I believe that the 2009 Ford Fusion S is the most unremarkable car I have driven. Ever. When I sat down to record notes immediately after concluding my test of this blessed blandmobile, I had a hard time recalling anything about it. I got in. Transportation happened. I got out. That’s it. The Ford Fusion’s striking anonymity served to prevent it from winning this comparison—not even close to defeating the Chevrolet Malibu LS. At the same time, I suppose flying under the radar preserved it from a potential loss. Actually, the Chrysler Sebring LX is so dreadful that defeating it isn’t much of a victory. So the Fusion S ingloriously falls into second place. Read on as I attempt to fill 800 words . . . about nothing.
Evidence of the Ford’s penny pinching bedevils the Fusion’s otherwise clean, if milquetoast shapes. Steel rims peek through unconvincing alloy wheel styled hubcaps while anemic “anything but Firestone” branded all season tires fail to fill the wheel wells. Blanks occupy the faux brake vent openings normally occupied by fog lights. Dowdy unpainted black plastic mirror housings rather than body color matched units cling to the sides of the car. And, of course, the front end retains the corporate grill that must have been conceived by a displaced Gillette Atra II designer. Every expense was spared. Clearly. Obviously.
Do not confuse the interior of the Ford Fusion S with the relatively attractive interior that up-optioned Fusion’s get. This is a forgettable, blasé, monochromatic, molded plastic affair suited only for rental fleets. Its aesthetic appeal is about as yummy as eating cardboard. But with five-and-a-half more cubic feet of interior volume than the Chevy, the Fusion feels the roomiest of this trio.
Only the Malibu gets standard a power adjustable driver’s seat in the base trim level. In the Fusion you pump a handle on the side of the seat to raise it, pull it up to lower; the seatback adjusts with the pull of a lever. But the attitude of the seat bottom is not adjustable and I found it too far tilted for my comfort.
The performance of these family sedans can be summed up as dull, duller, and dullest. The Fusion is dull. So for what it is worth, it wins this caption. With 160 hp on tap, its 2.3-liter 16-valve four banger puts out the weakest peak horsepower. However, it also weighs less, making a barely discernible advantage in day-to-day driving.
Likewise, the Fusion wins handling bragging rights by default because the Sebring is atrocious and the Malibu is clearly tuned for comfort. That doesn’t make the Fusion S anything to write home about, though. I took the Fusion out on one of my favorite meandering country roads and . . . . “Crazy Henry” Ford once said “Money is like an arm or leg – use it or lose it.” Huh.
Anyway, apparently the drive wasn’t appallingly bad or I would have some unforgettable harrowing tale of near-death woe to tell. Yet it also lacked any impressionably good characteristics. It just happened. Period. The automotive equivalent of listening to a dial tone.
What does stand out is the lack of economy at the pump. Despite being powered by the smallest displacement ICE mated to the only five-speed transmission of the group and weighing the least, the piggy little Fusion devours the most fuel. According to the oracles at the EPA, the mighty S gulps down a gallon of gasoline every 20 miles it schleps through city traffic and 28 mpg on the open road. Call that seven to nine percent worse than the competition-leading Malibu.
The most compelling thing about the Fusion: price. She stickers at $20,635. The bright red tag hanging from the rear view mirror showed $16,150 after nearly $4500 of rebates and dealer spiffs. That edges out Sebring’s sticker by $845 and beats the Bu’s discounted price by $1464. In fact, that’s nearly $1500 less than I paid for my manual transmission Honda Accord LX—eight years ago.
A little extra coin buys a Fusion SE with the optional Sports Appearance Package; the interior improvements add a splash of pizzazz to the dreary interior and a sport-tuned suspension (bigger rear anti-sway bar, and stiffer springs, struts, and shocks) for corner carving fun.
The 2009 Ford Fusion S is the perfect car for people on a budget that hate cars. It is for buyers that have given up on life; whose eyes no longer see in color and whose noses are unable to enjoy the sweet smell of a rose. Incidentally, it might also be the perfect car to buy a college-bound child. Otherwise, the Fusion S is a car bested by an abundance of alternatives that do just about everything better.
Three words shy. Damn.
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“I believe that the 2009 Ford Fusion S is the most unremarkable car I have driven. Ever.”
Laugh if you want but that’s what most people who buy a stripped entry-level mid-sized four banger are looking for. Bland and unremarkable transportation.
