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The 4-cylinder Fusion
combines the strengths of its V6 version—a comfortable interior and very
good ride and handling—with a budget price and good gas mileage.
Comfortable, fun to drive, and inexpensive, it’s a good all-around family
sedan.
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 I4 is peppy enough, but isn’t
as strong as a few competing 4-cylinders. The engine can get loud under hard
acceleration, and road noise is noticeable. Gas mileage is good by this
group’s standards.
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 decent-quality materials that fit together well. The gauges
are clear enough but could be larger, and there was no reason to have
replaced knob-style controls with annoying-to-use buttons. Climate controls
could be higher as well. 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 4-cylinder version
Fusion reviewed here came in at $18,519, well-equipped. There is no
stability control system, but it does include a 6-disc CD changer, a 6-way
power driver’s seat, alloy wheels, and Sirius satellite radio.
Overall,
the 4-cylinder Fusion is a well-rounded family sedan. It’s not the roomiest,
it’s not the most fun, it’s not the most powerful, it’s not the most
fuel-efficient, and it’s not the least expensive. But it is competitive in
every one of those areas, and worth a look from all midsize sedan shoppers.
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