By David Colman

Hypes: Remarkable Handling, First Rate Fit and Finish
Gripes: Tiny Info Screen, No Visual HVAC Temp Confirmation

Park the 2013 Fusion next to Ford’s previous model of the same name and you will instantly see that everything has changed but the name. The previous model was so chrome-clad, clumsily styled and ponderous looking that it makes the new Fusion look like Botticelli’s Venus on the Half Shell. Your first impression of the 2013 Fusion’s comparative grace, balance and purpose is not deceiving. This car will be a game changer for Ford because it not only matches but improves upon the competition from Honda (Accord), Toyota (Camry) and Nissan (Altima).
And for family types who seek a little enjoyment from the art of driving, Ford caters to your specific need by selling a manual transmission version of the Fusion. Try buying one of those at your Honda, Toyota or Nissan store.

Let the celebration begin at the Fusion’s as-delivered price of $26,040, which should provoke a case of reverse sticker shock. The base price of the SE is $23,700, with a $1,510 bump for Equipment group 204A (Appearance Package, 18 inch Painted Sports Wheels, Rear Spoiler), and $295 for a Reverse Sensing System (with dashboard camera display). What really made this car a champ is the availability of the 6-speed manual gearbox, with its perfectly weighted shift mechanism, silky clutch engagement, and ideally suited gear ratios. Although the Fusion’s small displacement (1.6 liter),turbocharged inline four produces just 178hp, the slick gearbox allows you to provide a gear set as demand dictates. No waiting for the lethargic up and downshifts of an automatic, which would seep the lifeblood out of this edgy EcoBoost motor.

The 18 inch optional rims notch the sedan into a performance class on a par with BMW 3 Series road burners. Tire fitment for these rims is generous, with Goodyear Eagle LS2 tires measuring 235/45R18 at each corner. Late one night, clear weather and traffic free road conditions conspired to provide the ideal opportunity to test the Fusion’s handling. This sedan is remarkably composed when pushed close to the limit. Ford has dialed understeer out of the SE’s handling portfolio. Turn-in is crisp and precise, and power is sufficient for really quick motoring without oversteer. The Goodyears, which don’t look particularly aggressive in the tread pattern department, never issued a single squeal. Ford has really managed to sort the twisty road performance of this unassuming family car.

The interior is a pleasure to behold. The exceptionally clean looking black cloth seats benefit from red stitching across their 7 cushion, and 9 backrest pleats. Two different shades of metallic burnishing adorn the interior accents. The center stack and door pulls are done in matte aluminum, while the door panel and glovebox trim strips are matte platinum. The basket weave beige headliner looks expensive, and Ford has even seen fit to equip it with 4 hand grabs which are cushioned to retract noiselessly when you let go of them.

Large water bottle holders make the sizeable door pockets really useful, the glove box offers 2 expansive shelves, and even the rear seat is fully equipped, with adequate leg and headroom, and a drop down cupholder/armrest. A final touch exhibits just how far this company has come in terms of design: the keypad which allows you to unlock your car from the outside – formerly a fixed and ugly device – is now seamlessly integrated into the B-pillar as a lit unit which disappears from view after you shut the driver’s door.

If there’s any confusion about the Fusion it’s in the engine choice department. Those of you opting for maximum scat will want to consider the 2.0 liter EcoBoost option which provides 188hp. There’s also a non-turbo 2.5 liter version good for 175hp. But with highway fuel consumption 37MPG, it’s hard to beat the 1.6 liter engine, especially when it’s tied to that superb manual 6-speed transmission.

2013 Ford Fusion SE

• Engine: 1.6 Liter Inline 4, Turbocharged, Direct Injection
• Horsepower: 178hp @5,700rpm
• Torque: 184 lb.-ft. @2,500rpm
• Fuel Consumption: 25 MPG City/37 MPG Highway
• Price as Tested: $26,040
• Star Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars

Ford Fusion Consumer Reviews	Ford Fusion Hybrid Consumer Reviews	Ford Fusion More Expert Reviews	Ford Fusion Hybrid Photo Gallery

By Danny Chang

Pros

• Great MPG
• Decent power
• Amenities galore & cool dash

Cons

• Small trunk due to battery placement
• Interior space a bit tight for a family
• Styling not a strong suit

I have driven both the first generation regular gasoline engine Ford Fusion and its cousin Mercury Milan as rental cars on business trips and I must say I was not particularly impressed. They are perfectly fine mid-size sedans, just nothing to write home about. But I’ve always been intrigued by the Fusion Hybrid. Here was an American sedan with a self-developed hybrid technology that got better mileage than a Toyota Camry? Beating Toyota, the company that started the hybrid craze, at its own game? This I had to see, and drive, for myself. So I was glad to have the chance to drive one down to LA for my sister’s wedding last weekend.

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For a little while, it seemed like the mid-size family sedan was going to go the way of the dodo bird. Starting in the late 90s, folks across America began snapping up SUVs like hotcakes, and those still sticking with four doors and a trunk often migrated upmarket to luxury nameplates.

