Compare 2012 Ford Fusion vs 2012 Nissan Altima vs 2012 Volkswagen Passat

2012 Ford Fusion
X
2012 Nissan Altima
X
2012 Volkswagen Passat
X
Select style
4-Door Sedan Hybrid FWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Fusion 4-Door Sedan Hybrid FWD 41 36 $26,437 $28,775
Fusion 4-Door Sedan S FWD 22 29 $19,381 $20,705
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SE FWD 23 33 $21,217 $22,975
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SEL AWD 17 25 $26,613 $28,970
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SEL FWD 23 33 $23,423 $25,425
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SPORT AWD 17 25 $26,797 $29,175
Fusion 4-Door Sedan SPORT FWD 18 27 $25,043 $27,225
Select style
2-Door Coupe I4 CVT 2.5 S
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Altima 2-Door Coupe I4 CVT 2.5 S 23 32 $23,096 $24,640
Altima 2-Door Coupe I4 Manual 2.5 S 23 31 $22,534 $24,040
Altima 2-Door Coupe V6 CVT 3.5 SR 20 27 $26,842 $28,970
Altima 2-Door Coupe V6 Manual 3.5 SR 18 27 $28,904 $31,200
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 23 32 $19,699 $20,550
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 S 23 32 $21,290 $22,710
Altima 4-Door Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 SL 23 32 $21,290 $22,710
Altima 4-Door Sedan V6 CVT 3.5 SR 20 27 $23,697 $25,570
Select style
4-Door Sedan 2.0L DSG TDI SE w/Sunroof
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L DSG TDI SE w/Sunroof 30 40 $26,752 $27,895
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L DSG TDI SE w/Sunroof & Nav 30 40 $28,286 $29,495
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L DSG TDI SEL Premium 30 40 $30,876 $32,195
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.0L Manual TDI SE 31 43 $24,929 $25,995
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic S 22 31 $20,802 $21,690
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic S PZEV 22 31 $20,802 $21,690
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic S w/Appearance 22 31 $21,760 $22,690
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic S w/Appearance PZEV 22 31 $21,760 $22,690
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SE 22 31 $23,808 $24,825
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SE PZEV 22 31 $23,808 $24,825
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SE w/Sunroof 22 31 $24,575 $25,625
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SE w/Sunroof & Nav 22 31 $25,696 $26,795
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SE w/Sunroof & Nav PZEV 22 31 $25,696 $26,795
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SE w/Sunroof PZEV 22 31 $24,575 $25,625
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SEL 22 31 $27,230 $28,395
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SEL PZEV 22 31 $27,230 $28,395
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SEL Premium 22 31 $28,670 $29,895
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Automatic SEL Premium PZEV 22 31 $28,670 $29,895
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Manual S 22 32 $19,746 $20,590
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Manual S PZEV 22 32 $19,746 $20,590
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Manual SE 22 32 $22,752 $23,725
Passat 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Manual SE PZEV 22 32 $22,752 $23,725
Passat 4-Door Sedan 3.6L V6 DSG SE w/Sunroof 20 28 $27,806 $28,995
Passat 4-Door Sedan 3.6L V6 DSG SE w/Sunroof & Nav 20 28 $29,341 $30,595
Passat 4-Door Sedan 3.6L V6 DSG SEL Premium 20 28 $31,600 $32,950
Pricing
Invoice Price
$26,437
$23,096
$26,752
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$28,775
$24,640
$27,895
Monthly Payment Estimate
$480 / month
$411 / month
$465 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
8.2
7.6
7.8
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2012 Ford Fusion stays at the top of its game, especially as a Hybrid, with perky handling and its cut-above looks. The 2012 Nissan Altima isn't as roomy as the newest mid-offerings, but as a coupe or as a sedan, it's one of the best-looking and most sporty mid-sizers. A massive rear seat and better-than-hybrid highway fuel economy mask the slight loss of refinement and nimble road feel in the 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
41 mpg 23 mpg 30 mpg
Highway
36 mpg 32 mpg 40 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Mid-Size Sedan Midsize Mid-Size
Interior Dimensions
Second Hip Room (in)
53.3 47.6 - TBD -
Front Shoulder Room (in)
57.4 53.9 56.9
Passenger Volume (ft³)
99.8 89.3 102.0
Second Head Room (in)
37.8 35.6 37.8
Second Shoulder Room (in)
56.5 52.4 57.0
