2010 Ford Fusion Review

 

New for 2010

 The 2010 Ford Fusion is an excellent choice among midsize sedans, with a comfortable ride and excellent handling. With a choice of four- or six-cylinder engines, in addition to front-wheel and all-wheel drive, the Fusion should please a wide range of drivers. The 2010 model gets styling and engine updates. On the exterior, the 2010 Fusion gets new front- and rear-end styling — enough of a facelift that, from some angles, it looks like a whole new model. The edgy grille continues Ford’s “three-bar” chrome design cue in what’s bound to be an expansion of the theme. Under the hood, the Fusion gets three powertrain options for 2010 - replacing the outgoing two motor lineup. The top two models will be equipped with a 6F35 six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift gate. The entry-level four-cylinder version will come standard with a six-speed manual. For 2010, the base four is upgraded to a 2.5-liter unit giving out 175 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque with variable intake variable cam timing, new exhaust manifolds, and electronic throttle control. Ford claims efficiency is up about 10 percent over the 2009 Fusion’s 20/28 city/highway mpg, though exact figures haven’t been released yet. The 3.0 V6 is also E85-capable. Ford says fuel economy for the 3.0 is up 4 to 6 percent over the 2009 model. New for 2010 is a 3.5-liter V6 engine, and is standard on the ‘Sport’ model. With 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque, it is essentially the same V6 used in the Flex, Edge and a handful of other Ford vehicles. Fusion's ride quality is as good as any car in the class. Available all-wheel drive and a new sport package make fine handling even better. The cabin is comfortable and well designed with controls are easy to operate.

Trims

For 2010, the Fusion is offered in three trims: S, SE, and SEL. In addition there is a Sport package that includes a 3.5 V6 engine. The Fusion S comes standard with cloth upholstery, four-way manually adjustable driver's seat, 60/40 split folding rear seat, air conditioning, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power door locks with remote keyless entry, power windows and mirrors, four-speaker AM/FM stereo with single CD/MP3 player and auxiliary input jack, antitheft system and P205/60R16 tires on steel wheels. The SE adds a six-way power driver seat with manual lumbar adjustment, a front-passenger seatback that folds down to handle long cargo, redundant speed and audio controls on the steering wheel, dual illuminated mirrors in the sun visors, fog lamps, premium six-disc in-dash CD/MP3 player with two additional speakers, trip computer, carbon fiber center stack appliqué, fog lamps and 16-inch aluminum wheels. The SE is available with the V6 or V6 and all-wheel drive. The SEL adds automatic headlights, automatic temperature control, upgraded cloth interior, upgraded wood or piano black interior trim, leather wrapped steering wheel, analog clock, heated outside mirrors, keyless entry keypad, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and P225/50R17 tires on aluminum wheels. The SEL is also available with the V6 and with the V6 and all-wheel drive.

Handling

The Ford Fusion delivers responsive handling, solid high-speed stability, and a nice, smooth ride. The rack-and-pinion steering is precise with just the right amount of weight to make the driver feel connected to the road. The Fusion feels bigger and heavier than it looks, but it also offers excellent stability. The all-wheel-drive Fusion offers excellent driving in adverse conditions. The Fusion's nice combination of ride and handling are benefits of the rigid structure it shares with the Mazda6. The Fusion's stability is a benefit of its relatively long wheelbase and wide track, longer and wider than the Mazda version. The front suspension is a short/long arm design while the rear wheels are anchored through a multi-link setup. The bushings and hydraulic engine mounts are designed to keep vibration and road noise to a minimum. The six-speed automatic transmission is very smooth, it's one of the few six-speed automatics in this class. Although the 221-hp V6 engine provides enough power, an even more powerful engine is introduced for 2010,giving 263 hp. Four-cylinder models have adequate power but are not up to snuff versus the competition. The 160-hp four-cylinder gets the Fusion moving, but it requires lots of room for passing and doesn't feel as strong as the four-cylinders offered by

Exterior

The styling features large headlights and a bold grille. Three thick chrome bars across the grille have a razor-like appearance and make the car look more upmarket than its pricing might suggest. The front bumper almost disappears as there are two chrome strips below it that match the ones on the grille. The sides of the car are crisply separated from the hood, roof and rear deck. A fold along the top edges of the front fenders runs all the way back along the edge of the roof to the rear deck. A high trunk line and large triangular taillight clusters with chrome trim give the rear end a classy look.

Interior

A standard tilt and telescoping steering wheel and the six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, standard on the SE and SEL models, helps drivers get comfortable, no matter their size. In keeping with its European influence, Ford has chosen to go with the soft touch for surface materials, which is expected in a luxury car but not in a mass-market car. A convenient storage bin on top of the dashboard features a large clamshell lid and it's big enough to hold a phone or small camera as well as maps and the like. The center console, door pockets, and front seatback pockets provide additional storage. The Sync communications and entertainment system can recognize Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, access their phonebooks, and play calls and read text messages through the speakers. It also has a USB interface to connect with iPods and other MP3 players. Voice commands and/or steering wheel buttons can be used to control all functions. Rear-seat passengers will find a decent amount of leg room with nicely shaped front seatbacks that allow for plenty of foot space. Head and leg room measurements don't put the Fusion at the top of its class, but the back seat feels roomier than the numbers suggest. The Fusion has a good-size trunk with a flat floor and low lift-over height, making it easy to load groceries, luggage or cargo.

Safety

Safety features on all models include dual-stage front airbags; seat-mounted, torso-protecting front side airbags; side curtain airbags for head protection in both rows; tire-pressure monitor; LATCH child-seat anchors; rear-door child-safety locks. ABS comes standard on all 2010 Fusion models. Traction control is standard on all-wheel-drive models, optional on SE and SEL front-drive models. Rear obstacle detection is optional.

 

The 2010 Ford Fusion delivers comfort and sporty handling, the new engine for the Sport Appearance package makes for an even more powerful car. The available all-wheel-drive model provides exceptional handling stability on slippery surfaces. With the 2.5-liter Fusion S starting at $19,270, and the high end SEL model starting at $23,975, improved fuel efficiency, and a stylish overhaul, the Ford Fusion is an excellent value. It comes with a basic warranty of 36 months/36,000 miles.