Ford isn’t quite putting all of its eggs in one basket with the Fusion, but it sure is coming close. The midsize sedan that the automaker hopes will keep it afloat in the long-term offers an unprecedented choice of four powertrain options – a huge range of available engines for a volume model. The most technologically advanced of which is the Fusion Hybrid, which was recently certified at 41 mpg in the city, according to the EPA.

With the lofty expectations of greater than 40 mpg around town in consumer use, the Fusion Hybrid is poised to be the first hybrid to truly bring high levels of efficiency into the workaday sedan market.

Sure, the Toyota Prius is a hot seller, but it’s an emotionally charged vehicle (no pun intended) that forces some sacrifices as a daily driver. The Fusion Hybrid, however, is a no-comprimises, high-efficiency sedan that looks and feels just like its gas-only brothers.

Did Ford succeed? Read on.

What is it?
Ford redesigned the Fusion for 2010 – take a look at our recent full-line review. The Fusion Hybrid is the regular lineup’s frugal brother, powered by a gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain and a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Rather than go down the mild hybrid route like General Motors did with the Chevy Malibu Hybrid, Ford attempted to maximize mainstream efficiency. The Fusion Hybrid features few aero-enhancing and eye-catching add-ons, but it promises 41 mpg around town – as verified by the EPA’s watchdogs.

The Fusion Hybrid is mechanically identical to the Mercury Milan Hybrid. We also recently reviewed all three gas-only powertrains in the standard ‘10 Fusion.

What’s it up against?
Fusion guns straight at the Toyota Camry Hybrid, but we’d also expect some green car shopping against the Nissan Altima Hybrid, Chevy Malibu Hybrid and the Saturn Aura Hybrid.

Given its no-compromises comfort and practicality, Ford sure hopes some Toyota Priuses (Prii?)(will wind up on Ford dealer used car lots.

Any breakthroughs?
The Fusion Hybrid achieves its high in-town fuel economy thanks to a 106-horsepower permanent magnet AC synchronous motor that can motor the Fusion up to 47 miles per hour without deferring to the traditional gas-drinking 156-horse 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder.

Inside, Ford is heavily touting the Fusion’s SmartGuage cluster, an LCD gauge cluster designed to help drivers be more informed – and to drive more efficiently.

How does it look?
With the exception of unique wheels, hybrid badges and an aero-enhanced molding around each fog lamp, the Fusion Hybrid looks and feels exactly like its gas-only siblings. That’s pretty bold in today’s world of hybrids with unique bodykits and stickers designed to cheat aerodynamics – and attract attention.

The ‘10 Fusion is a tasteful update of its predecessor and it features the best integration of Ford’s’ three-bar corporate grille we’ve seen yet. Early adaptations, particularly the first-generation Fusion, never sat well with us. Ford’s designers have had time to smooth out the details and better integrate the style and it shows.

Hybrid-specific wheels not only look pretty good, they help to reduce drag. Interestingly, Ford chose not to specify low rolling resistance tires for the Fusion Hybrid. Not only does this help keep the initial purchase price down, it means that buyers won’t have to seek out special tires when it comes time for replacement in order to keep with the original equipment specifications.

And inside?
Again, Fusion Hybrid deviates little from the rest of the lineup. That means it gets the same tasteful interior covered in high-quality plastics throughout – a real improvement over the previous generation.

There are still a handful of low-buck bits that we would have changed – namely the dash-top-mounted storage bin and the center console plastic, but overall Ford has done an admirable job of imitating Volkswagen materials and switchgear quality with a homegrown design.

Ford’s SmartGuage system makes its debut in the Fusion Hybrid, though the automaker says it’ll make it into future hybrids, as well.

Essentially a pair of wide, high-resolution LCD displays flanking a centrally-mounted speedometer, SmartGuage allows drivers to tailor the amount of information they want displayed, ranging from just basic fuel level and battery charge all the way up to a detailed display that shows where power is being distributed down to the draw from accessories. The menuing system is elaborate but fairly simple to operate. We wouldn’t recommend playing with it while moving since the fonts are small.

On the right screen, the system features Ford’s EcoGuide, a whimsical tutorial designed to help Fusion operators drive more efficiently. As you continue driving, you “build” a forest of leaves – the more leaves, the more efficiently you’re driving. We’ll admit we were skeptical of the system when Ford first unveiled it, but after using it during a brief drive at the vehicle’s media launch, we found ourselves trying to build the biggest forest we could. Al Gore would love it.

(Our test cars provided by Ford had the passenger airbags disabled pending final programming, hence the airbag lights).

We recommended that the virtual forest be season-themed: Snow-covered leaves in the winter and multi-color foliage in the fall.

But does it go?
We couldn’t quite hit 47 miles per hour in just electric mode, but we came very close. Ford set up an urban route for journalists and, with Ford’s Hybrid Applications Manager, Gil Portalatin riding shotgun, this author was able to achieve an impressive 42.9 mpg over a 40 mile route.

Granted, that was babying the throttle, driving with the air conditioning and accessories off and relying heavily on the Fusion Hybrid’s regenerative breaking to charge the battery. Unlike some hybrids, the Fusion’s brakes are easy to modulate and have a natural feel, despite the generation system.

In more normal driving, we were able to achieve upper-30s in urban driving – but that included a couple of gas-guzzling throttle applications to truly test out the Fusion Hybrid’s capabilities.

From all speeds, the Fusion Hybrid accelerates fairly briskly. Its two engines combine for a total of 191 horsepower, more than enough to move the 3,720 lb. sedan without any struggle. The CVT is not intrusive and seemed to keep power on tap at all times without heavy revving of the motor like some CVTs we’ve experienced will do.

Fusion Hybrid features a 275 volt sealed Ni-MH battery mounted behind the rear seats (which don’t fold).

We noticed only the slightest thump from the powertrain when the gasoline engine would cut in or out – less than we’ve experienced in the Toyota Prius or Ford’s Escape hybrid. We also applauded the reduction of the high-pitched electric engine whir that plagued previous generations of the Escape.

The Fusion Hybrid features the same electric power steering that Ford has installed in every version of the Fusion bar the performance-oriented 3.5-liter Sport model. It provides similarly reasonable feel that combines with a taut suspension and stiff chassis to give the Fusion better-than-average handling. Suspension upgrades for 2010 have given all Fusions, including the Hybrid, a composed and upscale ride befitting a much more expensive sedan that is unparalleled in this segment.

Why You Would Buy It:
You’re looking for maximum efficiency without the stigma or compromises of the Toyota Prius.

Why You Wouldn’t:
You think $1.50-a-gallon is here to stay.

Leftlane’s bottom line

The Fusion Hybrid is an ideal marketing tool for Ford’s impending financial recovery. A product-led renaissance needs a halo vehicle for its mainstream lineup and Fusion Hybrid delivers – especially based on the numbers. To be able to market a vehicle capable of greater than 40 mpg in the city driving most urban and suburban drivers experience on a daily basis must be a dream come true for Ford’s marketing team. Fortunately, the hybrid powertrain is wrapped in a pretty darn good sedan that might have you second-guessing its blue-oval badge.

2009 Ford Fusion Hybrid base price, $27,270.

Words and photos by Andrew Ganz.

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