#01#Accord, Camry and Altima... The engineers that designed the Ford Fusion must know these names pretty well considering they were the benchmark for the stylish mid-size sedan. Ford's stylists did a great job on the Fusion. It certainly stands out from the crowd and must surely rate as one of the best-looking blue ovals to hit the streets.
Based on the highly successful
Mazda6 architecture, the Fusion measures 190.2 inches in length (3.4 inches longer than the Mazda) and is minimally broader. The structure was completely conceived on a computer and is significantly stiffer than the already rigid Mazda...
Compared to its long list of rivals in this segment, the Fusion is, dimensionally, very similar. Slightly shorter than the previous generation Taurus sedan, the styling is striking from both front and rear. The noble nose consists of three bold chrome slats that make up the oversized grille. Large rectangular headlights swoop up into each front fender. At the rear, pyramid-shaped tail lamp lenses work their magic to give the Fusion a cool, futuristic appearance.
The Fusion certainly attracted much more attention than most other Fords I've driven in the past few years. I was bombarded by questions and stares from passersby and fellow motorists, which says something for the job done by the design team.
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Inside, the Ford Fusion's cabin is a breath of fresh air compared to older Ford sedans. Its clean-cut lines and matching textures make for a modern, trendy appearance. The quality of the plastics is still not on a par with the import-brand competition, but it's close. Build integrity is also solid. The leather upholstered front seats are comfy and supportive, and most adults will be happy riding in the Fusion's spacious back seat. Forward visibility from the cockpit is good, but a high rear deck detracts from the sightlines when backing up; a minor annoyance many Fusion owners have also noted.
The Fusion is available with a choice of two power plants; there's a 2.3-liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder, or a 3-liter DOHC 24-valve V6. As a result, the Fusion will cater to a broader spectrum of buyer, from the more budget conscious, who can expect to fork out $17k for the base model, to the more up-market $22k SEL. The four-cylinder I4S model delivers 160 horsepower and 156lb. ft of torque, while the V6 SEL, which we drove, pumps out 221 horsepower and 205lb.ft of torque.
Ford's V6 gets the job done. It's not the most exciting six-cylinder unit out there today and lags in power compared to the Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima, but it's not a bad choice for this car. Power delivery is relatively smooth and quiet and we recorded a 22mpg gas mileage during our time at the wheel, which was decent, considering it was driven over a series of 10,000ft mountain passes.
Four-cylinder Fusions will come with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 offers a compact six-speed automatic. Every Fusion is equipped with rack-and-pinion steering and independent suspension with 24mm stabilizer bars front and rear. The six-cylinder adds a one-millimeter thicker bar at the rear. Four-wheel disc brakes are standard, while ABS with electronic brake-force distribution is optional. The fact that Ford does not offer stability control on the 2007 Fusion could be termed a major oversight and certainly is a disadvantage in the battle for this sector of the market.
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Driving our local mountain passes was enough to convince us of the Fusion's composure. The SEL's chassis responds to directional changes and steering inputs instantaneously. The four-wheel disc brakes are fine, but lacked the bite we expected. It's crazy that ABS is not standard, but just optional on the base models. The SEL model has it as a standard feature. The optional all-wheel drive system also worked very well in slushy conditions on the mountainous drive we took.
In summary, the Ford Fusion is not the leader in this segment as far as performance, handling or value-for-money is concerned. It's also not at the bottom of the totem pole in this segment. This is one of those middle of the road models, that stands out in the styling department and does everything well, but simply doesn't outshine its main rivals. One of its major strengths is the price tag, which aggressively brings Ford back into the mid-size arena. Overall, a commendable job from the blue oval, but not enough to knock the Camry or Accord from their perches.
2007 Ford Fusion range overview
- Ford Fusion I4 S FWD: $17.995
- Ford Fusion I4 SE FWD: $18,920
- Ford Fusion I4 SEL FWD: $20,010
- Ford Fusion V6 SE FWD: $21,645
- Ford Fusion V6 SEL FWD: $22,735
- Ford Fusion V6 SE AWD: $24,090
- Ford Fusion V6 SEL AWD: $25,180
