There are two kinds of pistonheads: enthusiasts who experience wide-eyed, pie-in-the-sky desire for anything loudish, reddish and fast(ish); and buyers who worship at the altar of Consumer Reports, kbb and truedelta.com. If you are in my camp, words and phrases like reliability, APR, depreciation and total cost of ownership fog your mind faster than low down southern whiskey. Unfortunately, I am not rich. I am money-dumb and hoping to marry well. Meanwhile, I’ve found a vehicle capable of satisfying both the childish and the cheap.
If you isolate certain parts of Ford's Fusion they look damn good. The triple blade shaving grill, boxy headlights and oversized, triangular taillights are all boutique bling without being garish (which is about as easy to pull off as it sounds). Combined with an ultra-generic three box shape, the whole is less than some of its parts. The Fusion’s square-cut headlamps, for example, should wrap around the body like the new Edge’s illuminators. While it’s not an ugly car by any means, the Hecho en Mexico Fusion lacks the Mustang’s all-American appeal or its Japanese competitors’ pseudo-European allure.
The Fusion SE’s interior is a neo-con. Speaking from the "some of the people none of the time" camp, Ford’s attempt to fool economy-minded buyers by dressing-up their latest parts bin flubbery with a slab of fake aluminum is about as convincing as Ted Haggard’s initial denials. The optional black leather seats with fat red stitching are a nice homage to Audi. Sadly, not to Recaro. That said, the rest of the cabin's ergonomics are rental car sensible and the steering wheel feels the part. Which reminds me: I've sat in Lamborghinis with more headroom and rear visibility.
There’s one terrific touch inside the least expensive Fusion: a stick and a clutch. So make that two. While the clutch is as good as you could hope for in terms of action, travel and feel, the five-speed shifter is a loose, rubbery mess. And I love it. As I loved the sloppy, floppy six-speed lever found in Mazda's Speed6. Sure, there is a time and a place for perfectly sorted mechanicals. But there is also something to be said for less-than ideal kit that challenges and rewards a driver. And before any of you say that I'm giving Ford a pass, the stick feels exactly the same as the device found in the M3.
Release that excellent clutch and the Fusion’s 2.3-liter Duratec I4 unleashes all 160 horses upon its unsuspecting front wheels. Yes folks, the tires chirp. And the four-banger whirs and hisses. And the steering-wheel forces you to fight. And 60mph shows up in a decidedly last-century 9.3 seconds. The quarter-mile? Let's just say that Hank Ford Sr. would have been prouder of his Nazi medals. There isn't a square-jawed man (or woman) on the planet that wouldn’t exit the Fusion after some drag-stripping and demand fifty more horses. But in the real world… it works.
Thanks to 156 ft.-lbs. of twist at 4250rpm, the Fusion’s passing power lives on the right side of more-than-merely-adequate. Judging from the sounds coming from the engine bay, listening to the aggressive buzz saw of a mill do its thing, it’s hard to believe you're whipping a straight-four. In fact, the Fusion SE’s four-pot sounds (and performs) better than the frumpy old 3.0-liter V6 found in the Fusion SEL.
Colin Chapman eat your heart out; the 3101-pound Fusion sports a double wishbone (front) and multilink (rear) suspension. The relatively svelte front wheel-drive Fusion SE provides a remarkably rigid, stable and responsive platform for adrenalin-oriented drivers. Find your favorite back roads, build up a bit of steam and this budget-priced mid-sizer can cut some mean asphalt. Unless you’re actively looking for it, there’s not even a hint of understeer to mar rapid progress. Response is both neutral and eager.
In deeply challenging situations– we’re talking the kind of road with more curves than an episode of the Biggest Loser– the Fusion will plow towards the scenery nose-first. But you know what? I’ve taken a BMW 3-Series through the same corners and it plowed, too. In fact, the Fusion does better through the tricky stuff than a Mustang GT. And the Ford’s binders are brilliant, fully capable of hauling you to a stop before a close encounter of the tree kind. Go Mazda! I mean, go Ford!
Combine the above with mpg’s in the high-20s, JD-pleasing reliability, the ability to transport five-adults in comfort and ladies and gentlemen, I think we have found the performance deal of the year. Oh, you want to talk about depreciation relative to the foreign-owned competition? Hang on; I’ll be right back.