Now granted, they’re probably looking for fuel economy too so it makes sense to make the Fusion second. The standard engine is really the Fusion’s Achilles heel.
Good thing for Ford is that no one buys this trim level. Most Fusions are SE or SEL. They are so much nicer.
The problem for Ford is for the same sticker price, you can get a Hyundai Sonata GLS with a much nicer interior.
Hopefully the 2010 S is more finished inside..
That’s a photo of the 2009 SEL interior BTW..
Sometimes I think that car sites like this are ridiculous: “With 160 hp on tap, its 2.3-liter 16-valve four banger puts out the weakest peak horse power.” Seriously?
I understand that this site caters to “car guys” (and gals of course), but come on, not everyone buys a car for sheer horsepower, displacement, slaloming ability, corner huggingness. The cars in this entire segment are basically appliances to get families from point A to point B. Some people actually use cars for something so mundane as that: transportation.
The fuel economy is horrific.
The mazda5 2009 STICK does 22/28 and seats 6.
Three words shy. Damn.
So did “Damn” put you over the 800 word limit? ;-)
Why bother reviewing econo boxes if you’re going to rate them on driving pleasure? The only relevant comment in this whole review is that the gas mileage isn’t what it should be for an econo car. Everything else you wrote has no bearing at all on what makes an econo car an attractive option for drivers. We know these aren’t BMWs, so please stop lecturing us on that score.
Hint: Safety is another concern in this segment. Any thoughts on that?
160hp is more than 2 of my 3 vehicles. It is more than sufficient.
In any case, for an appliance you can pay a lot less.
Great review — I know how hard it is to write about a boring thing without sounding… boring.
But: how can something around 17k be called an economy car? And why would anybody buy this car (seats five, 160 HP, for crying out loud) for a college-bound student?
For a European like me, it sounds like the U.S. is still mighty tall. Either that, or still living way above its means.
Best part about the Fusion are all those full red dots for it at Consumer Reports. Reliability like a 1990s Camry (as opposed to today’s Camry) will go a long way.
Manual transmissions are available! Though the ones I saw on the net were SE trim.
gaycorvette- why not driving pleasure? Even the cheapest cars shouldn’t freak one out by under/oversteering too much. In general, just being safe to drive. A lot of cars that aren’t cheap handle horribly.
Marketing shouldn’t determine whether a car is good or not.
OK I’ve just GOT to say it.
This isn’t an American car. It’s built in Mexico.
My wife’s Hyundai Sonata, which TTAC panned awhile back, IS an American car, however; it is actually manufactured in Montgomery, Alabama. Saw the plant myself. Steel rolls with signaged stating “US Steel” (as in the company). Engine plants (both 4 cylinder and V6). Body presses. Body build-up welding shop. Paint house. Assembly hall.
Likewise, there are American built Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords, Subaru Legacy, Mitsubishi Galant, and Nissan Altima mid-sized cars, too.
Of course, we all know this – “just what exactly IS an American car these days?”
Other than “Epic FAIL-mobiles” made by dying dinosaur companies.
They say the ‘bu is a class competitive car, but definitely not class leading. They also say good things about the Fusion, but if it came after the ‘bu, then two things come to mind. One, obviously, then this isn’t a great car, and two there is a perception gap.
But then, I guess losing 10 Billion dollars in three months will influence public perception a bit, especially since the public is paying for it.
That’s…surprisingly harsh.
I like the Fusion alot; in fact, I was seriously looking at one 6 months ago when I was looking for a used car (couldn’t find one under my $12k limit, though there are a ton under that threshold now)…the S isn’t as attractive inside as the SE or SEL, but I thought it was nice enough. Maybe the best thing about this car, though, is its exceptional reliability; it could almost be modern-day equivalent of the ‘92-97 Camry. I haven’t actually driven a Fusion so I can’t comment personally, but every review I’ve read (including Farago’s drive from 2006) have praised the Fusion’s handling; I don’t see how the S would be any different. To each his own i guess…
The Sport Package lifts the looks of the Fusion considerably; the wheels look sharp and the smoked chrome grille tones down the bling level considerably. I didn’t know it came with any actual handling benefits though, so I guess that makes it even more of an essential option to check off.
Ford builds the Fusion in Mexico to avoid the tariffs Central and South American countries impose on US built car. Ford sells the Fusion all over the world, BTW.
The Hyundai Sonata would best be described as “assembled in the US,” as the window sticker show 65% Korean content.
There’s that negative writing again.
Granted all come second (or even third) to what the Japanese and Koreans put out these days (the Malibu comes closest to hitting the mark), but come on. If the Sebring’s ride is atrocious either way and the Malibu is clearly tuned for comfort, then the apparently unremarkable ride of the Fusion clearly means there’s SOMETHING going on with the chassis. The Fusion is slightly stretched version of the previous gen Mazda 6 platform so some handling merits should’ve carried over, even if it wasn’t to the extent of its donor.
I’m not debating the Fusion’s place in this comparo (Malibu FTW all the way and if the Sebring could be any further down, the devil would be trying to get rid of it) but jeez…
Fusion S huh? Is that like, Sporty?
How about this?
Euro Ford Mondeo ST
It’s almost like Ford is making a huge effort… to NOT connect with younger customers (in America). I mean, yeah, the Mustang is cool… however, it is very retro. Ford needs a big wake up call. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO CONNECT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE SOMEHOW. Ford America seems so… bland and.. aged… at best, it’s a retro thing (Mustang).
Ford America needs a huge injection of…
THIS!!!!!!!
Talk about intense… that’s it.
If you never connect with young customers… when those young kids grow up, they will never purchase your brand or product (unless another brand does something to lose the customer). It is bigtime time for the powerful, fun, hip, mind blowing Euro Focus. That with a brilliant marketing campaign. Ford should hire me as their marketing guru it might just save them!
gaycorvette: Why bother reviewing econo boxes if you’re going to rate them on driving pleasure? …so please stop lecturing us on that score.
Because some of them are actually pleasurable to drive. And others are not. Just because a buyer lacks the funds to purchase a performance car doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t have a pulse. Nonetheless, the winner of this comparo is a car that is manifestly low in the fun-to-drive category, so I don’t get how my evaluation translates into any kind of lecture.
Hint: Safety is another concern in this segment. Any thoughts on that?
TTAC lacks the budget for conducting crash tests.
sillyp- I bought my dirt cheap car($12K new in 2005)because I thought it drove well. It has “road hugginess”
I always love the “seats 5″ claim, as if 3 adults would ever want to sit in the back of these cars.
The Fusion sold in the rest of the world is completely different than the Fusion sold in the US.
The Fusion is an American car because the design and engineering was done in the US
I’ve sat in the 2010, and did not find the interior as much of an upgrade as I had hoped. The door panels in particular seem very basic.
TrueDelta’s Car Reliability Survey results for the Fusion:
[url=http://www.truedelta.com/car-reliability.php?stage=pt&bd=Ford&mc=98&email=Guest]Ford Fusion reliability comparisons[/url]
I think what some of you are missing is that in these days, at these prices, the consumer has options. That means that while these three cars are meant to get you from point A to point B, other cars at the same rough price point do the same for a better price.
Now me personally, I think if you are buying one of these new, you are an idiot. By a slightly used car for the same price and get a LOT more for that money.
That being said, the first car I bought new was a base Dodge Shadow. Yes, I was an idiot at that point.
SV: That’s…surprisingly harsh.
The Fusion is a decent car. I actually expected it to win this comparo but the S option package is a real disappointment. If you can afford it, I would recommend saving up for a model with the optional Sports Appearance Package, which is more than just an appearance package.
Ford wants to give you some good reasons to opt for high trim levels and options. So the base car is going to be basic.
The Fusion has been doing well in TrueDelta’s Car Reliability Survey. Page with these results and those of competitors here:
http://www.truedelta.com/car-reliability.php?stage=pt&bd=Ford&mc=98&email=Guest
The 2009 Ford Fusion S is the perfect car for people on a budget that hate cars. It is for buyers that have given up on life; whose eyes no longer see in color and whose noses are unable to enjoy the sweet smell of a rose.
I guess the same comments could apply to the Ford T. The question here is if it will fulfill the customer’s expectations. There’s nothing wrong in being in a budget and only needing to go from point A to point B.
This review looks a lot like a movie critic who only enjoys action flicks and calls European movies “dull”.
Personally, I rather like the Fusion – it’s still pretty sharp looking after these 4 years or so and it is recognized as a very reliable car. Also, I expected it to be more pleasurable to drive due to its sharing a chassis with the Mazda6, so it’s disappointing to hear that it isn’t a very fun car.
