I had the pleasure today of test driving my first Ford Fusion Energi. The only difference between the 2016 model year and the 2015 is the center console (the 2015 has a touch-sensitive pad while the 2016 has actual buttons in a slightly different layout).
Since we don't have all the information about the 2016 ELR that will hit dealerships this fall (according to Cadillac's website), I'll have to compare the Fusion Energi to the 2014 ELR.
While the 2014 ELR is a gorgeous PHEV car with many of the accoutrements expected in a luxury car, it also has a plethora of minor shortcomings that, taken collectively, result in a frustrating driving experience for me (but not necessarily for other owners). My configuration had an MSRP of $79k, and I leased close to that number. But today you can buy a similarly-optioned 2014 ELR for less than $53k if you search hard enough.
Comparing the ELR to the Fusion Energi Titanium is not quite apples to apples because the ELR is a coupe, has EV-only range of 30-40 miles, and doesn't require the gas engine to accelerate confidently at higher speeds. The ELR also looks like a car Batman might drive, whereas the Ford is more conservative with its design.
However, since I'm thinking of replacing my ELR with a fully-loaded Fusion Energi Titanium, I'll do the comparison anyway!
1) Acceleration: The ELR wins handily in this category. Driving the Fusion Energi in EV-only mode was anemic above 35 mph. I floored the Energi at 60 merging onto the highway up a gentle ramp and the car stayed at 60. Flooring the ELR under the same conditions, it easily speeds up purposefully. The ELR isn't a Tesla, but it has confident, reliable acceleration. The Energi, on the other hand, doesn't feel safe to drive in some situations without the gas engine assisting. However, once at highway speed, the Energi moves effortlessly with traffic in EV-only mode for the most part, but passing is not always possible, especially if the other driver is rude and trying to prevent it. The driving experience in the Fusion is markedly better with the engine assisting in EV Auto mode, but then you're forced to use gas and the engine vibration is a bit strong (but not nearly as obnoxious as the Volt's). The ELR handles better than both the Fusion and Volt and has very little engine vibration/noise intruding into the cabin.
2) EV Range: I've gotten as high as 50 miles to a charge under ideal conditions with my ELR. But my test drives of the Fusion Energi Titanium with A/C running (including cooled seats) only achieved about 16 EV-only miles. Granted, it was a test drive so I was much more aggressive than normal to put the car through its paces, but it's still a bit disappointing. But since my daily commute is 16 miles and I can charge at work, that won't be much of an issue. But there's no way I'll be able to make longer drives from Santa Clarita to Santa Monica without using gas like I can now. In my 2012 Volt, the range was even longer than my ELR.
3) Audio: I'm a professional musician, so I can tell the difference between the ELR's Bose system and Energi Titanium's Sony system. But if I didn't make a living listening to the nuances and subtle timbres of sound, I might not be able to tell them apart. For me, the ELR's system is superior, but not by much. Neither holds a candle to the Mark Levinson system found in the Lexus LS460, but both systems are robust and a pleasure to listen to.
4) Infotainment: While Cadillac C.U.E. looks much sexier than MyFord Touch and has some detailed vehicle settings that the Fusion doesn't, C.U.E. can be very frustrating to use. There are so many problems with the interface, engineering, and responsiveness in C.U.E. that even the minor quibbles I had with MyFord Touch didn't bother me nearly as much. If one orders a CD drive with the ELR, it gets stuck in the glove compartment way over in front of the front passenger, whereas it's right in the middle of the Fusion's center console where it should be. Interoperability with Android and iOS is an inconsistent nightmare in C.U.E. However, neither C.U.E. nor MyFord Touch can browse media via Bluetooth (except for skipping ahead or back one track), which is a real shame. I don't remember if the Volt has full Bluetooth control of media devices, but my wife's 2012 Toyota Rav4 EV has full interoperability via Bluetooth and handles audio devices with aplomb.
