The battle for family sedan buyers has never been so competitive, and the Fusion has some new and old opponents in the four-door arena this year.
The Chevy Malibu is in the last year of its current generation, just like the Fusion.
It's a larger sedan with less nimble handling and fewer tech features offered, but still scores well for safety and space.
The Honda Accord is a perennial top finisher here, with its large back seat and high-quality interior overcoming a feeling of creeping "bigness." The Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima breathe new life into the class with sharp designs and a choice of four-cylinder, turbo and hybrid models.
Finally, the aging Nissan Altima still represents a good value and has frisky handling, but CVT versions are better left alone and it's late to the game when it comes to luxury options.
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 2012 Ford FusionBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Chevrolet MalibuBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Honda Accord SedanBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Hyundai SonataBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Kia OptimaBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Nissan AltimaBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||||
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The 2012 Ford Fusion stays at the top of its game, especially as a Hybrid, with perky handling and its cut-above looks. |
It's one of GM's best-executed products of the past few years, and even in its final year on sale, the 2012 Chevy Malibu still ranks highly for its spacious cabin, smooth performance and handsome silhouette. |
Though the 2012 Honda Accord now has one of the more dated four-door sedan designs--and Bluetooth connectivity remains hard to get--its comfortable interior and perky, refined performance hit the sweet spot for families. |
After more than a decade on the market, the latest Hyundai Sonata's an overnight success--thanks to great gas mileage, grabby styling, and exceptional value for the dollar. |
The basics don't have to be boring: the 2012 Kia Optima evades design and driving boredom with suave looks, good performance and great gas mileage and features. |
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. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| $20,705 | $22,110 | $21,480 | $19,795 | $19,500 | $20,550 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 17 MPG City / 36 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy | 22 MPG City / 39 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||||
| Gas I4 | Gas 4-Cyl | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| Mid-Size Sedan | Midsize | Large | Large Cars | Midsize Cars | Midsize |
| Style Name | |||||
| 4-Door Sedan S FWD | 4-Door Sedan LS w/1LS | 4-Door I4 Manual LX | 4-Door Sedan 2.4L Manual GLS | 4-Door Sedan 2.4L Manual LX | 4-Door Sedan I4 CVT 2.5 |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | Sedan | 4 Door Sedan |
| Transmission | |||||
| Manual | Automatic w/manual shift | Manual | Manual | Manual | Continuously Variable Ratio |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||||
| 2012 Ford Fusion vs. 2012 Chevrolet Malibu | 2012 Ford Fusion vs. 2012 Honda Accord Sedan | 2012 Ford Fusion vs. 2012 Hyundai Sonata | 2012 Ford Fusion vs. 2012 Kia Optima | 2012 Ford Fusion vs. 2012 Nissan Altima | |
