Ford Fusion Hybrid

I haven't written a vehicle review in a long time. I had the occasion to rent a vehicle last weekend while visiting my sister in Virginia.

I picked a Ford Fusion Hybrid from the National Car rental aisle at DCA National Airport. I like renting  from National because you get to pick your vehicle.

It was after midnight and I really just wanted to get to my hotel in Herndon, VA. I own a hybrid Escape so am accustomed to hybrids. However, right away I was a bit confused because there isn't a shifter. The normal drive, neutral and reverse are operated by a knob on the console between the front seats. Once I figured that out, the large rear camera screen with directional guides was very helpful getting out of the cramped parking garage.

On the highway I noticed that the Fusion Hybrid goes into electric mode at any speed. My 2011 Escape Hybrid will not go electric over 45 mph. The transition between electric, gas and combo in the Fusion is virtually undetectable.

The Fusion Hybrid has to be the most technologically advanced vehicle I have ever driven. There are lots of bells and whistles for sure but they don't interfere with enjoying the driving experience.

I had some difficulty understanding the radio but that ended up being because I thought all the controls were on the touch screen but they are not. Connecting my phone for handsfree communication was very simple. That is helpful when traveling.

Ford has announced they are ending automobile production in the United States. I find that very strange but I hope they take the technology in the Fusion Hybrid to the next generation of SUVs.

Christmas in Charlotte

Mr. Christmas that is. My friendly National Rental Car return agent.  Somehow Christmas almost always is the guy who is there when I drive on to return my rental.  Familiar and happy faces are always welcomed.

Buick Enclave

Now that I'm back to traveling, I'll be doing my vehicle reviews again.  Hopefully since it has been a while, there will be some new models to drive.

When the shuttle pulled into the rental lot, there was the Buick Enclave right at the end.  I don't recall having had this vehicle before.  I was too anxious because I didn't realize until I got to the office that the key did not have a fob.

Not having a fob breaks one of my cardinal renting rules but it was too late.  It drove me crazy for the rest of the week.

The Enclave is a big vehicle.  It sits fairly tall and is quite wide...deceptively so.  It is actually kind of tricky to park because it is so wide. 

I am a rearview mirror user. The Enclave has a backup camera.  The display is in the rearview mirror.  The display is seamlessly integrated and is quite large..like half the mirror.  I actually found the size to be distracting. Probably once you've used it for a while, the camera and its display would be helpfull. Better get used to it because I think the backup camera and display are going to be standard.

The Enclave does not get very good gas mileage but I don't think that is why people buy one.  You definitely feel safe in this one. 

But there is a design flaw..a small but iritating one.  It was a stormy rainy week in Charlotte so the wipers were important.  I could not for the life of me find the control for the rear wiper.  Being a crossover, the back glas gets roadspray so the rear wiper is very important.  Granted I should have researched the control loacation when I first got the car but I didn't.

It wasn't until the next day in daylight that I finally found the switch. The flaw is that the control is hidden by the shifter.  Even when you know where it is, the control is difficult to use.

Overall the Enclave is a very nice vehicle. I don't think I'd want one though.

Nissan Maxima

For my last week in Denver (last week) I nabbed a new Nissan Maxima.  I was wishing the National Car Rental greeter a Happy Valentines Day just as the Maxima was being brought into the lot.  She smiled and gestured me to the car.

This was a new vehicle with just 4,000 miles and the new model version.  This version of the Maxima has much more bent medal than the older models.  The hood has folds in from the fenders and a fold at the center.  From inside the car it looks like a sexy wave.  And the rear has hips.

The interior is very roomy and comfortable.  One co-worked had a truck and the other a Toyota Yarris so it was up to me to drive to all our outings.  So roomy and comfortable that at least one person fell asleep as the Maxima cruised quietly and smoothly on the highway.

There is plenty of power at all speeds...from the stop light controlled highway entrance to passing at 60 miles per hour. The gauges are simple and large.  The tachometer indicator starts at the bottom of its large display and sweeps way to the top.  The redline is above 6,000 rpms.

This model was equipped with automatic HVAC temperature controls.  It really makes things easy not having to fiddle with the fan and temperature controls.  The seats are comfortable and have multi-way power control.

I think you can tell I really liked the Nissan Maxima.

National Car Rental really did step up to my complaint about having a supervisor in the return lane.  But the Maxima was put in the rental lanes having had the windshield wiped with a very dirty cloth.  It makes it difficult to see especially when the sun hits the smeared glass.  And it is impossible to remove without special rags or cleaning fluid.

Chrysler 300 (Touring)

I decided to go with a big car this week which will come into play later.

