The 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid.

In my past life as a radio disc jockey (a long time ago), I often wondered why certain records weren't bigger hits.  Singles or albums that seemed to have everything going for them that just didn't crack the top ten (or in some cases, the top 100). 

Same with cars.  And a great example is the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid.

2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid.

The gasoline-electric hybrid moment (decade and a half, really) appears to be passing.  Battery technologies are improving, advances in range and charging times make cars like the Tesla Models S, X and 3 as well as the Chevy Bolt not only possible, but practical.  The smart money is on pure electrics overtaking hybrids soon.

But during that time when hybrids were hot (at least in certain parts of the country, not least of all here in Northern California), why not the Ford Fusion Hybrid?  During the years when the Toyota Prius seemed to be the new millennium Model T, why wasn't the Fusion, with its more conventional yet very attractive styling, and larger capacity for people and their things, the best-seller?

2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid instrument panel.

That was the question constantly on my mind during a recent week in the 2017 Ford Fusion Titanium Hybrid.  It just seems to check all the boxes.  Here's a car that, even in uplevel Titanium trim, starts with a base price of only $31,010, bringing with it a 2.0-liter gasoline four combined with an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission working toward...and actually achieving...an EPA-estimated 43 miles per gallon city and 41 highway. 

Fog lamps, solar-tinted glass, LED headlamps, power heated mirrors with memory and turn signal indiators, aluminum sport pedals, ambient lighting, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone electronic climate control, leather-trimmed seats, heated and with 10-way power adjustments for the driver and front passenger, three 12-volt power outlets, two smart charging USB ports, a 12-speaker Sony audio system with HD Radio, remote keyless entry, remote start, reverse sensing and a backup camera, all of it standard.

And even with options (ours had a $995 enhanced active parking assist package, $1,190 for adaptive cruise with stop and go and $1,575 for the Driver Assist Package with lane-keeping assist and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert), the total price, after $875 destination and delivery and a $490 "Sync and Sound" discount, was just $35,155.  Which is within walking distance of a loaded Prius. 

Yes, there's a 10 MPG gap between the Fusion's EPA estimates and the Prius', but that gap was smaller when the hybrid market was hot.   And even though there's been some cooling, a hybrid is the more practical choice for a lot of families still.   If you're among them, you should absolutely consider the Fusion.

The 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Earlier this week, our Publisher and Executive Editor wrote a highly favorable review of the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi, which is a plug-in hybrid.  Plug-in hybrids have their advantages, namely greater pure electric range before switching over to the standard gasoline/electric hybrid mode, but they also have drawbacks.

For those of us who are apartment dwellers, a plug-in is less practical.  We are unlikely to have 240-volt chargers in our garage---or a garage, for that matter.  Running an extension cord from your apartment is likely to get you evicted, or at the very least, your extension cord stolen. And that's why Ford makes a non-plug-in version as well, which is what we drove.

2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid badging.

The 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid is as simple as it comes.  Put gasoline in the tank when the fuel gauge indicates it is low.  The electric part takes care of itself, thanks to regeneration from braking and other sources inside the car itself.

2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid regenerative braking gauge.

The Fusion Hybrid not only regenerates energy through braking, but a handy gauge reports back to you on how efficiently you brake, coaching you on your technique to maximize the amount of energy that is put back into the hybrid batteries.

It may not have the extended pure electric range of the Energi, but once that's gone, the Fusion Hybrid and the Energi return the exact same EPA-estimated 43 miles per gallon in the city and 41 on the highway.

2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid instrument panel.

There are four trim levels for the 2017 Ford Fusion Hybrid.  S is the base, SE next, followed by Titanium and the top-of-the-line Platinum.

Our test vehicle was the SE.  Base price $26,840, with automatic halogen headlamps, intermittent wipers, power front seats, dual-zone electronic climate control, active noise cancellation, hill start assist, remote keyless entry, push-button start, a rear view camera, 17-inch wheels and a nine-speaker audio system with SiriusXM Satellite Radio all standard.

That is an extremely reasonable price for a very well-equipped car, but as usual, our test vehicle had options:

• The SE Hybrid Luxury Package:  Memory driver's 10-way power seat, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, bright exterior window and door trim moldings, body-colored door handles with chrome inserts, intelligent access with remote start, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED fog lamps with chrome bezel, LED headlamps and taillamps, upgraded heated sideview mirrors, with memory, turn indicators, auto-dimming on the driver's side and security approach lamps and warm interior accents.  $2,995.
• Burgundy Velvet paint.  $395.
• Upgraded 17-inch premium wheels, bundled with a reverse sensing system and the SYNC 3 infotainment suite.  $995.
• Enhanced active park assist.  $995.
• Adaptive cruise with stop and go. $1,190.
• Driver assist package with lane keeping system, blind spot information system and cross-traffic alert. $1,575.