What's new
Ford Fusion a good sport
Jim Kerr, January 08, 2010
While Ford's 2010 Fusion Hybrid has received a lot of attention for packing its fuel economy into a no-compromise mid-sized package, the non-hybrid Fusion has had strong sales for good reason.
The non-hybrid Fusion has received a complete makeover with four models for 2010, including the new Fusion Sport.
The car ranges in price from $21,499 for the Fusion- up to $35,299 for the Fusion Sport. In between, fall the SE and SEL models. The SEL, which will likely be the most popular model, is available with either the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine or the 3.0-L V6 engine. With the V6, you also have a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
The Fusion Sport comes with a larger 3.5-L V6 engine and AWD, which boosts the sporty image of this five-passenger vehicle into a true sports sedan.
Outside, all Fusion models look bolder, with a raised hood line, more prominent fender flares and the Ford family's chrome three-bar grille. Projector beam headlamps are matched by round fog lamps in chrome-trimmed housings on the lower front fascia.
The Fusion Sport has a mesh air intake below the front bumper, instead of straight bars used on other Fusion models and also adds lower side rocker mouldings, larger 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips and a small rear spoiler.
There is no individual item on the Fusion exterior that immediately grabs your attention. Instead, the clean design seems to flow in familiar yet fresh lines proportioned just right. The looks should remain in style for a long time.
Inside, close panel fits and quality materials with soft-touch surfaces on the dash and doors make the car feel upscale, as does double stitching on the seats and console.
The Fusion Sport has three interior option colours: Charcoal, Sport Blue or Sport Red.
My favourite is the Sport Blue, which has bold blue panels inset into the charcoal black leather seat cushions and backs. Matching blue panels surround the dash's centre stack and run across the passenger side of the dash.
Seven-colour adjustable ambient lighting in the console and footwells complements the blue interior and is echoed in the ice blue lighting of the gauges.
The Sport comes loaded with dual-zone automatic air conditioning, heated front seats, power sunroof, rear-view camera, reverse-sensing system and Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert. The BLIS system notifies you if a vehicle enters your blind spot by flashing an LED on the outside mirrors.
The cross-traffic alert is perfect for parking lots, as it uses side-scanning radar to detect vehicles approaching from the sides and warns you where they are -- especially useful when backing out between two larger vehicles. About the only options offered on the Sport are a touchscreen navigation system and a remote starter.
With all the amenities, the Fusion Sport is very comfortable to drive. The bucket seat bolsters provide good support and there is ample room for five onboard, with a large 467-litre trunk with lots of space for your gear.
Under the hood, the 3.5-L engine is basically the same as the one found in the Ford Edge or Taurus sedan, with minor tuning to suit the platform. With the Fusion's smaller size and weight, the 263 ponies, 23 more than the SEL 3.0-L model, moves the car along with ease. A six-speed manual gearbox is available in the- and SE but other models come with six-speed automatic transmissions. Compared to the previous models, the six-speed automatic provides up to 10 per cent better fuel economy with the four-cylinder models and six per cent better economy on the V6 models.
Just like the Hybrid, the Sport has few compromises. It carries passengers comfortably and safely, looks good and handles well.
I liked the Fusion when it first came out. This one is even better.
- Configuration: Mid-sized all-wheel-drive sedan
- Engine: 3.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder producing 263 h.p. at 6,250 r.p.m. and 249 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,500 r.p.m.
- Transmission: Six-speed automatic transmission
- Fuel economy (L/100 km): City: 12.6; Highway: 8.3
- Suspension: Front: Independent short arm/long arm with stabilizer bar; Rear: Independent multi-link twist blade with stabilizer bar
- Brakes: Four-wheel disc, ABS
- Features/options: Stability control, blind spot information and navigation systems, reverse-sensing system with cross-traffic alert, sunroof, tilt/telescopic steering, keypad entry system, keyless entry and steering wheel controls
- Price (base/as tested): $21,499/$38,829, including $1,350 destination charges
