Ford Fusion

At its debut, the Ford Fusion was nothing less than a landmark car for the company. With the Fusion, Ford once again had a strong midsize sedan contender, something it hadn't seen since the first Taurus of the mid-1980s. Savvy consumers have taken notice of the Fusion's spacious cabin, responsive driving dynamics, solid build quality and attractive styling.
In addition to its family-friendly features, the Fusion provides a sporty, involving drive -- a rare quality in this segment and one that most folks can appreciate. Although we've been understandably most impressed by the most recent generation, any Fusion should be an attractive choice for anybody wanting a comfortable, well-equipped family hauler.

Current Ford Fusion
The current Ford Fusion remains one of the top picks in the midsize sedan segment. There are four trim levels -- S, SE, Sport and SEL -- while engine offerings consist of the base 2.5-liter four (175 horsepower), optional 3.0-liter V6 (240 hp) and, standard on the Sport, 3.5-liter V6 (263 hp). A six-speed manual transmission can be had on the 2.5, while optional for that engine and standard on the others is a six-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard across the board with the exception of the SEL V6, which has all-wheel drive. The latter is optional on the Sport.
Standard feature highlights for the S include 16-inch alloy wheels, the MyKey system (limits top speed and audio volume), full power accessories, air-conditioning, and a stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. The SE adds 17-inch alloys, foglamps, automatic headlights, an eight-way power driver seat and an upgraded audio system with satellite radio.
The Sport includes a sport-tuned suspension and steering setup, 18-inch wheels, exclusive styling cues, power front seats, leather upholstery and the Sync multimedia voice control interface. The Fusion SEL also features leather seating as well as heated seats, puddle lights, a numerical keyless entry pad and dual-zone automatic climate control. Options (depending on trim) include remote starting, a sunroof, a rearview camera, reverse park assist, a blind spot detection system and a navigation system.
In reviews, we've remained impressed with the Fusion's combination of responsive performance and well-balanced handling and ride dynamics. Inside there's plenty of room, quality materials and handy features. The Sync system is a great feature, allowing easy hands-free operation of cell phones and portable MP3 players. While not the largest car in its class, the Fusion's generous interior dimensions prove that a family sedan need not be as large as the Accord or Mazda 6.
Used Ford Fusion Models
The second generation of the Ford Fusion arrived for 2010, sporting refreshed front and rear styling as well as more powerful engines. Apart from a few feature updates, such as blind-spot mirrors, a manual-shift feature for the six-speed automatic and one-touch up/down front windows, there have been no notable changes since.
The first-generation Ford Fusion was produced for the 2006-'09 model years. Initially offered only with front-wheel drive, the Fusion was offered in S, SE and SEL trim levels. The standard engine was a 160-hp 2.3-liter four-cylinder. When paired with the standard five-speed manual, this engine was peppy enough, but with the more popular optional five-speed automatic, the Fusion struggled to get out of its own way. The SE and SEL could be optioned with a 221-hp 3.0-liter V6 paired to a six-speed automatic, which improved the Fusion's thrust considerably.
However, both these engines were underpowered for the class -- especially the V6 -- and neither was particularly fuel-efficient. Inside, the Fusion had a more cohesive look than older Ford sedans, thanks to its crisp lines and coordinated textures. Build quality was solid and the seats were well-shaped and supportive, even for taller folk. Unfortunately, the quality of some plastics was still a couple steps behind the import-brand competition.
The following year brought changes that included standard front seat airbags, side curtain airbags and an auxiliary audio jack. Options like navigation, satellite radio and all-wheel drive were added to the options sheet, along with more standard equipment on the SE and SEL models. As such, we'd stick with this model year or later. For 2008, Ford's Sync system became available, although it was sullied somewhat by the Fusion's outdated standard stereo head unit. Antilock brakes became standard that year and more optional equipment was added, including the Sport Appearance package that included 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and special trim. For 2009, stability control became optional on all Fusions (we recommend finding one so equipped) and traction control became standard on V6 versions. An oddball Blue Suede package featuring black and blue faux-suede seats was produced for that year.