2013 Ford Fusion - For Every Turn, There's Cars.com. The Ford Fusion 2013

Trying to decide supported by a midsize sedan may be present one about the hardest tasks intended any motor shopper. From the Hyundai Sonata also Toyota Camry to the redesigned Nissan Altima also Honda Accord, these cars offer quiet cabins, wealth about space also a impartial amount about features even within floor or lower trim levels.

The redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion breaks away from the package within a large way. It outhandles the continuous land also has a design that is James Bond dashing while time as|during the time that} the rest would be present best fit intended Miss Moneypenny.

If midsize sedan shoppers desire fun also style, the redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion is maybe the one choice they have, yet it does come with a few tradeoffs.

The 2013 is significantly opposed from the outgoing 2012 within terms about not just performance also technology yet and size, contents also out. You can compare the two model years here.

From the Aston Martin look about its start end to the geometric design about the tail, the Fusion is an use within aggressive styling. That was the plan. The continuous motor was developed to preserve the styling designers had penned. When engineers needed to cause the motor larger, they stationary had to maintain the design’s aesthetics.

The design does translate to a high belt line, fine windows also reduced visibility, though.

The looks may draw within shoppers, yet an array about four engines — three about which are new intended the Fusion — may be present the hardest decision made at the dealership.

It’s easy to dismiss the S also SE’s floor engine, a carryover from 2012. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder produces 175 horsepower also gets an EPA-estimated 22/34 mpg city/highway also 26 mpg combined.

Next up is the 178-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder that achieves the best non-hybrid mileage at 25/37/29 mpg city/highway/combined with a six-speed manual transmission also EPA fuel economy estimates about 23/36/28 mpg with a six-speed automatic.

Replacing the previous generation’s V-6 is a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an impressive 240 hp also 270 pounds-feet about torque that returns 22/33/26 mpg. It comes with an robot transmission yet is the one machine that can be present teamed to voluntary all-wheel drive.

The turbo engines run supported by frequent gas yet fee is needed to achieve the posted horsepower ratings. Mileage is the similar supported by frequent or premium.

Finally, there is a hybrid with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder also powered motor producing a combined 188 hp also returning 47 mpg across or far border of} the board within city, motorway also combined mileage.

I herd the three new powertrains over hundreds about miles within rolling Southern California also found the variety welcome, yet every single with its own quirks.

The 1.6-liter with an robot will likely be present the amount leader within terms about sales, yet I found it the least interesting to drive. The power rating is beneath most about the competition, also it’s noticeable supported by the road. There is stationary ample passing power within motorway situations, yet it doesn’t feel nearly as robust as the Nissan Altima’s 182-hp four-cylinder engine. I was able to reconfirm my past knowledge supported by this point with a floor Altima provided via Ford during the Fusion test drive.

With a manual transmission, the 1.6-liter is livelier, also downshifting to ascend curvy roads helps you appreciate the car’s impressive handling.

No matter which Ford Fusion I tested, it took curves with sports motor aplomb. Even with low-rolling-resistance tires supported by all the Fusions — equipped with standard 16-inch or voluntary 17-, 18- or 19-inch wheels — there was ample grip. Steering feel supported by all the cars is exceptional: precise during spirited turns also supported by point supported by straight stretches.

The 2.0-liter delivered greatly additional power — obviously — also teamed with all-wheel drive was even additional fun to pilot around California’s curvy roads. While I’d never swing round down additional power, I wish the 1.6 had a slice additional so the 2.0 wouldn’t be present a necessary choice at all.

The ride within the 1.6 also 2.0 was tightly composed, showcasing the work that went into designing a global motor that needs to meet the sporty desires about European customers, too. However, the motor doesn’t offer too greatly comfort. It’s not as soft as the Altima or Camry yet supported by par with the Kia Optima over rough roadway surfaces. Road also wind sound fall within that similar spectrum, as well.

The Altima may be present the additional comfortable cruiser, yet when I took it supported by sharp turns at speed, my co-pilot also I leaned far not in about our seats. Take the similar swing round within the Fusion, also you stick to your place same as there’s glue supported by the fabric. This is confidence-inspiring during fun drives through the mountains, yet intended the daily driver, I question assuming it will be present a deciding factor.

The Fusion Hybrid might have been my favorite about the bunch as it felt same as it had the mix about power I was looking intended with a slightly suppler ride while time as|during the time that} stationary showing that impressive steering feel also handling.

The fact that it’s rated at 47 mpg is just a bonus.

Ford and did a excellent position with the traits that often bound a hybrid’s appeal. The brakes felt excellent beneath foot with none about the soggy or unpredictable feedback you can discover within additional hybrids also fully powered vehicles.

The battery package within the trunk was and well-executed. There is a noticeable hump that reduces cargo space from 16 cubic feet to 12 cubic feet, yet it is designed same as a shelf so that larger cargo can fit within the deeper well also additional items same as groceries, dry cleaning also smaller bags can go supported by the shelf. The rear seats and fold to create a flat floor with that shelf.

