Ford Fusion Hybrid Beats Toyota Prius as Consumer Favorite Hybrid

Ford Fusion Hybrid Beats Toyota Prius as Consumer Favorite Hybrid

By Michelle Krebs January 22, 2010

The Ford Fusion Hybrid won the Consumer Favorite in Edmunds.com's hybrid vehicle survey, narrowly beating the Toyota Prius.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid earned 26 percent of the votes, closely followed by the Toyota Prius with 23 percent.

"Ford's midsize hybrid sedan, which helped boost Ford's overall sales performance in an otherwise dismal 2009, has been praised for its smooth operation, fuel economy, looks and interactive information system that helps drivers modify their behind-the-wheel behavior to increase fuel economy," according to Edmunds' GreenCarAdvisor.com Senior Editor John O'Dell.

During the Detroit auto show's press week, the Ford Fusion Hybrid won the 2010 North American Car of the Year. Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Edmunds.com, was one of the 49 journalists on the jury. Recognizing the significance of the vehicle in the marketplace, Brauer recently helped to select it for inclusion in the Edmunds.com long-term test fleet.

"Coming in 2nd in our survey, the Toyota Prius benefitted from its combination of incredible fuel mileage, a spacious cabin and a versatile hatchback body style. The Honda Insight finished a commendable 3rd place; that's rather impressive considering that this practical four-door hatchback was the least expensive candidate on the ballot," noted Brauer.

The ranking of hybrid cars among Edmunds.com visitors is:

Vehicle and Ranking	Edmunds.com True Market Value price*
1. Ford Fusion Hybrid	$ 27,625
2. Toyota Prius	$ 22,400
3. Honda Insight	$ 19,800
4. Lexus HS 250h	$ 34,200
5. Toyota Highlander Hybrid	$ 34,700
6. Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	$ 25,555
7. Honda Civic Hybrid	$ 23,650
8. Toyota Camry Hybrid	$ 26,150
9. Saturn VUE Hybrid	$ 28,160
10. Ford Escape Hybrid	$ 29,785

 *

Michelle Krebs:  is Editor-in-Chief of AutoObserver.com. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.