Ford Fusion History
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Essentially replacing the once-best-selling Ford Taurus for 2006, the Ford Fusion heralded Ford's comeback in several ways.
For one, it set a new look for Ford with a very prominent three-bar chrome grille and upright headlights leading to a more conventional look otherwise. Though the look was bold for the time, it's aged well and still looks fresh several years later.
Secondly, the Fusion has earned excellent reliability ratings (including from Consumer Reports) ever since its introduction; it's also gained kudos for quality from many other sources, and it's held its value on resale far better than the previous Taurus had.
Another reason the Fusion has resonated so much better with shoppers than previous models like the Taurus is that, quite simply, it's fun to drive. It's built on some of the same underpinnings as the previous-generation (pre-2009) Mazda6, another vehicle that TheCarConnection.com and other critics lauded for its sport-sedan handling. The Ford Fusion remains—not counting pricier European luxury makes—quite possibly the best-handling mid-size four-door sedan available in the U.S.
The base 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine in the 2006 through 2009 Fusion is only adequate with the automatic transmission but feels considerably peppier with the standard manual gearbox—a combination that might prove hard to find in some areas. The V-6 doesn't stand out for performance numbers—it only makes 240 horsepower—but it feels strong in the Fusion and the six-speed automatic transmission works especially well with it.
For 2010, the 2.3-liter engine was replaced with a 2.5-liter that wasn't much more powerful but was considerably less noisy when pressed to perform. And it finally got Ford's larger 3.5-liter V-6, making up to 263 horsepower. Since 2007, all-wheel drive has been offered on the Fusion, but it's only available with the V-6, which then has slightly lower power ratings than front-wheel-drive models.
The Fusion has a comfortable ride and a roomy interior, but for its first several years, up through 2009, the Fusion could feel a little drab inside. But a redesigned instrument panel and new seats, along with some improved materials, brightened up the feel of the Fusion for 2010. Ford has also stepped up the safety features offered on the Fusion for 2010; options include a Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert.
The only common complaint with the 2006-2009 Fusions is that they don't return the fuel economy of most mid-size rivals—most of which are slightly larger and have slightly larger engines. Despite the improvements for 2010, fuel economy figures didn't become much better.
Ford remedied that for 2010, with the introduction of the Ford Fusion Hybrid, a model that pairs a version of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor system. The Fusion Hybrid can run on electric power only at up to 47 mph and achieves an outstanding EPA City rating of 41 mpg City.
Changes have been minimal since the 2010 revamp. A new Fusion is due in the 2013 model year, along with a replacement for the Lincoln MKZ--though this time, Ford promises the two similar sedans will have much less in common than they do today. A third model, the Mercury Milan, was discontinued along with the Mercury brand for the 2011 model year. The fourth member of the quartet, the Mazda 6, is distancing itself from the Ford vehicles as well, and Mazda promises a new design for the 2013 model year, too.