Ford wisely left the stand-out Fusion styling as-is intended the hybrid. There are certainly not artistic or noticeable aerodynamic tweaks supported by the exterior to help cheat the wind. The Fusion Hybrid does get a set about shutters that close during certain types about sweeping to help with aerodynamics. Located behind the car’s grille also radiator, the shutters reduce draw at higher speeds. All Fusions feature a significant amount about underbody shielding to decrease drag, yet the Fusion Hybrid’s underside is almost entirely shielded.

These changes aid the hybrid powertrain within returning the impressive 47 mpg mileage. There is certainly not EV sweeping mode, also the hybrid features a digital gauge cluster identical to that found within Fusions equipped with the voluntary MyFord Touch multimedia system. The Fusion Hybrid does carry over the previous generation’s familiar graphical leaves within the gauge cluster that grow as you drive additional efficiently.

Inside, the 2013 Fusion benefits from a greatly longer wheelbase as well as about an additional inch about exterior overall length. Interior measurements intended headroom, legroom, trendy room also shoulder room are all competitive or close the top about the class. The legroom numbers proved true. There was wealth about space intended me within both the chauffeur also rear seats. Front headroom wasn’t an issue, yet within the rear seats I felt same as assuming I were an inch or two taller than my 5-foot-10 frame I might have some issues.

Both the fabric also leather seats I tested felt significantly firm yet offered excellent support. After two hours about solid driving, my thirty-something back was feeling sore. My twenty-something co-driver had certainly not back issues even after four hours about driving. But within my defense, I took my comparison test within the Altima at the two-hour mark, also its wider, softer seats felt therapeutic supported by my poor back.

The cabin materials are all about excellent standard also competitive intended the class. The main issue intended shoppers will be present the ergonomics — also not just about the voluntary MyFord Touch system. Even the floor console, which has physical buttons, sports dozens about them. And they’re small. They look slick also futuristic, yet that doesn’t cause a difference within their size. Luckily, knobs intended stereo amount also tuning are large, also the small LCD screen also menus are straightforward.

The standard gauge cluster is and nice to look at with a sharp LCD screen among the analog gauges, a system we’re seeing across or far border of} the segment.

I and liked the rather large cubby ahead about the shifter. It’s a slice far forward to reach clearly while time as|during the time that} sweeping yet is large enough to stash larger gear same as sunglasses, wallets or smartphones.

There’s and a small cubby among the start seats that’s able to accommodate similar-sized objects, also it’s where you can plug devices into two USB ports.

The Fusion’s trunk is 16 cubic feet also gets most about the space from individual deep, not wide, yet there are small cutouts intended golf clubs via either border about the lid opening. It holds up well against the Altima also Camry’s 15.4 cubic feet, Accord’s 15.8 cubic feet also Malibu’s 16.3 cubic feet.

You can compare the Fusion to the Accord, Altima also Camry here.

The Fusion comes relatively well-equipped with the floor S model getting standard Bluetooth, Ford’s Sync system, power windows with communicate up also down intended all windows, remote entry, body-colored mirrors also door handles, also a chrome grille at $22,495 (all prices involve destination charges). But that’s with the 2.5-liter engine, also this is where pricing will become a problem intended Ford within this very competitive segment.

To opt intended the additional fuel-efficient 1.6-liter you want to move up to the SE, also to equip it with an automatic, you’ll be present paying a floor price about $25,290. It’s $24,495 with a manual.

The Altima, Camry also Accord come standard with their most fuel-efficient engines also cost $22,280, $22,850 also $23,270, respectively, with robot transmissions.

And to confuse even frequent Ford shoppers a bit, there’s certainly not longer an SEL trim level. There is the floor S, SE also Titanium. S comes one with the 2.5-liter engine. SE comes with the 2.5, 1.6 or 2.0, also the Titanium is equipped one with the 2.0.

Simple enough, yet assuming you desire additional features with the 1.6, you want to count up choice packages same as an Appearance Package at $1,250 or the Luxury Package at $2,300.

MyFordTouch is an choice intended the SE trim within the Technology Package at $1,000; it  also adds a backup camera also dual-zone temperature control. The Ford Fusion Titanium MyFordTouch comes with an upgraded 12-speaker Sony stereo, which I tested also found rather robust. That makes paying the $30,995 price a slice additional palatable.

The touch-sensitive capacitive buttons supported by models without the Sony system are few also extend not in a slice to cause decision the right one easier since you can’t feel them blindly. The Sony system is busier with many additional capacitive buttons — none about which feature an audible click or send a pulse about feedback through the panel to confirm you’ve actually achieved the intended result about your finger pressing. And to take this buttonless world to a new extreme, controls intended the map lights within the roof console about all Fusion models are and capacitive touch.

The 2013 Ford Fusion has not been crash-tested via either the Insurance Institute intended Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Fusion features a standard array about airbags also voluntary safety technology same as lane going warning also correction, backup sensors also cross-path detection.

You can see a record about safety features here.

There is certainly not denying it: The Ford Fusion carries a price fee within this class to get a competitive machine beneath the hood. That fee can be present an easier pill to swallow as the hood also everything around it is just that excellent looking, also the motor is that greatly fun to drive.

The lingering question is just how many midsize sedan shoppers not in there desire a fun-to drive sedan when they can get additional comfort also value from a variety about well-reviewed cars from additional automakers.

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