I think the 300 is a big car.  It looks big from the outside. It has those thin, mysterious, sinister looking windows all around.  I thought it would be difficult to see all around with this type of window design.  But it isn't.  I didn't notice any more blind spots than in any other vehicle.

Chrysler has gone very analog in this "Touring" version of the 300.  There is an analog clock in the center of the dash similar to Cadillac.  Even the A/C-heating is analog...knobs to adjust the temperature even in auto setting.  I have not seen that on any other vehicle.

The 300 has very good acceleration from all speeds...complete stop to passing.  The leather seats are comfortable.  The one thing that bugged me was a wind noise from the rear driver side.  Apparently the window or door fit is not exact.  These little noise nuisances are a big deal for me because it shows problems with workmanship.

Now to the big car effect.  It snowed in Denver this week.  A big car means a lot of surface area for snow to pile up on.  National Car did supply a decent size snow brush...thank goodness.  It was placed on the dash, whether on purpose or not, which made it very easy to find though not easy to reach as the dash is nearly 2 feet deep.

And now a compliment to National Car Rental.  As you may remember I had a very bad time with them in Denver the last time.  This time the experience was completely the opposite.  My reservation ended up on the wrong credit card again...I still don't know how that is happening.  But this time the supervisor was out in the check-in.  He took me immediately to a convenient counter and processed the correction quickly....though he had to press about a million keys and cycle through a dozen screens.  I greatly appreciated the quick fix.

2010 Ford Taurus

Rented from National again.  This time I kind of "shopped" for a vehicle.  National lets you choose your car unlike Hertz that assigns one to you.  I wanted something new or different. 

Saw a new Mazda3.  The trunk wasn't open so I got the key.  No key remote operation so rejected.  Saw a Volkswagen Beettle which I've had before and wasn't really interested in.  Then saw a new Ford Taurus parked in the Premium lane.  Figured I'd take it and see if they said anything.

I saw a bunch of these new Taurus's when I was in Bentonville.  The new model has a masculine, angular design.  You can tell a Ford when you in one.  The driver and passenger seating is cockpit-like with the high center console and substantial door trim.  GM's are generally more open and airy inside.

The new Ford Taurus is very fun to drive.  Dallas had the biggest snow storm ever on Thursday.  A co-worker and I went out for lunch and the Taurus had not problem with the snow and slush.

Some techno-features are indoor ambient lighting that is not only adjustable in intensity but also color -- 2 shades of blue, orange, red and green.  There is also a back camera which in itself is getting more standard but the display is actually in the rear view mirror.  It takes a bit to get used to the rear view image because I'm so used to using all the mirrors.  There is also proximity alarms when backing up.

The nicest feature is the simpliest.  The windshield wiper control simply requires turning the signal stem.  Intermittent is the first few turns and just keep turning to get continuous swipe and fast swipe.  Simply and intuitive.

The indoor trunk button is over on the passenger side which is kind of odd but at least there is an interior release.  The gear shift is in the center console and too close to the dash and cup holders.  In Park the shifter is too close to the dash.  In Drive it is tricky to use the cup holder.

Overall this is a great vehicle.  I was the first person to drive it.  There were only 5.1 miles on the odometer.  The fuel filler is a new design that doesn't require a cap.  The "Check Fuel Filler" info came on.  I opened the gas hatch door and accidently removed what ever the funnel thing is that fits outside the filler pipe.  I could not get it back on.  I'm thinking this design might need more work.

Ford Flex

Finally a new vehicle to rent.  Back at National Car Rental where you get to pick your vehicle.  I wouldn't normally pick a large rental like the Ford Flex but I've been wanting to test one and figured I wasn't driving very much.

From the outside, it looks quite large and is shaped like a shoe box.  The floor is low though so easy to get in and out of.  The front seats sit on a pedestal so you ride high like a truck.  The pedestal kind of makes it cramped for your feet though.

The ride is very smooth and being up high and with plenty of glass, it is very easy to see around.  There is an available third row of seats.  They were in the seat position when I picked up the vehicle and I tried to lower them for my suitcase but couldn't figure it out.  There was a Ford Flex commercial on tv during the week and the lady had her hands full of groceries and flipped the seats with one hand.  I was able to after seeing the commercial.

There was one big problem.  The merge ramps to get on the highways around Texas are not very long and Texas drivers are not good mergers.  I floored the gas pedal to get me in the traffic but the Flex had a really hard time finding a gear and the vehicle actually started to swerve as the engine over-reved.  It was more than a little scary but I let up on the gas and it calmed itself.

I cannot recommend the Ford Flex given the above reaction.