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Very nice review, Jonny. This car just went up a little on my list of replacements for my wife’s 4-y-o Saturn L200 when the time comes (although it’s been rock solid dependable, though boring). Wagonwagonwagonwagonwagon! Can’t say it enough. I’ll have to drive one the next time my in-laws have one of their Fords at the dealer for service. So, pretty soon. ;)
I really wish manufacturers would work harder to eliminate torque steer in FWD apps. I know it’s probably very tough with transverse engines, but surely they’re aware of the drawbacks, right? (otoh, my equal-half-shafts longitudinal FWD V6 can do quick acceleration hands-free, if you’re so inclined. It spoils you)
I’m seeing excellent repair rates for the Fusion, especially considering that it’s a first-year car.
Granted, I only have data on 20 cars so far. But the repair rate I’m seeing, 0.4 trips to the shop per year, is identical to the rate I’m seeing for 27 2006 Accords, which isn’t a first-year car. Average odometer reading at the time of the surveys: 6900 miles for the Ford, 7300 miles for the Honda.
In contrast, the 2007 Dodge Caliber (29 cars, 5700 avg miles) has had a repair rate of 1.4 trips/year.
More info on TrueDelta’s research:
http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
Michael is the other kind of piston head. So sleepy…
My Ford is built by Mazda as well, and I love it. Because it’s a Mazda.
Here’s my question: Unless you’re a sales rep for Gillette, is this thing really better than just buying a Mazda6? It’s not like they aren’t giving those things away too.
AND you can get yourself a wagon, Ash.
Brendan, good point–if only I could talk my wife into it, since it would be her car… (she’s more style-oriented and is put off by the overly-boy-racerish cues that Mazda has adopted for everything).
Ok I might’ve mentioned this before, but here it is again. To get a fwd car to not understeer use the handbrake when going into a high speed turn. It just brakes the rear wheels and if you pull it hard enough it will lock up those wheels and you will go into a oversteer/powerslide. It’s really great fun and makes the most of a fwd setup. Whenever it’s raining I go nuts with the handbrake. I love coming to a sideways stop in the rain. To answer ash – the only thing that really helps the torque steer is a limited slip dif – it comes standard on the new civic si, which is pretty cool of them because it’s a $2000 part.
Great review Jonny. You put this car on my radar.
My only wish is that Ford gives the interior a heavy makeover.
Maybe Ford can raid Volvo’s parts bin and strap a turbo on this 4-banger, if only to get the 0-60 ’round about 7 seconds.
If Ford can give the FiveHundred and Freestyle an exterior refresh to match this baby brother, they might move metal the way their trucks do.
dolo — that’s oversteer — not under.
I can get any FWD car — [i]any[/i] — to understeer.
and so can you.
yes Jonny I said using the handbrake gets you to NOT understeer. ;-)
Maybe Ford can raid Volvo’s parts bin and strap a turbo on this 4-banger, if only to get the 0-60 ’round about 7 seconds.
Or just take the MazdaSpeed 3’s 263hp direct-inject turbo version of the same 2.3L Duratec engine and get to 60 in ’round about 6.
…Combined with an ultra-generic three box shape, the whole is less than some of its parts…
not to be a nit-picker, but was this intentional poetic license, or did you mean SUM of it’s parts?
When the whole is less than the sum of its parts, I think the term is “ge-stalled”
puntastic!
>>The triple blade shaving grill, boxy headlights and oversized, triangular taillights are all boutique bling without being garish
By definition, bling is garish.
Jonny Lieberman:
Michael [Karesh] is the other kind of piston head. So sleepy…
This was my biggest laugh for the week so far.
Seriously, Jonny, some of us have elements of both kinds in us.
Brendanmac:
The Fusion is on a stretched 6 platform, so it’s a little bit roomier than the 6.
It may be an unqualified overstatement to call it “a Mazda”.
you’ve lost cred with me; “the five-speed shifter is a loose, rubbery mess” and then equate that with the M3 manual is ludicrous. i’ve driven them both, own an E46 M3, and you must have been smokin something when you drove one or both cars. the 2-3 shift is sometimes rubbery in the M3 but not once you learn how to use it. TTAC just went down a big notch.