Front Leg Room (in)
42.3 42.5 42.4
Passenger Capacity
5 5 5
Front Hip Room (in)
54.0 54.2 - TBD -
Second Leg Room (in)
36.7 34.4 39.1
Front Head Room (in)
38.7 39.7 38.3
Exterior Dimensions
Track Width, Front (in)
61.7 61.0 62.1
Min Ground Clearance (in)
- TBD - 5.3 5.4
Length, Overall (in)
190.6 180.9 191.6
Height, Overall (in)
56.9 55.9 58.5
Track Width, Rear (in)
61.3 61.2 61.0
Wheelbase (in)
107.4 105.3 110.4
Liftover Height (in)
- TBD - 26.2 - TBD -
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
72.2 70.7 72.2
Cargo Area Dimensions
Trunk Volume (ft³)
11.8 8.2 15.9
Brakes
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- TBD - 11.5 x 0.4 10.7 x 0.4
Brake Type
Pwr Pwr Pwr
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- TBD - 11.7 x 1.0 12.3 x 1.0
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
17.5 20.0 18.5
Steering
Turning Diameter - Wall to Wall (ft)
- TBD - - TBD - NA
Steering Ratio (:1), Overall
16.0 16.2 16.4
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
37.7 34.7 36.4
Steering Type
Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion Pwr Rack & Pinion
Lock to Lock Turns (Steering)
- TBD - 2.83 3.0
Tires
Rear Tire Order Code
T7C NA NA
Front Tire Size
P225/50VR17 P215/55TR17 P215/55HR17
Spare Tire Size
Compact T135/90D16 - TBD -
Front Tire Order Code
T7C NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
- TBD - NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P225/50VR17 P215/55TR17 P215/55HR17
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA 100 NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA 1000 NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA NA NA
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3720 3124 3397
Wheels
Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel - TBD -
Front Wheel Size (in)
17 x - TBD - 17 x 7.5 17 x - TBD -
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact Compact - TBD -
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
17 x - TBD - 17 x 7.5 17 x - TBD -
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Cooling System
Total Cooling System Capacity (qts)
- TBD - 8.0 9.2
Electrical
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- TBD - - TBD - - TBD -
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
- TBD - 110 140
Engine
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
- TBD - 180 @ 3900 236 @ 1500-2500
Engine Order Code
993 NA NA
Displacement
2.5L/152 2.5L/- TBD - 2.0L/120
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
191 combined 175 @ 5600 140 @ 4000
Engine Type
Gas/Electric I4 Gas I4 Turbocharged Diesel I4
Fuel System
Electronic Fuel Injection Electronic Fuel Injection Direct Injection
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
36 32 40
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
41 23 30
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
39 26 34
Transmission
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA 0.76
First Gear Ratio (:1)
- TBD - - TBD - 3.46
Clutch Size (in)
NA NA NA
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA 1.30
Trans Type
1 1 6
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive Front Wheel Drive
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA 0.91
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
- TBD - 1.75 3.99
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA 2.05
Trans Order Code
44H NA NA
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
2.57 5.79 4.12, 3.04
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
NA NA 0.90
Trans Description Cont.
Continuously Variable Ratio Continuously Variable Ratio Automatic w/Manual Shift
Summary
Vehicle Name
Ford Fusion Nissan Altima Volkswagen Passat
Body Style
4 Door Sedan 2 Door Coupe 4 Door Sdn
Suspension
Shock Absorber Diameter - Front (mm)
- TBD - - TBD - NA
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Front (in)
0.9 0.86 - TBD -
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-link Multi-Link 4-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
NA w/Coil Springs NA
Shock Absorber Diameter - Rear (mm)
- TBD - - TBD - NA
Suspension Type - Front
Short-Long Arm Strut MacPherson Strut
Stabilizer Bar Diameter - Rear (in)
0.6 0.68 - TBD -
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
NA w/Coil Springs NA
Emissions
EPA Greenhouse Gas Score
9 6 7
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
4.7 7.2 5.0
Crash Test Ratings
Overall Rating
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
Overall Side Crash Rating
Side Barrier Rating
Side Barrier Rating Driver
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
Rollover Rating

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