This morning, I got to drive the all new 2013 Ford Fusion. My local dealer had one, only one, and they had not put it in the showroom yet. So, I asked if I could drive it. I have liked the Fusion since they unveiled in Detroit earlier this year. It is a beautiful car, but a good looking car is not always a good car. After spending some time with it this morning, I can assure you that the Fusion is a good car. There are some faults, but it is a good car nonetheless.
The first thing you notice about the Fusion is its looks. Even though this car was the base model, starting at $22,500, it had a chrome grille and chrome trim. The exterior is very clean, but aggressively styled.. The European influence in evident in the cars lines, but the Fusions’s best feature is its face. The grille and headlights give the car an aggressive look. The car’s styling has been compared to an Aston Martin, and there is definitely some Aston influence.
The interior of the car has been upgraded for 2013. The cloth interior of the car I drove was nice, but the front bucket seats are uncomfortable. There is too much lateral support for a car that you are not going to throw around a track. The rear seats were better, and have plenty of head room and leg room. On the tech side, the model I drove did not have MyFord Touch, but it did have Sync and an excellent tech package for a base model. Overall, the interior is a great improvement and one of the nicest in the class.
When driven, the Fusion is very quiet. In fact, it reminded me of driving a Cadillac or Lincoln. What really impressed me, however, was the suspension. It is not overly soft, and it is not too hard. It feels sporty and gives the road feedback a driver will like. Although I did not take it out on the highway, the car performed very well in town. Smooth transmission and not a lot of engine noise – although, I really like a great sounding engine.
The car I drove had the base 2.5 litre four-cylinder. It is a solid engine, but nothing exciting. And the car only comes with a variety of four cylinders and Eco-Boosts fours. I think this is Ford’s biggest mistake. The car may look aggressive, but it does not have the engines to back it up. Yes, people want fuel efficiency in a mid-size sedan, but the Mustang’s V6 gets 31 MPG, and the 300 HP would make the Fusion a very fun car.
Overall, the Fusion is a great car. Great looking, great fuel efficiency, a solid interior, and it is damn good looking (yes, I know I said that twice!). It is entering a very competitive market, but it will do well. The 2012 Fusion was the second best seller in the class, and this car is a lot better than the outgoing model. Will the new Fusion dethrone the Camry? Probably not yet, but it is going to force the others to make some changes to their cars. As Ford says, the new Fusion is, “Not just a new car model, but a new model for cars.” Indeed it is.
Photo Credit: Autoblog
