A worthy ride
The best part about the Fusion is how it drives. As I mentioned earlier, I spent a few days in the mountain of Northern New York and I was thoroughly impressed with how easily the Fusion soaked up the tortuous kilometres at a rapid pace. Although the 3.0L V6 is utterly noisy, its 221 hp and 205 lb/ft of torque have plenty of get-up and go. The 6-speed automatic transmission (5-speed with the 4-cylinder) is also a fine performer. However, I deplore the absence of a manual mode or at least a way to lock out overdrive. On the switchbacks, I could have used more engine braking and further explored the limits of the excellent chassis.

The 3.0L V6 is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Speaking of the chassis, the Fusion's dynamic setup suspension-wise is impressive. The shock-absorbers constantly maintain the tires in complete contact with the pavement all the while suffering only limited ill effects from potholes and the like. Weight transfers through the curves is limited and expertly controlled. At highway speeds, the Fusion demonstrates excellent stability.

The downside to such a sporty suspension, unfortunately, is an enormous turning radius. To manage to back into my garage, I needed to do a number of manoeuvres whereas the average same-size car only requires a few movements of the steering wheel. The Fusion's 4-wheel disc brakes responded well to my pedal prods during my stints in through the mountains and never showed any signs of fading.

My tester was equipped with Ford's new AWD system. Regrettably, due to the near complete lack of snow, I was unable to evaluate the capabilities of the self-proclaimed fast and intelligent system. What I can say is that it is seamless and invisible. I was aware that the car and I were always in complete control of the situation but I never noticed any physical hints to the fact that it was working.

The final word
The Fusion is worth being considered. It has many of the necessary ingredients to make it a winner. I can deal with wide-angle parking but I think that the car needs an O/D lockout button or a manual mode to get the most out of the powertrain and the brilliant platform.

The Fusion has all it takes to go head to head with the segment leaders.

The Fusion's price range is from $23,499 to just over $35,750 for an SEL AWD with options.



Great suspension setup
Accommodating and pleasant interior

 
Driving position
Navigation screen is low and troublesome to consult when driving
No manual mode for the transmission

 

Turning radius is huge



Competitors:
Mazda6, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler Sebring, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Magentis, Subaru Legacy


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux