As recent sales results show, the Ford Motor Company is continuing to attract a wide range of fans to its wide range of high-quality cars, trucks and crossovers. And now it’s time to add some more: A partnership between Parents magazine, Edmunds.com and a panel of American families has chosen the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Ford Flex as new members of the “Best Family Cars of 2010″ list.
The Fusion hybrid, which also was named “North American Car of the Year” at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, got the nod in the “Hybrid” category for its ability to deliver excellent fuel efficiency in a “no compromises” package: The Ford’s EPA ratings of 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway/39 mpg combined show the unmistakable benefits of an advanced hybrid power train, but the Fusion still provides the kind of driving experience that families expect from a traditional sedan. Well, from a traditional Fusion sedan, anyway.
That’s because, like the “regular” Fusion, the hybrid model offers a wealth of Ford safety technology, including a full complement of air bags, a blind-spot information system, a rear view camera and reverse sensing functionality that can alert drivers to potential hazards behind the car when it’s in reverse, even if neither the driver nor the rearview camera can see them. In addition, the Fusion is available with the Ford-only SYNC in-car connectivity, entertainment and information system, which allows owners to control many of the car’s functions using hands-free voice commands. SYNC is one of the most asked-about features, according to Santa Cruz Ford.
For larger families, the Ford Flex was named to the list in the “Big Car” category. When size really matters, the Flex can be configured to seat up to seven people while still providing an ample supply of in-cabin storage spaces and cargo room. Plus, Ford makes it simple for those passengers–and that cargo–to get in and out of the vehicle. The eye-catching crossover features a low step-in height for both simple ingress/egress and a custom exterior look, as well as a power liftgate for easy access to the Flex’s rear cargo well.
The Flex offers a large array of safety technologies, too. Among them: AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control. According to Ford, this is “the only stability control system with gyroscopic sensors measuring both vehicle roll and turning rates” and can help protect against potential rollover situations. The Flex also comes standard with Ford’s Safety Canopy, a system of side curtain air bags that can deploy between the outboard passengers’ heads and the vehicle’s side glass for an extra measure of protection. Which goes a long way toward explaining why the Flex also was named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Safety ranks as one of the most important factors on drivers’ shopping lists, Egg Harbor Ford says.
And while customers are likely to see the Flex and Fusion on a lot more winners’ lists before they’re through, the best place to see family friendly vehicles like these is still your local Ford dealership.
* * *
Read more Ford news on this blog. Subscribe now for the latest.
You must log in to post a comment.