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Fusion Hybrid owners rate the car at the top of the Hybrid Car class in AutoPacific’s 2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards.  As the class winner, owners of the Fusion Hybrid don’t want much changed with the significant exception of cargo room.  The battery pack compromise cargo room and over 50% of Fusion Hybrid owners want more cargo room.  Similar to the normally powered Fusion, about 30% want the car to be easier to get into and out of and about 25% want better visibility.  About 15% want a softer ride.  Fusion Hybrid owners most like the seat comfort of the car.  The Fusion Hybrid outpoints the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, a sibling to the Fusion, by only a few points.

 Hybrid Car

For vehicles equipped with two powertrains, one gas and one battery-powered, or pure electric vehicles like the Nissan LEAF, they all fall into the hybrid segment.  This segment includes vehicles from the Honda CR-Z to the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid.  Customers are primarily focused on fuel economy.

 Ideal Vehicle Award

Each year AutoPacific surveys new car and light truck buyers via mail and Internet about their new vehicle in order to learn more about their purchase experience, attribute importance and satisfaction, lifestyle, preferences, vehicle use, personal characteristics, desired features and more. Respondents to this survey are owners of new 2011 model-year cars and trucks purchased from September through December 2010.  The questionnaire was administered in January and March 2011. The 2011 Ideal Vehicle Awards are based on scores developed using results from a part of this survey that focuses on the consumers’ desire to change their vehicle if given the opportunity.  Respondents rate 15 attributes indicating whether they want them to be changed (larger, smaller, more or less) or not changed (stay the same) after having driven their vehicle for 90 days. Those vehicles wanting the LEAST CHANGE win the IVA for their class.  A total of 72,917 respondents provided input for these awards.