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Looking at the V6
Fusion’s relatively poor ranking in this group, one might be surprised to see
the version equipped with 60 fewer horsepower do so well, especially after
seeing the Chevrolet Malibu V6 drastically outscore its 4-cylinder variant.
But in the Fusion’s case, a very impressive 4-cylinder is not so far behind
the rather mediocre V6 in terms of power and refinement, returns much better
gas mileage, and costs far less. Even before the V6’s extra $2,700 cost, it
wasn’t all that far ahead of the 4-cylinder. And taking price into
consideration, it didn’t stand a chance. And the car’s other strong points of
a roomy, well-finished interior and impressive ride and handling make this
version a strong choice in this group.
The Fusion rides
comfortably. The ride is absorbent, and is generally well-controlled, though
it doesn’t always recover quickly after passing bumps. The car handles quite
well for a family sedan, and the accurate steering returns good feedback. Body
roll is more pronounced than in the Fusion’s sport-focused cousin, the Mazda6,
and it doesn’t feel nearly as nimble in fast cornering, but it also rides more
comfortably. The standard 2.3-liter 4-cylinder easily holds its own against
competing 4-cylinders in this group, though it is well behind most
6-cylinders, including the V6 Fusion, in that area. It remains nearly as quiet
as that car under all but hard acceleration, however, though road noise can be
excessive. Gas mileage is significantly improved over the 3.0-liter Fusion,
one of the better results in this group.
Inside, the Fusion has
high, firm, comfortable, and well-shaped front seats with impressive leg and
head space. The rear is mounted high for good thigh support, but isn’t as
roomy as some competitors’, and isn’t angled properly to make maximum use of
the available space. The interior uses high-quality materials that fit
together well. The gauges are clear enough but could be larger, and while the
instruments are well-placed, there was no reason to have replaced knob-style
controls with annoying-to-use buttons. The high seats and fairly high roof
ease entry/exit. Drivers sit very comfortably, and have very good visibility.
The trunk is reasonably well-shaped, but not particularly large.
The Fusion earned four
stars for both the driver and for the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal
crash test, a mediocre score for a new design, but has yet to be subjected to
any other crash tests.
The Fusion reviewed here
came in at $20,480, reasonably well-equipped. That price includes the standard
power driver’s seat, as well as the optional side airbag system that includes
both torso-protecting and curtain-style head-protecting side airbags, antilock
brakes, and leather seating. However, the sunroof would have pushed the price
out of this group’s range, heated seats and automatic climate control are only
offered on a higher-end version of the car, and stability control isn’t
offered at all.
Overall, the Fusion is
an excellent car with either of its engines, but the 4-cylinder is the obvious
choice within this lineup for its $2,700 savings. The car rides and handles
very well, gets very good gas mileage, and has a comfortable and high-quality
interior. And it’s well-priced as well, unlike the V6 model, though it’s
still not the cheapest car in its class. But it’s a solid buy as a car with
some premium and sporty qualities that doesn’t sacrifice interior comfort and
a smooth ride to get them.
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