Used 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid: A Non-Traditional Family Sedan

2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid
The 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid has excellent fuel economy and is an IIHS top safety pick. Photo: Sara LaFountain

The 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid Bridges the Gap from Gas Engines to All Electric.

I’m a busy Mom who spends 3 hours per day in the car. I love to test drive cars that can turn my stressful drives into pleasurable experiences. The 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid is one of those cars.  An excellent option for busy families, the Fusion starts at $30,000. It’s a well-priced car with incredibly good (about 41-43 MPG) gas mileage.

(And if you’re looking to buy this car used, then look no further! We have a review of how it’s aged over the years at the bottom of the post!)

If you’re thinking of moving away from traditional gasoline cars, the Ford Fusion hybrid is a great first step to a fully electric car. With the Ford Fusion Hybrid you have the benefits of an EV without the hassle of needing to charge it or worrying about running out of charge. The Fusion Hybrid effortlessly charges the battery while you are driving. You probably won’t even notice this is happening, unless you look at the small battery icon and see the swirling circle. And this hybrid doesn’t need a plug. The recharging happens while coasting and braking.

This 5 passenger vehicle can easily hold carseats or lanky teens. The front seats are extremely comfortable and the back row has plenty of leg and head room. My friends agree with me, the Fusion might possibly be the perfect family vehicle.

One of the first things I noticed in the Fusion was the gear selector dial. The round dial looks so much nicer than the typical stick gear shift and blended in with the center console seamlessly.  I felt like I was driving a high tech luxury vehicle! The center console has a handy slot for a cell phone as well as two large cup holders.

Ford Fusion Hybrid
The center console in the 2017 Ford Fusion looks sleek with the modern dial gear shift. Photo: Sara LaFountain

Who the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid is for:

• Singles, couples, or families of five or less
• Families who want a smaller car but still need to haul a lot of equipment
• Buyers who want above-average MPG
• Buyers who want a good value in a midsize sedan

The Fusion is so versatile that it works for many types of drivers. Busy parents will love the great gas mileage, large trunk, and comfortable seating. Younger drivers will love the 8″ touchscreen running Sync 3.0 that connects seamlessly with smart phones. Safety conscious drivers will enjoy the excellent safety ratings as well as the blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, pre-collision alert with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and automatic parking. The technology in the Fusion is top notch. You might even forget you’re driving a moderately priced affordable car.

What it costs:

Ford Fusion Titanium list price – $30,250.
S model – $22,120
SE model – $23,250
Platinum – $36,750
Platinum Hybrid – $37,130

The Ford Fusion Titanium is the top of the line model. It includes features such as leather seats and a premium sound system that I think make it worth the higher price. (For an overview of all of the Fusion models, click here.) And remember, the hybrids will save you money in fuel cost.

2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid
Many controls right at your fingertips on the steering wheel of the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid

Controls Easy Enough for A Busy Mom to Manage

Let’s face it, busy moms do not want like to be overwhelmed by controls that are hard to learn. That’s not a problem in the Ford Fusion: the driver controls are easy to learn and located where you expect them to be. Radio controls are on the touchscreen, the front panel and the steering wheel. Displays are easy to read and contain pertinent information to help you get better gas mileage. The information on the dashboard is customizable and there are tutorials on screen.

The steering wheel holds all the important buttons right at your fingertips: radio channels, radio volume, cruise control, and voice activation buttons. The driver’s armrest was extremely comfortable and perfectly positioned with all the controls easily reachable. The driver’s door had a number pad on the outside edge. With a 5 digit code, I could lock or unlock all the doors with ease. It’s a nice feature for drivers who car keys hiding somewhere in their purse.

2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid
The 8″ touchscreen panel on the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid is just like having a mini computer in the car. Photo: Sara LaFountain

Tech and Safety in the Fusion

The technology in the Fusion is advanced, yet easy to learn. The Sync touchscreen asked me if I would like to pair my phone and with the push of two buttons I was immediately in the Apple CarPlay screen. I loved being able to hear and verbally respond to text messages while I was driving – it’s always great to multi-task. Bluetooth worked like a charm every time. And there were plenty of power sources: a USB and  12V power port in the front console, and a household plug and a second 12V power port in the back seat.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid received the highest 5 star safety rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The Fusion also earned a top safety pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The standard safety features included are: antilock brakes, electronic stability control, and a rearview camera. Several advanced safety features can also be added, including blind spot information systems, lane keeping assist, pre-collision alert with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and automatic parking. We did not find any blind spots in the Fusion.

Greater Gas Mileage in the Fusion

The Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid can be driven in regular or eco mode. There is a button in the center console that allows you to switch between eco and regular driving mode. As a  hybrid non plug-in car, you reap the benefits of great gas mileage without the annoyance of needing to plug it in.

The Fusion is fun to drive, easy to park, and comfortable over short or long distances. We mostly tried city driving in eco mode and got around 38-40 mpg. Since this hybrid model does not plug in, the battery recharges while you drive, so it’s hard to tell exactly how much extra mileage we got when using the battery. 

