The Ford Fusion was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award for 2010; a title that was well earned following the major redesign for the 2010 model.
The Fusion sports a handsome cabin, an attractive sheet metal exterior, and the carmaker offers the vehicle with a variety of powertrain configurations. This made the vehicle attractive to consumers demanding superior speed and exceptional driving manners. The Sport Ford Fusion has a V-6 with 263 horsepower for those with a need for speed, and for those consumers in need of a vehicle with exceptional fuel efficiency and ease of handling, the Hybrid Fusion delivers 41 mpg in the city. This vehicle comes equipped with all wheel drive too, so it offers outstanding road grippage.
The Fusion has 16.5 cubic feet of trunk space, it is a five-passenger vehicle, and it offers a lot of legroom. The Fusion is offered with an impeccable list of amenities, but adding on features an up the price considerably. The interior of the vehicle is ergonomically designed, but the styling of the vehicle is mediocre.
The Range
Bodystyles: Sedan
Engines: 2.5L I-4, 3.0L V-6, 3.5L V-6, 2.5L I-4 with electric motor
Transmissions: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, continuously variable transmission (CVT0
Models: S, SE, SEL FWD, SEL AWD, Sport FWD, Sport AWD, Hybrid
What's New
Just about everything on the 2010 Fusion is new or heavily updated, including the powertrains, exterior and interior design, plus high-tech features like Ford's blind spot Information system.
Exterior
New sheetmetal retains the old model's three-bar grille, but incorporates it into a more organic design that carries hints of the stylish European Mondeo. The result is a sedan that's more attractive than much of the competition.
Interior
The Fusion's cabin is accented by plentiful ambient lighting. Optional 12-speaker, 390-watt Sony audio system provides a great soundtrack. Hybrid models get a unique LCD gauge cluster that provides fuel economy and power-flow information.
Performance & Handling
The Fusion's I-4 makes 175 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque, while the optional V-6 makes 240 horsepower and 223 pound-feet of torque and is capable of running on E85. Sport's 3.5L V-6 is good for 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid's Atkinson-cycle I-4 makes 156 horsepower and 136 pound-feet, plus there's 106 horsepower from the electric motor.
Safety
Six airbags are standard along with seatbelt pretensioners. Optional safety features include a rear-view camera, reverse sensors, and a Blind Spot Information system that detects vehicles that may be in the driver's blind spots.
EPA Fuel Economy
S manual: 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway
S automatic: 23 mpg city/34 mpg highway
SE manual: 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway
SE, SEL I-4 automatic: 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway
SE, SEL V-6 FWD: 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway
SEL V-6 AWD: 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway
Sport FWD: 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway
Sport AWD: 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway
Hybrid: 41 mpg city/36 mph highway
You'll Like
- Good fuel economy
- Plentiful high-tech features
- Wide powertrain range
- Available AWD
You Won't Like
- 3.0L V-6 lacks oomph
- Lack of option flexibility
Sum Up
The 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year
If You Like This Vehicle
- Hyundai Sonata
- Mazda6
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota Camry