Has the looks of a refined Accord 1994-1998!
Phil — come on now.
By your own admission the M3’s shifter makes you work for it (2 to 3 being quite a critical gear change) and I would bet that you like the lever more because of it.
Both shifters are massive long-throwers with way too much travel. And I like them both. Though in the M3 I would prefer something more akin to Mazda’s MX-5 — which is essentially perfect.
In the Fusion and the M3 you row the gears, quite literally.
In the Miata (or maybe more appropriately, in the Boxster), you snick ‘em.
snick snick
Ok I might’ve mentioned this before, but here it is again. To get a fwd car to not understeer use the handbrake when going into a high speed turn.
Dolo: that works in a pinch, but not the fastest or safest way around a corner by any means. If the Fusion accepts a Mazdaspeed6 rear swaybar (or similar), that’s the way to get flat cornering and a touch of oversteer when pushed hard.
Nice review, JL. This thing would be a torque-steering rocketship with a 100hp shot from the MKZ’s parts bin. Total sleeper.
Hmmn, ok, we’ve just read a very good review of a very American car (you know what I mean, don’t bother me about actual build location), and one of the first comments is, “Can’t you just go and buy the Mazda6?”
Boy, some of you guys absolutely cannot stand the concept of earned praise for an American car that is worth buying, can you?
So you are saying the 2-3 shift in your M3 is rubbery but you like it once you learned it. I remember reading somewhere that “there is also something to be said for less-than ideal kit that challenges and rewards a driver”, I wonder where I read that? Maybe whoever wrote that interesting bit should go up a notch.
“I am not rich. I am money-dumb and hoping to marry well.” – LOL
Great review for a car that brings hope. I have been wondering why I’ve been seeing more Fusions around lately, in advance of the recent reliability ratings (sales based on those positive results are still on the way), and now maybe I have a clue.
I’m reminded that the 1990 Maxima SE I drove for about a year only had 160 ponies (from its V6) to pull about 3000 pounds, and it felt good. But, that was then. I wonder how it would feel now.
Work on tweaking 21st-century power out of the 4-pot, make the gearbox snick, make the exhaust system sound good, work on the interior, and you’ve got a contender.
Ford, my fingers are crossed.
Perhaps you’re right Sajeev… I’ve practiced it so much it just comes naturally to me, but here are a couple good articles about fwd oversteer: one | two
I’ve tried the left foot braking, but it’s really like writing with my left hand. I need a lot more practice with it. That being said… since I’ve been stuck with fwds most of my life I’ve learned to have a lot of fun with them.
Also with the moden racer article – the author speaks of locking up the rear wheels, but you don’t have to, a lot of times I use a little foot-brake with a gentle tug on the hand-brake to get the rear-wheel brake bias described. I didn’t know about the terminology, just what my car does when I do it.
Great review Johnny I love the line about the goofy shifter and you like it You are a true piston head.Who the hell wants perfect anyway.I think it puts the fun and skill back into driving.
Johnny beg TTAC to let you review the new Chevy trucks
You’ve gotta be kidding – I coughed up a Junior Mint reading this review!
I had the misfortune of being in a rental Fusion for a little over a week and the longer I had it, the more I looked forward to its return to the Avis return lot.
OK, there IS a plus side – it’s not too bad looking and the brakes and suspension are quite good.
My main contention(s) are in regards to the horrible ergonomics in the thing and the pitiful driveline. I am stunned that you talk about the I4 with such praise.
From inside the car, you can’t see any thing below the windshield of any car coming up within a stone’s throw, due to that big booty of a raised rear decklid.
I really got tired of hitting the trunk release and/or headlight switch with my knee every time I got in or out of the car, plus I could never get the seat position “right”. Close, yes, right, no.
Other cars got really tired of me flashing the high beams at them when signaling for a turn – the stalk is positioned very awkwardly and upwardly, causing you to have to reach up and forward for it.
Every time I closed a door or especially the trunk lid, I though something was going to come loose.
I gave up trying to figure out and reset the “info center”.