Ford has directly addressed the MPG issue, and the 2010 update should have class-leading fuel economy, from what I’ve heard.
All told, every other review I’ve read has indicated that the Fusion is a decent car-buying proposition in the midsize segment, particularly when price is taken into account. For $16,150, the price shown in the review, you can get a hell of a lot of car. This review makes it sound as repulsive as a bag of butts, which kind of bugs me, but to each his own.
Since this is basic transportation, how about the things you actually use on a car you drive to work?
how is the radio, heater, gauges, control levers, steering wheel, brakes. Come on, give us some info on the ergonomics and the things you actually touch, other than the seat.
And yes Martin, this would be considered an affordable entry level new car for most people in the US in the market for a new car. Regardless of what you read on blogs this car is in the heart of the US car market. Also, the standard of living is still quite high here, thank you.
I guess the same comments could apply to the Ford T. The question here is if it will fulfill the customer’s expectations.
Unlike the Model T, there are half a dozen competitor cars available at a similar price point that are clearly superior.
William C. Montgomery:
I don’t know of any econo car that’s fun to drive. If by econo car you mean the weakest, slowest, cheapest version of a small car. We’d have to go to France or Italy to find a car like that, and they don’t sell cars here.
And I’m happy to inform you that crash tests are conducted – for free! – by both the US government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. You can also get their results for free. Apparently, this will be news to you. So you can stop cobbling together crash dummies from the discarded mannequins you found in the dumpster outside of Hot Topic.
That’s a photo of the 2009 SEL interior BTW..
And even that looks cheaper than a Yugo…
But remember…at Ford…”We speak car”
I wish they would speak quality for a change. That would be a bold move and the way forward.
@GayCorvette
How about the Fit?
According to Word, you used 815 words, but then again it counts LX as a word. (insert fake angst) now my wold will never be the same!!
Good review otherwise. I’ve havent seen the interior of anything that really impresses me lately.
But “Quality is Job One”
Oh wait…
I had one as a rental – surprise, surprise – and like the Sebring wasn’t expecting much, but overall I was somewhat impressed.
I even liked the exterior in a non offensive kind of way.
Was it great, did it dispel my bias against domestics, would I buy one, should Toyonda be worried ? No.
It was, as the author stated in the article, just there, an appliance masquerading as transportation.
The interior trim was nice enough but yeah you can see evidence of cost cutting, but it was a masterpiece in comparison with the Sebring.
Ride was nice, lots of room, braking and overall performance was….okay I guess.
But the worst part was the CVT, exactly what is the appeal with these?
Do people really find having no input whatsoever in driving a good thing? Why not get rid of the steering wheel?
Having never driven a CVT it was kind of confusing since it hunted around on acceleration and braking and I had no say in the process.
I kept thinking I was doing something wrong.
I also understood – having driven only small cars with manuals – why people brake so damn much in larger vehicles, not that it’s an excuse or anything.
I would say nice try Ford, you’re getting there, now admit the obvious and bring the Mondeo over, and don’t Americanize it too much kay?
The S is the most basic Fusion. Are the others, Malibu LS and Sebring LX also the basics? I have rented several 4-pot Fusion SE’s and found them pretty nice drivers.
The SE with the manual (cheers!) is actually enjoyable.
Going back and forth between Baltimore Washington airport and Harrisburg, PA, with a day or so of stop and go in Harrisburg, they get between 25 and 26 mpg with the 4 and a 5-speed auto.
Disappointing, after the SE review from 2 years ago:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ford-fusion-se/
But it’s getting a little long in the tooth, so hopefully the 2010 version will be better.
Crash tests
What about trunk space? It might be worth a few words to comment on. A comparison between the three models would be good to know for cars of this type.
It certainly sounds like Ford NA has successfully perpetuated its long string of mediocre mid-sizers stretching back through…
Contour
Tempo
Fairmont
Granada
LTD II
Maverick
Fairlane
Falcon
Did I miss a few?
David Holzman:
The Fit is a great economy car. But it’s great primarily because (a) it’s economical to buy and to own, (b) has lots of room and (c) has very good safety ratings [note: I did not have to conduct my own personal crash test of a Fit to discover this].
