2008 Ford Fusion SE – Are you serious?

Those three words were my neighbour’s response when I told him that I was pleasantly surprised with the Ford Fusion that I was testing this week. In fact, when I told him that it was one of the most underrated cars on the road, he approached the vehicle to give it a closer look. Unable to find fault with either the choice of materials or the quality of finish, he asked if he could try it, convinced that a test drive would expose its weaknesses. But surprise, surprise, this sworn advocate of Japanese products admitted defeat and gently whispered an admission in my ear: that the Fusion isn’t bad for a Ford. There is no denying that, at one time, Ford products were not among the most reliable and competitive on the market, but cars like the Fusion should make people take another look at products bearing Ford’s trademark blue oval.

Three versions, three personalities.

In addition to the components that distinguish the SE and SEL versions from one another, Fusion buyers are being offered three mechanical choices: the four-cylinder model, the six- cylinder model, and the V6 all-wheel drive version. At a base price of less than $24,000 ($19,000 with the $5,000 delivery allowance rebate), the Fusion turns out to be a virtual steal considering its size and equipment. Better still, the fully-loaded all-wheel drive version adds only $7,500 to the base price. Two transmissions, a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed automatic, are available for the 4-cylinder engine. As for the V6, it is only offered with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

On the road

Unlike most manufacturers who lend us the high end, fully-loaded versions of their models, Ford gave us a 4-cylinder, 5-speed base model of the Fusion. Accustomed as we are to driving higher end models, our first impressions were understandably a tad disappointing. However, after a few kilometres, even after a few metres, my opinion of the vehicle changed, and the city driving convinced me how pleasant the Fusion base model is to drive.  Smooth and easy to use, I was extremely surprised by the clutch. The stick shift with its large handle (unlike a lot of Japanese cars) features irreproachable handling and almost seems as though there is a shorter distance between gears. This, combined with the comfortable, but not too soft suspension, and you have a car that proves very agile in traffic, especially since the steering offers more than sufficient assistance but, unfortunately, does not become stiffer at higher speeds. The Fusion’s performance ranges from comfortable with the 4-cylinder models to a little more sporty with the 6-cylinder versions. 

Although they share many of the same mechanical components, the Fusion is not as much fun to drive as the Mazda 6. The Fusion’s suspensions make zigzagging a bit perilous while the tail-end tends to want to overtake the front, a sure sign of oversteering. Sure, some people could be worried, even scandalized, by the mere 160-horsepower that propel this vehicle, but believe you me, the engine is very efficient when called upon. This modest cavalry have the answer for most anything you’ll ask of it. The accelerations are good and pick-up is decent, as long as you handle the stick shift properly.  The fuel economy that this configuration (four cylinders with manual transmission) can provide should also be taken into consideration. Obviously, Ford offers a 6-cylinder version that tips the scales at more than 220 horses for the diehards out there, which will silence the criticism of those who care only about engine size. However, you will have to expect fuel economy to suffer, in this case to the tune of about 3 more litres per 100 kilometres.  In both cases, the brakes demonstrate power without sacrificing endurance when hot.

Not flashy enough?

Since its launch in 2006, the Fusion has gone almost unnoticed in the world of automobiles. Despite the fact that it seems to have it all, it did not cause the reaction that was so highly publicized in our television ads. Nevertheless, the car has all of the features prized by sedan buyers. It is affordable, reliable (the surveys confirm it), economical, powerful and safe. It has a generous passenger compartment and reasonable exterior dimensions. Its discrete but original exterior design is pleasant, as is the interior with its simple but effective presentation and well-organized materials.  What little plastic there is does not look cheap.  The seats are very well-padded and comfortable, a typically North American feature, and offer sufficient lateral support.  All of the controls are user-friendly and well-arranged on the dashboard.  The rear seat backs fold down flat, but this must be done from inside the trunk.

Is the Fusion paying for Ford’s sins? Sure, the Fusion is far from a failure, but with its quality and efficiency, only the Ford name could have discouraged consumers from buying it. There should be more Fusions on our roads. All things considered, this is a vehicle that was supposed to follow in the Taurus’ legendary footsteps, but it had no such luck.