One of the things I didn’t like about the Fusion was that it did not use the electric motor when we started driving from a complete stop. If I stepped down hard on the accelerator I could hear the gas engine kick in. I expected the car to use the electric motor at that time and have a smoother start.

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Seating in the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid is very spacious. Photo: Sara LaFountain

Enough Space for Kids and Groceries So You Don’t Have to Choose!

The Ford Fusion Hybrid seats 5 in luxurious leather.  The front row felt like you were sitting in a recliner. Plenty of buttons and levers allow you to customize the driver and passenger seats 10 different ways and, if you need to warm up, heated front seats do the trick. Head room is also plentiful even for the family members over 6 feet. The driver’s seat was so nice to sit in, that I might or might not have stayed in the car even after I arrived home from errands!

None of us had any trouble with the doors or getting in and out of the Fusion. Our very tall teens fit comfortably in the back as did our little girl.The back row was most comfortable with 2 kids and the middle seat’s arm rest down. As an added benefit, the lowered arm rest has two large cup holders.

We tried the back row with 3 kids and it was fine for short distances. The person in the middle had enough leg and head room.

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Fold down the rear arm rest for 2 cup holders in the back room and a comfortable place to rest your arms. Photo: Sara LaFountain

The trunk on the Fusion was well designed. Towards the back of the trunk there was a small shelf area we used for sports equipment and backpacks. The 12 cu. ft. of space feels huge compared to other midsize sedans. We went grocery shopping for a party and easily fit 14 bags of groceries along with some big boxes of chips.

The trunk was very easy to fill with cargo. There was a button on the remote, a latch on the trunk, and also a release button right behind the steering wheel. The rear seats can fold down if you need to carry something very large. Most strollers would fit just fine in the trunk since it is so wide.

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14 bags of groceries fit with ease in the trunk of the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid. Photo: Sara LaFountain

All This and Good Looks Too!

The Fusion we drove was a gorgeous shade of metallic blue called “Blue Lightning.”  The black interior paired nicely with the stunning blue exterior. The Fusion is fun to drive and with the new front grille and leather interior, it really feels like you are driving a luxury car. And the quiet interior ride will remind you of cars that are much more expensive.

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The 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid is an affordable car with luxury features and excellent gas mileage. Photo: Sara LaFountain

Our Takeaway From Our Week in the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid? We’re in Love!

We fell in love with the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid. We drove all over Virginia for a week and we still had a 1/4 tank of gas left thanks to the consistently recharging battery that took over intermittently while we drove. The Fusion was super comfortable with plenty of room for our family and our belongings. And it felt luxurious, which made us look forward to every trip. Plenty of space in the trunk meant we had enough room for our cargo,  LED headlights and taillights with chrome trim kept us feeling safe at night, and the Sync system, with the Apple CarPlay kept us connected and entertained.

If you are in the market for an affordable midsize sedan with great gas mileage, you should definitely test drive a 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

How Does the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid Fare as a Used Car?

Reviews are mixed when it comes to the hybrid 2017 Ford Fusion; depending on the location of the vehicle and the amount of use, some drivers have found the sedan performs better than others. But if you’re looking for luxury on a budget alongside great fuel mileage, you’ll want to check out the Fusion — just make sure you give it a test drive to see how it feels for you!

Market Value

A 2017 Ford Fusion can range from $16,000 to $24,000, with the Titanium Hybrid trim often topping that range. Of course, those prices depend on how the car has aged, where it’s located, and any damage it has sustained.

Trouble Spots

Owners have mostly found concerns with the in-car electronics and the power equipment, which includes the hybrid powertrain. There have also been three recalls:

  • The steering wheel can detach during driving
  • The torque converter can fail, leaving the car unable to move
  • Improper welds in the seats can cause luggage to result in serious injury in the event of a crash

You’ll want to drive the car to make sure it has the feel you’ve expected; make sure you ask for any repair history to ensure the recalls have been addressed.

What Owners Are Saying

  • “Handling is good. Acceleration below 30 mph is good. Acceleration at highway speeds is anemic especially on an uphill grade.” – G.S., NY

  • “The drivers seating area doesn’t seem to be as comfortable as the passenger seating area. I leased this car as a friend leased one as was extremely happy with his and we car pool so I spent good amount of time in the passenger seat. When I leased my car the drivers area seamed more crammed to me.” – Tommy M, NY

  • “Great gas mileage for a larger car — can get 30 mpg on highway trips. Acceleration is very good when needed. Handling is good — does not wallow in turns like some larger sedans” – Anonymous, TN

Sara LaFountain
Sara LaFountain

Sara LaFountain is a former teacher and current Blogger and Caterer. Five years ago Sara founded her blog, Cook With 5 Kids. Sara can be found in the car day and night driving her kids all over the DC metro area.

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