Take one great recession, add some higher gas prices, and viola, the times have sure changed again. Buyers are downsizing away from expensive, gas-guzzling SUVs, and the market for mid-sized sedans is as competitive as it has ever been. Sure, smaller crossovers are popular and wagons are making a small comeback, but for basic transportation that is also practical and affordable, nothing beats a well made four door sedan.

Selecting just 5 excellent mid-size sedans was tough, as almost every manufacturer offers a competitive product these days. Our top 5 needed to really excel in all areas, including build, performance, design and functionality, and of course value. With this in mind, we feel our finalists are all truly well balanced cars, with no major flaws and a lot to admire.

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By Alex Kramer

What a difference a decade makes. Ten years ago gas was cheap, the SUV was king, and fuel efficiency was one of the last things car buyers were concerned about. Surprisingly, it was also ten years ago that Honda and Toyota introduced a seemingly radical technology that involved strapping batteries and an electric motor to a gas engined car, creating the first hybrids.

Fast forward ten years and the traditional SUV has all but died out, gas is $3 per gallon, and hybrids are as common as apple pie. More importantly, awareness of global warming and our dependence on foreign oil, along with a depressed economy, has made fuel efficiency a far more important criteria for car buyers. This, in turn,  has spurred the automotive industry to pursue smaller, cleaner and more efficient designs. The result is a plethora of choices for buyers seeking a more fuel efficient, greener set of wheels.

Although hybrid cars are perhaps the most effective way to significantly increase fuel efficiency, with 9 out of the top ten most fuel efficient cars featuring a gas electric drivetrain, not everyone will be happy with the increased cost and performance sacrifice that often comes with hybrid ownership. Luckily we now also have a new generation of clean diesels that are nothing like the noisy, smoke belching diesels of the past, instead providing excellent performance along with hybrid worthy fuel efficiency. And for those who are wary of all of this alternative technology, there are finally plenty of efficient, well made small cars available in America.

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by Derek Mau

Pros:

• A much needed bump in power of 11 hp
• Resale value and reliability make Camry a safer investment than the S&P 500
• Auto up/down for ALL four window switches

Cons:

• Missing iPod and iPhone interface
• Hard plastic steering wheel and too many interior hard plastic surfaces
• Driving excitement on the same level as doing your laundry

Toyota has had its share of ups and downs lately, but popularity of their #1 sedan remains strong. The Toyota Camry has been America’s best-selling car for seven consecutive years and 11 of the past 12 years.

For 2010, the Camry receives a midcycle rejuvenation. Most notably, the base four-cylinder engine increases in size from 2.4 to 2.5 liters, with a corresponding 11-hp bump (21 hp on the SE). Now, both the manual and automatic transmissions have six speeds instead of five. Other changes include a restyled grille and taillights, a new optional audio system with satellite radio and Bluetooth® for base and LE models, and auto up/down windows all around. Finally, stability control is now standard across the model range for improved safety.

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By Alex Kramer

Pros:

• Responsive 240 hp V6 engine
• Capable chassis and suspension
• Roomy and comfortable interior
• Good value

Cons:

• Some chintzy interior plastics
• Exterior design still needs work
• Disappointing fuel efficiency

Introduction

Trivia question: Which manufacturer produced the best-selling car in America 15 years ago? If you’re thinking Honda or Toyota, guess again. Although it seems hard to believe, given the recent collapse of the US auto industry, in 1994 the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable reigned supreme, proving that America could beat the foreign competition and build a top-rated, best-selling family sedan.

Unfortunately for Ford, the Taurus/Sable lineup gradually lost its edge and by the late 1990’s Honda and Toyota had firmly re-established their dominance in the market for mid-sized sedans, and it’s been a Camry and Accord love fest every since. Fast forward 10 years and it looks like Ford is finally ready to reclaim its title as the go-to manufacturer for quality family transportation. With the refreshed 2010 Fusion, Ford has an appealing mid-sized sedan that should make the competition more than a little nervous.

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By Greg Gaillard

Hybrids Come of Age

Just 10 years ago Honda released the Insight as the first US mass market hybrid combustion/electric car.  Its two seat aerodynamic teardrop shape, light weight and focused engineering delivered spectacular fuel economy that generated quite a bit of media attention.  In the real world however, the Insight represented significant compromises in terms of utility, performance and perceived safety.  Launched at the height of the SUV boom alongside inexpensive gasoline, sales weren’t significant and to many people the Insight was another Honda engineering experiment; a car that Honda’s Asimo robot might drive, but not something American families would put in their garage.

What a difference a decade makes.  Last week the EPA released its annual Fuel Economy Guide for 2010 and hybrids swept the podium with 9 out of the top 10 MPG scores.  At least in terms of EPA ratings, hybrids are the drivetrain technology of the moment.  Perhaps more important than MPG is how the technology has evolved into a variety of solutions that can be used across a range of body styles without many of the original Insight’s compromises.

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