Driveline – the combination of the I4 and an auto is an embarrassment. Even a slight freeway grade incline would cause the car to shift out of overdrive and make a sustained pitiful wail simply to keep the speed at the posted limit. Forget about short on-ramps. Engine was always consistent though – you could always hear it no matter what.
Most buyers will wind up with the auto and I can’t see getting anything less than a V6 with it. The 4 is totally out of its league.
If this car represents the advancement of Ford, then no wonder they are in the toilet. This is really simple stuff and they got a lot of it all wrong. If you are looking for a car, skip this one and get a used Accord or something.
Am I a Ford-hater? Not at all. Upon my return home I breathed a sigh of relief getting into my “old” 95 Crown Vic Interceptor.
sykerocker
we’ve just read a very good review of a very American car (you know what I mean, don’t bother me about actual build location), and one of the first comments is, “Can’t you just go and buy the Mazda6?”
In all fairness, any time a platform mate or badgeneered version is reviewed, that’s one of the first issues that comes up. Completely valid. I’d look at the dealerships in your area to make the decision. That one thing can make more difference than anything else in your ownership experience (at least for the warranty period).
I feel the concern about lack of wagon and lack of suped-up 2.3t version are very pertinent to the discussion.
Sounds like a fun car to punish. Give me the smallest tires available for maximum squealablity.
Awesome review.
sykerocker
we’ve just read a very good review of a very American car (you know what I mean, don’t bother me about actual build location), and one of the first comments is, “Can’t you just go and buy the Mazda6?”
I suppose my comment was based on, “Why is it worth buying?”
That is, is it cheaper, roomier, more features, etc, etc. Now I know it’s not just a Mazda6 with ‘Mazda’ crossed out and ‘Ford’ written in in crayon, but they are very, very similar vehicles and I’m not sure why you would pick the Fusion over its stable mate. I’m not saying there aren’t reasons, I’m just asking what those reasons are.
For me, my ford (and we’re talking fairly crap old cars here) came in a roomier liftback, which is why I bought it and not the basically identical mazda.
I wasn’t flaming the ford because its an infidel-mobile or something.
If you want choices, you would go with the 6… sedan, hatch, or wagon, with a manual option for either engine.
Then there’s styling, which is subjective…
Ford is going with:
generic-euro-sedan + razorblade-grille = ‘Bold’ (almost) American (not quite) style
Mazda is going with:
2 available shades of purple, and the worst tail-lights ever not sourced from pep-boys.
Just bring back the damn SHO – just DO IT!
Brendanmac
That is, is it cheaper, roomier, more features, etc, etc.
Yes, yes, and now with all-wheel-drive, arguably yes.
Last I checked there were a lot more than two kinds of enthusiasts. I like the look of cars, and drool at Bugatti Type 57s. My wife loves responsive suspension, a twisting road, and enough power, but loves a quiet car. That’s why she’s owned five sports cars, thus far. A friend wants to use a car as a “crumpet catcher” to attract girls while another wants to convince the entire world he’s rich and downright elegant. You left all of us out.
86er: Yes, yes, and now with all-wheel-drive, arguably yes.
Real all wheel drive (rear-biased, or symetrical) with the stick, would be a much more compelling option. I’ll never understand why adding AWD with most manufacturers will delete your stick option. Lexus and Infiniti make this mistake as well. At least Audi and Subaru know whats up.
Mud,
This is a economy car, in the class of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, etc that people care more about fuel economy than torque. Comparing it to a Crown Vic V8 is not an apple to apple comparison.
I can’t get past the tasteless plastic bling-bling that Ford seems to think is necessary everywhere on their entire line-up (even to chromed plastic hubcaps that Ford calls “chrome clad” wheels on the new Eddie Bauer Explorer). From grill to taillights, the Fusion screams cheap! Speaking of the taillights, they look as if they’ve been adorned with a Wal Mart add-on trim kit.
In the 60’s, when I was a teenager, Ford interiors had the appearance of being stamped from a big piece of cheap vinyl covered cardboard. By the late 80’s – early 90’s, Ford was beginning to show much nicer appearing and better thought-out interior designs. In the last couple of years, it seems Ford is progressively returning to the 60’s stamped from vinyl covered cardboard look. IMO the Fusion was likely named for the fusion of cheap plastic to stamped cardboard. Most of us would call that glue.
