Although both the 2020 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Prius can seat five people, how do you know which is the better-rounded family commuter car? These popular hybrid vehicles both seem to have a committed following, so we have put together a quick comparison of them to help in the search for your new vehicle.
Price
There is only about a $1,000 difference between the starting price of these competitors with the Fusion starting at $23,170 and the Prius starting at $24,325. Either car comes at an affordable price point making them accessible to most anybody in the market for a hybrid.
Fuel Efficiency
The Fusion starts off strong with an impressive 43 mpg City / 41 mpg Highway. However, it is no match for the Prius which gets an astounding top fuel efficiency of 58 mpg City / 53 mpg Highway.
Mechanical
One of the largest differences found in this pairing is the mechanics behind each car. The Prius has a 1.8L 4-cylinder ECVT Hybrid Engine compared to the more impressive 2.0L i-VCT Atkinson-cycle Hybrid Engine found in the Fusion. There is no debate that the Prius has the greater gas mileage, on the other hand, the Fusion beats the Prius hand over fist when it comes to power output. The Fusion can produce up to 188 horsepower and 129 lb. ft. torque whereas the Prius only produces up to 96 horsepower and 105 lb. ft. torque.
Infotainment
The Fusion Hybrid comes standard with a 9-speaker sound system, compared to the 7-speaker sound system of the Prius. The Fusion also has a larger available 12-speaker Sony® sound system with HD radio technology, which again outdoes the available 10-speaker JBL sound system with HD radio the Prius offers.
A navigation system is offered as an upgrade in the Prius, while the Voice-Activated Navigation System with SiriusXM and Travel Link® comes standard on all Fusion Hybrid vehicles.
Both hybrids come with Wi-Fi capabilities, however the Prius also offers up to three USB charging points and available wireless charging capabilities. The Fusion does come with two 12-volt powerpoints compared to the one in the Prius.
Another benefit the Fusion has over the Prius is its standard two 4.2” Driver Configurable LCD Display Instrument Cluster. The Prius only comes with a single 4.2” multi-informational display.
Interior Comfort / Convenience
When it comes to the interior, the Fusion takes this one hands-down. Upgraded seating options in the Fusion include Leather-trimmed heated and cooled front seats, whereas the Prius’ available upgraded seating is synthetic leather they call SofTex. The upgraded seats in the Prius also only come with heated capabilities, and don’t offer cooling. Once again with the upgradable steering wheel, the Prius’ upgraded option is the same SofTex synthetic heated leather compared to the all leather-wrapped heated steering wheel offered in the Fusion.
Each of these hybrids come with their own version of temperature controls. The Fusion comes standard with Dual-Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control with Rear A/C vents and a Cabin Particulate Air Filter. The Prius comes with Smart-Flow climate control including a pollen filtration. This system in the Prius restricts airflow to unoccupied seats, directing most/all of the air to those seats that are occupied, which helps maintain a more comfortable temperature while ensuring an impressive fuel efficiency. The Fusion comes with an EcoSelect button which is similar to the climate control system in the Prius, where, if selected, it slightly alters things like the acceleration speed and energy utilized in heating/cooling the cabin to increase fuel efficiency when desired.
Both vehicles come with Push Button Start and have available intelligent access capabilities. The Fusion is the only one of the two that comes standard with MyKey®. This feature allows you to program different key fobs with certain restrictions to help better manage teen drivers.
If you’ll be carrying passengers in the back, the Fusion will keep your company comfortable. Rear legroom in the Fusion exceeds that of the Prius by about 5”. It also provides about 2.5” more rear hip room and about 3.5” more rear shoulder room, which ensures the passengers in the Fusion will have room to spread out.
Safety Technology
The Fusion and Prius provide many standard and available safety features to ensure a more confident driving experience. They both come standard with a Lane-Keeping System, Hill Start Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Auto-High Beam Headlamps, Rear View Camera, SOS Post-Crash Alert, and Brake Assist.
The Prius has some additional safety features which require an upgrade that come standard in the Fusion. These include:
- Rain-Sensing Wipers
- Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert
- Reverse Sensing System
Conclusion
If you are looking for a hybrid vehicle solely for its fuel efficiency, the Prius is the way to go. However, if you are looking for the complete hybrid package, the Fusion is the winner of that battle. Between increased power, a higher-quality interior, more passenger space, premium audio options, and additional safety features, the Fusion is the more functional choice for everyday family and commuting use.