5) Seats: Despite having an MSRP north of $76k, the 2014 ELR doesn't offer cooled front seats. The Fusion does. The ELR's rear bucket seats are nearly unusable unless your passengers are shorter than 5'6" and not claustrophobic. The Fusion has spacious, comfortable rear seating for two adults and a large child (or thin adult). The Fusion's seats are more comfortable than the ELR's, but I like the ELR's headrests better. Both cars offer many individual adjustments and memory positions (although the Fusion has 3 memory slots, whereas the ELR only has 2). Both have auto-exit position settings.
6) Trunk: Both cars have a small trunk, but the Energi's is ridiculous. Ford should have sacrificed an inch of legroom in both passenger rows for two inches of additional trunk space.
7) Software Updates: Cadillac only issues TSB (technical service bulletin) updates that must be performed at the dealership. While Cadillac had initially promised to continually update C.U.E. in existing models to keep it current, that language was removed from its website last year and no C.U.E. feature update has happened since March 2013. Compare that to the Fusion Energi which can connect to your home's wireless network and download regular MyFord Touch software improvements. Ford easily wins this one!
8) Adaptive Cruise Control: The ACC in the ELR is full-range, so it will bring the car to a complete stop and then start moving again when traffic moves. The Ford's system is only effective down to about 12 mph, and it's not quite as refined. Still, for the majority of driving the Fusion's system is adequate. But the ELR's ACC system is better.
9) Automatic Parallel Parking: The ELR doesn't have this at any price, while the the Fusion Energi does have it as an add-on to the Titanium trim level.
10) Reverse Camera: The ELR's is a little better during the daytime, but the Fusion's crystal clear camera image at night or in dark garages wipes the floor with the ELR's muddy, blurry mess of a picture. The difference is literally night and day!
:histeric:
11) Display Screens: Switching to Night Mode in the ELR during the daytime doesn't do anything, whereas switching to Night Mode in the Fusion dims all the screens and makes the brightness adjustable... as if it were nighttime. Go figure. How incredibly logical of Ford! The instrument cluster (DIC) screen in the Ford isn't as pretty or configurable as the ELR, but there's so much more information and control available in the Fusion's DIC screen that the driver might never have to reach over to fuss with center console buttons or the main display screen. Even climate adjustments are available from the steering wheel in the Fusion.
12) Exterior Colors: Ford has more varied and appealing colors than those available for the ELR, at least in my opinion. Bronze Fire, Magnetic, and Guard are especially attractive in person. Red is available on both cars, as is Black. But only Ford has a Blue option.
13) Everything Else: The ELR has a couple of annoying "features," such as the incessant triple-honk that sounds if the driver dares to step out of his/her currently running vehicle with the keyfob. It sounds when the driver's door is closed, the trunk is opened/closed, the passenger door is opened/closed, etc. I found nothing like that in the Ford that even came close to being so infuriatingly unnecessary and intrusive. The visibility in the Ford is much better than in the ELR and Volt. Both cars have rain-sensing wipers available. Both cars have auto high beams available. Both cars have Cross-Traffic Alert available. Both cars have Blind Spot monitoring, but the Fusion implements it better than the ELR. Overall, I didn't feel like I was missing anything ancillary in the Ford. I'm sure I forgot some of the other feature similarities and differences I noticed during the test drive, but I think I've written enough at this point.
So in conclusion, I was very impressed with the Fusion Energi and am very seriously considering replacing my ELR with it. Driving the Fusion Energi on the 405 felt like I was in a Lexus - quiet, comfortable, and smooth. It's a well-made car, and should embarrass the heck outta Cadillac.
I just have to decide if I can get past the disappointing acceleration and limited EV range. Oh yeah - a fully-loaded Fusion Energi ($42k before incentives) is half the price of the full-priced 2014 ELR, $23k less than the 2016's base MSRP ($26k less with Luxury and ACC added to the ELR to make it comparable), and at least $10-15k less than the current fire sale prices at Cadillac dealerships. So maybe half the range and acceleration isn't so bad when the price is taken into consideration!