QUALITY | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The new seats are a pretty comfy place to be...
Jalopnik
We're glad to see some softer materials used throughout...
Automobile
Most improvements focus on climbing the scale of perceived quality...
Car and Driver
The interior is fine, with decent to good seats and intuitive controls.
AutoWeek
...Above average interior quality and ergonomics.
Automobile
If you're shopping only by the numbers, you might miss how roomy the 2012 Fusion's cabin is; among mid-size sedans, it's now close to the largest, but it's arranged to make good use of what's there. Good fit and finish also make it very desirable in a way that spec panels aren't going to show.
You'll find a slightly lower driving position in the 2012 Ford Fusion than you will in some other mid-size models like the Hyundai Sonata or Toyota Camry. But at the same time, there's good outward visibility, as well as plenty of headroom and legroom--although the center console spreads a bit wide against inboard knees. Well-bolstered front seats make it long-distance friendly, as does the telescoping steering wheel.
In back, there's enough leg room for most, and the back doors open wide, to ease entry and exit. Only here is the Fusion's slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length exposed; there's a little less room to sprawl out than in the larger entries in this class, like the Accord and Sonata--and fitting three across can be a pinch--but they're nicely contoured for adults.
One notable down side is trunk space. While the standard four-cylinder and V-6 models have a roomy 16-cubic-foot trunk, Hybrid models make do with a smaller 12 cubic feet (the price of fitting in an additional battery pack). And one other sacrifice in the Fusion Hybrid is that you can't fold down the rear seatbacks, as in other models. But in any case, the regular shape and low loading floor helps make the most of it. And with storage bins in the center console, a deep glove box, and door pockets, the Fusion offers plenty of places for smaller items.
Interior appointments in the 2012 Ford Fusion remain pretty impressive, in a simple, honest way. Although the design isn't flamboyant and the feel of the trim isn't lavish, the Fusion has reasonably good-quality plastics, plenty of sound deadening, and good fit and finish, with base four-cylinder models offering an especially refined place for the money.
Conclusion
A roomy interior and simple but high-quality cabin appointments give the cabin of the 2012 Fusion plenty of appeal, although Fusion Hybrid shoppers should be aware of limited trunk space and versatility.
