2015 Ford Fusion Energi (photos)

The 2015 Ford Fusion Energi is a hybrid with a little extra.

This is the Titanium trim level -- top of the line.

The Fuson Hybrid is good for an estimated 38 mpg combined.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine and an 88 kW permanent magnet AC synchronous electric motor.

The 2015 Ford Mustang has the Fusion to thank for many elements of its design.

The Kinetic design is also shared with the likes of the Focus and the Fiesta.

The low profile spoiler doesn't attract a lot of attention, but adds a nice touch to the Fusion's rear.

Being a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) the Fusion has an enlarged battery pack tucked into it's trunk.

The 7.6kWh lithium-ion battery blocks the rear seat pass-through and nearly halves the amount of cargo room.

The Fusion's battery can be recharged by plugging in to add up to 20 miles of full-electric range.

Charging from a wall outlet takes about 7 hours, but using a 240V fast charger cuts that time down to 2 and a half hours.

Depending on your driving habits and charging frequency, the Fusion Energi's tailpipe may not see much use.

Although the gasoline engine can recharge its battery pack enough to continue operating as a hybrid, plugging in is required to totally recharge the pack.

On the road, the Fusion Energi is quiet and comfortable.

Acceleration is good and the transitions between gasoline and electric power is seamless.

Hard acceleration causes the engine to hum loudly and tunelessly, but the electric torque keeps things running smoothly.

The interior has a premium look and a well-appointed feel.

The only transmission option is an eCVT. There's no sport or eco program; it just works.

Banks of buttons awkwardly placed on the edges of the center tunnel provide quick access to driver aid and safey features.

The audio and climate controls are also scattered haphazardly across the dashboard, but I like the large central volume knob.

MyFord Touch is a mixed bag. Parts of this infotainment system are well designed and snappy, others are laggy and weird.

Map data in particular takes a few seconds to load. You can watch chunks of street pop into view.

Fortunately, the Ford Sync voice command system is just a steering wheel button away. This has always been one of the best voice activation systems in the biz.

We also like the MyFord Touch digital dashboard with its dual screens and large physical speedometer.

Drivers can customize these displays on the fly to display as much or as little information as possible.

Extremely detailed hybrid and EV data help the driver to maximize fuel economy.

The inflatable seatbelts on the rear seats are a unique safety feature.

The MyFord Touch system has built in tools and timers to allow the owner to schedule their Fusion Energi charge when electricity is the cheapest.

Most of the audio inputs can be found in the center console. The SD card slot, however, is dedicated to the map data.

The optional Ford Active Park Assist feature is an automatic parallel parking system that can find and steer into a space with minimal driver input. The system default to scanning the right side of the car, but activating the left turn signal can scan the other side of the road.