Picture Gallery: 2010 Ford Fusion | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Discuss
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I may have been a little hasty calling the Acura TL “The Grille,” because the Fusion sure has a face to challenge the TL’s. But, although it is nearly as large and imposing, the Fusion’s grille looks good!
Passing by a previous-generation Fusion in the parking lot at work, I did a comparison of the previous front end. The chrome grill is now larger, but the new, more sporty and stylish headlights blend the front fascia into a more cohesive design than the previous model.
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Compared to some of the other cars I have been driving lately, this 2010 Ford Fusion looks like a bargain at first glance. My tester is an SEL version, which is priced at $28,799, which includes some very nice luxury features as standard, such as: leather heated seats, automatic climate control, a 3.0L V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, cruise control, power everything and microsoft’s Sync system.
My tester does have a few options, the main one being the “Moon & Tune,” package which adds a power moonroof and AM/FM/MP3/CD player by Sony with 12 speakers. This package comes in at $2,000, but according to my pricing info, Ford is offering an $800 discount on this package. Appearance-wise, my tester has a rear spoiler added at a cost of $350 and leather trimmed seating which adds $1,225.
First impressions are good from what I have seen so far, and from what I can tell in my few minutes with the car to this point, this new 2010 model is a huge step up from the previous-generation Fusion — and the previous generation wasn’t bad at all!
2010 Ford Fusion SEL
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $33,104
For more information on Ford and the Fusion visit Ford Canada
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Previously, the iPhone did not support Bluetooth audio. It supported Bluetooth hands-free for voice calling and this worked fine with the Sync system, but now things get even cooler. With an iPhone, you can now play all your music through the car’s speakers sans-fil (wirelessly).
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Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work perfectly. When I say “next,” the system responds with “changing to next track” but then the music just pauses, resumes and doesn’t change tracks for some reason. Perhaps I’m not set up correctly, or perhaps it is a bug; I’m not sure. You cannot seem to say track / artist names like you can for USB connected drives unfortunately, either, but it’s still way cool to be wireless. You can pass your iPhone around the car, and your buddies can search it and play different tracks!
Back to the car though: the new Fusion’s interior is definitely an improvement over the old, with more soft-touch materials better ergonomics and the seats — oh my, the seats! They are wonderful, with great support and amazing comfort; I am truly impressed! The headrests on the rear seats are adjustable on the two outer positions, and leg and headroom is good in the rear as well.
There is a storage bin atop the dash (although it is small), and two cup holders in the centre console, as well as two cup holders in the doors, but no significant storage locations as the door map pockets are nearly non-existent. There is a seatback pocket behind the driver’s seat, though, if you require paper storage.
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My tester is equipped with the 3.0-litre V6, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and the two work extremely well together. In the rain, though, even with traction control, the 240hp engine can easily overwhelm the front tires and keep them spinning, but if you aren’t trying to do this, in normal day to day driving — even with a heavy right foot — torque steer is minimal and well controlled.
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Parking lot maneuvers are average and what you would expect in a vehicle of this size. Although, as is the trend lately, the rear deck lid is very high, making reversing a challenge, especially for someone not familiar with the vehicle. I’m sure after you backup into a pole or your garage door you’ll get a feel (no pun intended) of where that rear bumper is.
I think the Fusion would make an excellent highway cruiser. It certainly is competitive in the market from what I’ve seen of it — it’s impressive, even!
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Mostly these were the rubber seals around the windows. The one on the rear glass was falling off completely but seemed fine once I stuck it back in place. The rubber around the windshield was iffy as well, but again, was fine after I replaced it — I wonder if someone had peeled this back previously?
Gas mileage was average for a vehicle in this category. Although a little thirsty around town at over 11L/100km, it did get better on the highway. After 300km of highway driving and 200 km in the city, I averaged around 10L/100km for the week, so not too bad.
Ford has a winning combination with this new Fusion. I can’t wait to see Ford put its EcoBoost engines in this car, as gas mileage should improve while maintaining — or even improving — performance!
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2010 Ford Fusion SEL
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $33,104
For more information on Ford and the Fusion visit Ford Canada
to our site.
June 23, 2009, 03:41:58 am Is the Accord's cable actually attached to the hinge, or just running parallel to it? I don't see any ties to the hinge like I see on the Neon. Regardless, I'd rather have the Fusion's setup than the Accord's. It seems to me that the chances of that cable actually getting caught on something and ripping are absolutely minimal. Those hinges, though...it was something I had to take into account when I was packing the trunk of my 1999 Civic (my first car). Anything breakable had to go in the center of the trunk or underneath a layer of soft stuff.
June 23, 2009, 04:04:41 am
June 23, 2009, 05:27:06 am With this in depth study of trunks, I notice the Fusion trunk appears to have much more useable space, whereas the Accord trunk somewhat limited being full of bumps and curves intruding on useable space.
