|
The Fusion was just
introduced for 2006 to help replace the Taurus. And that is part of the
problem, its bold styling and relative newness keep it selling closer to its
sticker price than most of the other cars in this group. As such, the V6
version was rather expensive by this group’s standards and came without many
features. But otherwise, it is a very nice vehicle. It is roomy inside, and
the interior is very well-finished. It also rides and handles very well. But
the V6 option, included on this vehicle, adds $2,700 to the price of a
comparable 4-cylinder model, and is neither the most powerful nor the most
refined even against only the competitors within this group, and gas mileage
suffers greatly over the standard 4-cylinder.
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 3.0-liter V6 has more than enough power to outgun the other
cars in this group that come equipped with 4-cylinders, but the Fusion’s
acceleration isn’t up to the level of the better V6-equipped cars here. The
engine is somewhat noisy under hard acceleration, and road noise can be
excessive. Gas mileage is adequate for a V6 midsize sedan, but opting for the
standard 4-cylinder represents a significant improvement in that area.
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 $20,918, not very well-equipped. That price does include the
standard power driver’s seat and optional side airbag system that includes
both torso-protecting and curtain-style head-protecting side airbags, but
little else. The optional antilock brakes with traction control would have
pushed the price too high, as would the sunroof, leather, or 6-disc CD
changer. 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 a
very nice car with good ride and handling and interior comfort and quality.
But the V6 doesn’t provide sufficient performance or refinement advantages
over the standard 4-cylinder to justify its $2,700 cost, and the difference in
gas mileage between the two engines is more than in many competing vehicles.
If you want a Fusion, and there are many reasons to, go for the standard
engine.
|