And let’s not say, “Oh he’s just another anti-American, anti-Ford guy!” I have owned four Eddie Bauer Explorers and my wife currently owns a Taurus.
PandaBear: Comparing it to a Crown Vic V8 is not an apple to apple comparison.
Obviosly, but who cares. He’s comparing a car he’s driven with a car he owns. Seems valid.
I’m just curious…
…I’ve driven 3 Fusions now, and I’m 6′5″. The remark about the headroom is kinda puzzling, as I was very comfortable.
That wasn’t the only odd bit, but it qualifiestoward the top.
I gotta add that I found the 3.0 far superior to the 2.3, although I wished for a manual with the 6.
Strange, strange review.
Hutton:
Real all wheel drive (rear-biased, or symetrical) with the stick, would be a much more compelling option. I’ll never understand why adding AWD with most manufacturers will delete your stick option. Lexus and Infiniti make this mistake as well. At least Audi and Subaru know whats up.
I agree that Ford’s AWD system is far from sophisticated. But I’m not crazy about the whole AWD craze anyhow, especially ones with front-bias. Hello gigantic repair bills in a few years!
Hutton – don’t forget Volvo – the Swedish Ford – V70R – AWD and 6 speed stick, and 300 HP
^fair enough. and bonus points for being a wagon…. if only they could bring to market a 300hp AWD 6spd C30, I’d be first in line.
…
i think we may have drifted off topic.
Chick Corea, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Herbie Hancock…
Now they know how to do fusion.
Is this the same 2.3l sitting under the hood of my Mazda 3 S?, if yes, I agree to every praise!
Well, here is my question. My can’t those two kinds of enthusiasts be combined. There are any number of cars that I would love to drive on occaision, but not want to own. Can’t a guy get fun to drive without a leak in the rear main seal (thinking of porsche here). You know automobile recently ranked all of the new and upcoming cars on how fun to drive they are. Where is my list of best to own? Now I’m not just talking most reliable, but reliable and fun to drive. I’m always happy to have fun, but a car that is always in the shop is not fun to own. I’d rather own an MX-5 or civic SI that some of the competition that might be better, but that you drive less than your mechanic.
I remeber equally positive review when the MT5 came ou in the mid 1980’s. I have not seen one on the road in 10 years because Ford’s just don’t have the durability. How many Honda Accords do you see from the era on the road today? Plenty. So no matter what JD or CR says we all know the thing will be in the junk year inside ten years.
I’ve always found that with a front wheel drive, I simply gently nudge the brake with my left foot, apply the hand brake, turn the AC on high and slightly crack the right, rear window. It’s a blast.
(Yes, that was a joke)
Mud,
This is a economy car, in the class of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, etc that people care more about fuel economy than torque. Comparing it to a Crown Vic V8 is not an apple to apple comparison.
Actually, if you look at the price out the door on a base Grand Marquis vs. a Milan with an automatic, from a cost point of view, it is fairly valid.
Zanary:
You’re tall, so you probably slide the seat fairly far back away from the slope of the roof. You probably also lean your seat back to some degree.
I sit bolt upright (proper racing position) fairly close to the wheel and there was no headroom whatsoever.
I don’t think I would like the Fusion with the 2.3L and an Auto, but with a manual, I will take it every time over the 3.0L. Now… stick the 3.5L from the Edge/MKZ into the Fusion…. with a stick… can somebody say SHO?
I like the looks of the Fusion, save for the tail lights. Undeniably ugly. Someone tell Ford that the clear lens trend (which I gather they were going for) is already over, especially when so poorly executed.
And what is it with domestic interiors?
The Ford Fusion commercial with the (very hot) gal buying some of the dry-cleaning bill to the stud in the mustang behind her is very well done. Good marketing approach.
The Fusion looks decent to me…but now that I have the tri-blade image in my head…I’m curious if I can see the car ever again in the same way (similar to the Tribeca being a vagina or fallopian tubes or something…).
A Ford Escort (manual) was my very first “new” car. I still really have great memory of that car. At 80K miles, it still ran great as long as I was going 75mph or under. :)