The 2010 Ford Fusion, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Milan have all received ”Top Safety Pick” honors from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid offers 41 mpg city while the Ford Escape Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market. Ford hybrids offer a good combination of safety and fuel economy; Fusion and Milan hybrids join the Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrids as the only vehicles in their class that lead in fuel economy, “Top Safety Pick” awards and exclusive safety technologies.

The new Fusion Hybrid’s fuel economy bests the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city. It also features Ford’s innovative SmartGauge with EcoGuide, which coaches hybrid drivers to maximize fuel efficiency.

In addition, the new Fusion and Milan offer three gas engine options – the Duratec 2.5-liter I-4 and enhanced 3.0-liter V-6 and 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engines. Fusions equipped with the 2.5-liter I-4 engine are expected to get at least 3 mpg better on the highway than the Honda Accord and 2 mpg better than the Toyota Camry. The 3.5-liter V-6 powers the Fusion Sport model.

Fusion’s Side-Protection Elements Include:

• Two energy absorbing foam blocks between the inner door panels and interior trim, aligned with the occupants’ chest and hip.
• Side-intrusion beams inside the door, anchored at the hinge and latch areas.
• Tailor-welded steel in the B-pillar structure with extra thickness above the beltline.
• Seat-deployed thorax air bags for front occupants and side-curtain air bags for head protection in both rows.

Exclusive Features:

Exclusive features include on the new Fusion and Milan are the Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert and 911 Assist.

Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Alert uses two multiple-beam radars in the rear quarter panels (one per side). The Blind Spot Information System checks the defined blind spot zone, which is about 10 feet from the back of the bumper to the outside mirrors. When a vehicle is detected, an amber light in the outside mirror of whichever side the vehicle is on lights up.

Cross Traffic Alert notifies the driver of impending traffic when backing out of a parking spot and warns the driver when a vehicle is detected within three car widths of either side of the car. As with the Blind Spot Information System, the driver is warned with a light in the outside mirror on the side of the traffic. A warning beep is also sounded.

Both the 2010 Fusion and Milan include 911 Assist, a new feature integrated into the Ford SYNC hands-free system. 911 Assist will place a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event that an accident activates an air bag or the emergency fuel cutoff occurs. Unlike competitive systems that are routed through an intermediate call center, 911 Assist places the call directly to the 911 operator. Ford Escape also features SYNC with 911 Assist.

Fusion and Milan’s Standard Safety Features Also Include:

• Six Standard Air Bags
• BeltMinder
• LATCH
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Both Fusion and Milan offer AdvanceTrac electronic stability control as standard equipment. The safety system uses sensors to detect and measure side-to-side skidding conditions by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When AdvanceTrac senses wheel slip, engine torque is reduced and braking is applied where needed to help the driver keep the car tracking on its intended path.

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