Ford’s Redesigned 2013 Fusion was the first sedan to offer gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, each with top fuel economy. The Fusion’s widest-ever powertrain portfolio also included automatic and manual transmission offerings and auto start-stop technology.
Key Points
- The redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion has three internal combustion four-cylinder engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5L, and two turbocharged EcoBoost options, a 1.6L, and 2.0L.
- The 1.6L EcoBoost engine makes greater power and better fuel economy than the 2.5L Duratec engine, thanks largely to turbocharging.
- The Fusion also offers a Hybrid and Energi plug-in Hybrid, which provide an economic alternative to the lower-tier engines.
- The 2.0L EcoBoost engine, especially when optioned with all-wheel drive, turns the historically tame Fusion into a proper sports sedan.
- The Hybrid gets a boost from the 2.0L Atkinson-cycle powerplant and get up to 41 mpg combined. The plug-in Energi boasts an mpge (miles per gallon equivalent) of 88.
2013 Fusion’s Base 2.5l Duratec Engine is a Utilitarian Workhorse Producing 175 hp and Getting Up to 33 mpg at Highway Speeds
The 2013 Ford Fusion debuted with a choice between automatic and manual six-speed transmissions, and a broad selection of fuel-efficient powertrains.
The 2.5L Duratec i-VCT four-cylinder engine is the naturally aspirated entry-level engine offered for the 2013 Ford Fusion. The Duratec engine is available only with a six-speed automatic transmission and will manage an average 22 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg at highway speeds. The engine is a utilitarian workhorse that produces 175 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and the same number in torque at 4,500 rpm.
178-Horsepower 1.6L Ecoboost is More Powerful and Offers Better Fuel Economy in a Smaller, More Efficient Package
The Ford Fusion’s EcoBoost engine options are available in 1.6L and 2.0L displacements. The lower tier 1.6L EcoBoost engine produces 178 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. The turbocharger not only produces an additional three horsepower and nine lb.-ft. of torque over the 2.5L Duratec, but it also achieves greater fuel economy.
The 1.6-liter EcoBoost delivers 23 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway when equipped with the automatic transmission option. Ford offered an engine start-stop feature exclusively on the 1.6L EcoBoost, which improves the estimated fuel economy by 3.5 percent. When mated to the six-speed manual transmission, the 1.6L EcoBoost bumps up the average miles per gallon to 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg highway.
The manual transmission also enhances driving performance, managing to hit 60 mph in eight seconds. And its lighter weight allows it to corner more sharply than the 1.6L automatic.
2013 Ford Fusion’s 240-hp 2.0L Ecoboost Engine Provides Decent Fuel Economy at up to 48 mpg
Ford’s 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged engine is the highest performance option available with the 2013 Ford Fusion. When optioned with AWD, it makes for a particularly fast and sporty family sedan. The 2.0L EcoBoost produces 240 hp and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at a low 3,000 rpm, allowing for some spirited acceleration.
The 2013 Ford Fusion only gets better with the addition of AWD in the Titanium trim level. In Motor Trend’s 2013 Ford Fusion First Test review, the 2.0L EcoBoost with AWD hit 60 mph in a respectable 6.8 seconds. The 2.0L EcoBoost provides a fast, smooth performance without sacrificing fuel economy, averaging 22 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway with front-wheel drive. Upgrading to the AWD setup drops the average fuel economy to 22 mpg city and 31 highway.
2013 Fusion Hybrid Gets a Boost from 2.0L Atkinson-cycle Power Plant, Offers 71 mpg
The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid uses Ford’s third-generation hybrid powertrain to marry a naturally aspirated 2.0L Atkinson-cycle engine with an AC synchronous motor to complete the redesigned hybrid system. The Fusion Hybrid incorporates a lithium-ion battery pack and 88-kilowatt motor to provide the electric supplement for the four-cylinder ICE motor.
The 2013 Fusion can be optioned as a plug-in Energi hybrid as well, which includes a larger lithium-ion battery to power the same 88-kilowatt motor. The result of Ford’s hybrid treatment is an estimated 43 mpg in the city and 39 highway with a net horsepower figure of 188. EPA-estimates show the Fusion Energi to have an mpge (miles per gallon equivalent) of 88 when factoring in the model’s ability to run in all-electric mode.
2013 Fusion’s Three Engines are Decent, but the 2.0L Turbocharged EcoBoost is the Fastest Option with the Best Driving Performance
The 2013 Ford Fusion offers several decent engine options that include a 2.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder, 1.6L EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder, and 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder. At the top of the list is the 2.0L turbocharged EcoBoost engine that makes 240 horsepower. And when coupled with AWD, the 2.0L engine makes the 2013 Ford Fusion Titanium a true sports sedan.
Photos: Ford
