheap Ford engineering and parts. I would bet there is more American content in the Camry than the Fusion as well. And may I remind you our neighbors in Kentucky have made the best selling midsize for the last 11 of 12 years for a reason. It is the best.
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