Ford Fusion Hybrid Earns Cost Back Fastest

[Right Lane Cruiser]

All these numbers get tossed out the window with any fluctuations in gas prices.

Stephen Markley - MIAMIHERALD - April 28, 2010

Another feather in Ford's cap! --Ed.

With only 5.6 years to earn back the premium a driver pays for its hybrid drivetrain, the Ford Fusion Hybrid is the hybrid vehicle that pays off the quickest, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The price discrepancy between the hybrid and non-hybrid models is a relatively slim $3,200, so at current gas prices, drivers are likely to break even in just under six years.

The Chronicle looked at several hybrids and found it will take awhile to earn your money back compared with non-hybrid versions. The Mercury Milan Hybrid takes 13 years to break even, the Toyota Camry Hybrid will take 15 years, and the Honda Civic Hybrid 17 years.

We have a minor dispute with the break-even numbers for the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, which the Chronicle put at 16.5 years and... [Read More]

[PaleMelanesian]

Interesting that all of them actually do break even, isn't it?

How long is the breakeven time on leather seats, etc?

[ALS]

Also are they figuring in resale values for a hybrid over a conventional automobile.

No I didn't think so, residual value is a biggie when your looking at long term value of a car. The difference between a standard Civic and a Civic hybrid on resale is a few thousand more for the hybrid.

[toastblows]

Ford is still getting tax rebates right vs toyota and honda are not? that helps the payoff window shrink far more than gas prices.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Ford is out of rebates at this point. We won't get anything for the purchase of our FFH.

[PaleMelanesian]

I wonder how the comparison would look if they were all compared against one reference. Say, a Honda Fit. That's a more real-world situation for someone shopping for a car. I'd guess the winner would be Prius in that case.

[toastblows]

i picked up a 1998 chevy metro 5M 3 cyl last summer for $900...110K miles. It gets 46mpg on the freeway. Pay off over all hybrids.....- infinity + 1

[ksstathead]

Congrats on that purchase, Sean. Heard the news on the Go Hypermiling podcast.

Had a test drive, but since our Prius replaced a truck, I couldn't get past the trunk vs hatch, plus the Prius is available at a lower entry point.

Your Fusion and my Prius share the fact that our wives primarily use them as daily drivers. Important thing is that fuel consumption of our households is slashed. Plus we get to drive them, too.

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Absolutely!!

Did you see the article with a picture of our solution to the hatch vs. trunk dilemma?

[ksstathead]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

I wonder how the comparison would look if they were all compared against one reference. Say, a Honda Fit. That's a more real-world situation for someone shopping for a car. I'd guess the winner would be Prius in that case.

Depends. If our Fit had the MT, it could give Prius level mileage in many situations, and it costs a fraction of our Prius. Both are terrific. Yet both struggle to beat the $900 answer of toastblows above, or my 2000 CRV, unless you factor in safety features to the equation.