Within the category of econo cars sold in the US, the Fit is probably the most fun to drive with the best driving dynamics. But that’s only relative to other economy cars, not to cars we would consider strictly on the basis of driving pleasure.
Too bad you couldn’t review the 2010 Fusion… it might have fared better. The interior looks to be of higher quality as well.
Additionally, the Fusion is available with AWD on some trim models which may sway people in Ford’s direction relative to the other “domestic” entries. Also, the Fusion is available in a Hybrid version, and not a “mild” hybrid like the Malibu. The Hybrid Fusion is the fuel economy king of this class.
I hope that the new Taurus really is a great car in it’s class… not just adequate as in the current Fusion.
I don’t know of any econo car that’s fun to drive. If by econo car you mean the weakest, slowest, cheapest version of a small ca.r
The fun-to-drive quotient of the seven economy sedans I tested are vastly different. The Mazda6i is very fun to drive for an economy car. It might not have the moves of a gaycorvette, but it does alright. On the other hand, the Sebring LS is dreadful. With this selection of cars available, a budget minded consumer isn’t condemned to austere self-flagellating transportation.
And I’m happy to inform you that crash tests are conducted – for free! – by both the US government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. You can also get their results for free.
Then I don’t need to commit some of my 800 words reiterating and commenting on work they’ve already done and with which I have no first hand experience.
Yes, but what he meant was that evil Jews controlled the international banking conspiracy, possibly in concert with the gnomes of Zurich.
The S is the most basic Fusion. Are the others, Malibu LS and Sebring LX also the basics?
Yes, they were all the most basic options. The Malibu was actually the 1LS package.
I have driven all three cars mentioned in this test (rentals). Sebring deserves to be last. Very poor built quality. Ride and drive along the same lines. I thought Fusion and Malibu were a LOT better.
The 2010 Fusion interior does look good.
http://image.motortrend.com/f/13084565/112_0812_07z+2010_ford_fusion+interior_view.jpg
In Canada there’s no Fusion S. Only SE and SEL. I was checking last night pricing and was surprised to see that 4-banger SEL with slushbox was a mere $500 more then SE due to $2,000 more discount. And it’s already comes with 17″ alloy wheels, fogs and some other standard equipment over SE. (16-inch alloys are $420 option on SE). Final price with A/C tax and delivery charge $19,599 for SE and $20,099. For additional $1,500 one could get Sport Appearance Package with leather front seats. I wonder if rear seats are vinyl?
And in a few month 2010 Fusion will come out, so, if possible, could Mr. William C Montgomery re-test it against Malibu?
There is one point missing from the review that I regard as critical, and would place this car ahead of the Malibu in my mind (having driven both).
MANUAL TRANSMISSION!
AFAIK anyone who cares at all about driving would NEVER opt for a slide-o-matic in any car .. ever!
The only thing Ford can do to really make this car something special would be to offer a full station wagon version (with a manual).
rtt108 :
My ad my bad. Text amended.
Yup, having a manual is a plus for any car in this category. It’s my big knock against the Malibu–whyohwhy couldn’t they have done an SS version of that car?
IIRC, the Mercury Milan version tested out a bit better here a year or so ago. But an entirely different trim level, no?
The Milan is the more handsome of the two, no doubt about that.
In all fairness, this vehicle is due for a makeover. In true Motor Trend fashion, the newest model gets the prize. Getting a little predictable are we? That said, I’ve had a few stripped Fusion’s as renters and they were not all that bad. Build quality, dare I say it, was IMO better than the “Michigan built” Mazda 6.
And just to clarify, the Fusion is sold in the “Americas” which includes South America. Not sure on the tariff explination but it makes sense because the Mazda 6 has assembly in Columbia for the SA market and it’s the same stinkin’ model in both places.
Unfortunately these reviews are of stripped down rental car and gov’t fleet queens. Is the Fusion S as good as the lowest tier Accord LX? Probably not, but definately not in Sebring territory. Crappy wheel covers can be replaced, or upgraded to aftermarket rims. Suspension can be tweaked. Reliability can’t be upgraded and that’s what matters here, and probably those that buy this thing.
My only complaints about the Fusion I’ve driven is: What is the reason for the analog clocks in cars these days? It’s not classing up anything. And what is Ford’s fascination with those cheap pop-up storage bins in the dash? Worthless and cheapens the overall look. My 2 cents.