Ford’s most recent round in the war opposed to the annoyingly-dominant Honda Accord and Toyota Camry has been rotating heads, and it’s simple to make sure why with emphatically individual look. Is the Fusion more than a pretty appearance, though? To attain prohibited, we drove it in a very unorthodox situation: A frozen test track in rural Michigan. Sure, the Fusion can tackle the morning go back and forth, but will it lose its cool on ice?
That appearance
The Fusion really steps to the fore of the cram with its styling. Taking part in a segment with the purpose of includes lookers like the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Mazda6, the Ford’s chiseled ranks and silky profile still post prohibited. The 2013 Ford Fusion is so delightful looking, retail individual might almost be considered a broadcast service as it would assign all and sundry in addition something finicky to look on while they’re wedged in traffic.
Cockpit conundrum
Unfortunately, with the purpose of without equal design fades away after you ajar the entry. The interior is a mix of poles apart plastics, plus tacky wood-like material and a glossy black material with the purpose of looks like it will scuff and smudge without difficulty.
The midpoint stack’s touchscreen is enclosed by ridges like on nearly other Ford models, which does pick up usability. However, flanked by the touchscreen, midpoint stack, buttons, steering circle buttons, and the multifunction gauge parade, there’s a assortment designed for the driver to take in.
The (optional) MyFord Touch infotainment method has probably conventional as much evaluation as the Fusion’s styling has conventional praise. It looks like with the purpose of will linger the defense designed for the moment being. While Ford has tried to massage the system’s lag with software tweaks, the method still behaves erratically, and remains sluggish after rifling through various menus.
Infotainment aside, the seats were comfortable, but plus get something done a delightful job of holding the driver in place for the period of cornering. It was simple to attain a delightful driving opinion, and the rear seats were plus surprisingly voluminous.
Under the skin
We drove a front-wheel drive Fusion SE with the 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, and an all-wheel drive Fusion Titanium with the 2,0-liter EcoBoost. The 1.6 produces 173 horsepower (178 hp on premium) and 184 pound-feet of torque; the 2.0 bumps individuals statistics to 231 hp (240 hp on premium) and 270 lb-ft. Both cars had six-speed automatic transmissions and wore all-season tires.
While the Fusion’s natural surroundings is a Starbuck’s parking assortment, it plus handled quite well on the snow and ice in Michigan. We were able to squeeze a calm drift in the all-wheel drive car around a snow-covered circular track, and it was very predictable and handy on the sharply usage courses we tried.
Even the front-wheel drive SE was able to keep its composure. It was able to get through to the same speeds we got prohibited of the all-wheel drive car, albeit with much more effort and designed for shorter periods of moment.
Both Fusions were very lively, with quick steering and engines with the purpose of were eager to rev, allowing us to manufacture the nearly all of what did you say? Restricted traction we had. With Ford’s electronic all-wheel drive and torque vectoring systems on be successful, we felt pretty comfortable, even while sideways. If you plan to drive through a nuclear winter in way, this is the car designed for you.
MPG
Ford relies on its turbocharged EcoBoost engines to get something done the job of a geologically aspirated V6, with a consequential fuel financial prudence bribe. The 1.6-liter/six-speed automatic/front-wheel drive combination is rated on 24 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined by the EPA. The 2.0-liter engine with an automatic and all-wheel drive is rated on 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.
Ford plus offers a Fusion Hybrid and a plug-in Fusion Energi. Both offer sizeable fuel financial prudence gains, but they plus charge sizeable premiums finished predictable Fusion models.
Price
With so many choices, it’s not surprising with the purpose of the Fusion covers a large consequences range. A opening consequences of $20,995 buys a build Fusion S with a 2.5-liter Duratec four; upgrading to an EcoBoost SE like our test car will raise with the purpose of come to to $25,060 rather than options. The all-wheel drive Titanium starts on $32,745. There’s more: A loaded plug-in Fusion Energi Titanium starts on $39,495.
Conclusion
Every moment an American manufacturer takes on the lauded Camry and Accord, it makes designed for an attractive story, mostly as it on no account seems to be successful prohibited. With the 2013 Fusion, Ford tried to bang the Japanese titans somewhere they are weakest by concentrating on way, usage, and tech.
The Fusion’s gorgeous outer is hindered by its underwhelming interior and difficult infotainment interface. Hardcore techies might attain with the purpose of inviting, but other buyers could not plan to deal with the tech bells and whistles.
However, as a car, the Fusion moving parts. It’s fuel efficient, comfortable, and surprisingly nimble on snow and ice. With such a delightful build to be successful rotten of, let’s hope Ford can massage the ergonomic issues and revolve the Fusion into a midsize sedan with the purpose of is more than emphatically a pretty appearance.
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