Specs show the new Mazda6 has the largest cubic ft at 16.6, Fusion 16.5, Sonata 16.2, Malibu 15.1, Camry 15 and Accord 14 cubic ft.
Info is from car.about.com site and Aaron Gold. Funny reading Aaron's trunk comments, I say this in regards to his Camry trunk comment or his way of making the Camrys small trunk space in comparison to its competitors seem acceptable, "15 cubic foot trunk isn't the biggest in the mid-size class, but it's roomy enough"
but here is Aaron's comment on the 2008 Mazda6 trunk "At 15.2 cubic feed, Mazda6's trunk is smaller than many of its competitors"
Yeah I know just another jab at a rag writer Aaron Gold who has no problem showing his bias.
June 23, 2009, 10:11:25 am Overall it would seem that Ford has developed a pretty decent car here, to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the world. I think we should give Ford credit for that, rather than muttering on about a cable in the trunk. All auto makers are forced to reduce costs in one place or the other. The trunk seems like a reasonable place to do it - better there than inside the passenger area.
June 23, 2009, 10:59:03 am
But then, you know, we'd actually be talking about the whole car instead of talking about one teeny detail for pages and pages...and that wouldn't be much like CTC, would it?
References:
Pontiac G8 battery gauge
Porsche 911 GT3 paint color
Etc...
June 23, 2009, 01:06:21 pm
I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.
June 23, 2009, 01:29:13 pm
I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.
With the same information, your argument could easily be, "If Ford cheaped out on something so minor, yet so obvious, I wonder how they compensated by spending more money on the important safety bits?" Asking rhetorical questions is a cheap trick to support one's point. They sound like fact, but really aren't, are they?
I drove a Ford Fusion SEL V6 AWD rental the other day and, while I'm unlikely to buy one, found it to be a solidly put together piece though not exactly exciting. Just the kind of bread-and-butter mid-sized family sedan that every manufacturer needs in their lineup.
June 23, 2009, 01:33:22 pm
I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.
Not to me they didn't. That back cargo cover on the Versa has got to be one of the cheapest, flimsiest ones I've seen. Am I nitpicking or is this a "an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car" as you put it.
It seems that important details - like beauty - is in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, it does look odd and a bit out of place. Personally though, I think the trade-off between the hinges intruding or the cable intruding was done correctly, assuming that it is a constant trade-off for sedans.
Note that most (if not all) sedans lack sufficient vertical space through which to drill a hole for the cables in a safe manner. As such, any gaps in the seal that might form over time would allow for water or other substances to enter the trunk space.
June 23, 2009, 02:03:48 pm
I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.
Not to me they didn't. That back cargo cover on the Versa has got to be one of the cheapest, flimsiest ones I've seen. Am I nitpicking or is this a "an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car" as you put it.
It seems that important details - like beauty - is in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, it does look odd and a bit out of place. Personally though, I think the trade-off between the hinges intruding or the cable intruding was done correctly, assuming that it is a constant trade-off for sedans.
Note that most (if not all) sedans lack sufficient vertical space through which to drill a hole for the cables in a safe manner. As such, any gaps in the seal that might form over time would allow for water or other substances to enter the trunk space.
The Versa'a cargo cover isn't any worse or better than others in the same class. It serves the purpose, it doesn't rattle and so far it hasn't broken. At least Nissan includes it with the car - Honda charges $200 extra for the Fit's cargo cover. Some other details I could mention that Nissan could easily have left out without too many people noticing - the huge glove box with a dampening mechanism on the door that keeps it from dropping onto the passenger's knees, the recessed grab handles in the roof that when you let them go, they glide smoothly into place rather than springing back with a snap. Nissan could've saved more on each car than Ford's saving on the Fusion by leaving these out, but chose not to. They're among the first things I noticed when we were first looking at the car and I remember being quite impressed. The Versa's an econobox, the Fusion isn't.
Even Chrysler knew how to do this right. This is a 2000 Dodge Cirrus' trunk - note how the cables are handled, apparently plenty of room here 'to drill a hole for the cables in a safe manner'. We have one of these in the family and the trunk DOESN'T leak.
June 23, 2009, 02:14:37 pm My name is Jeani and I work for Ford Motor Company. Thanks for the favorable review on our 2010 Fusion! Regarding the feedback on SYNC, I would encourage you to register at syncmyride.com for updates on SYNC compatibility or for questions/support. They can help sort out this issue addressed in your note. Thanks again!
June 23, 2009, 02:43:37 pm Ohh Ohhh Alot of fords has this system. It must work if they use it on most of their sedans.
2010 Ford Mustang
2010 Ford Taurus
2010 Ford Focus Coupe
June 23, 2009, 04:29:43 pm A multi-page thread on trunk cables? Are you kidding me? Forget about talking about the trunk's actual volume, lift over height, lining, or hinge type. What's really important is the cable routing.
This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.
June 23, 2009, 04:58:30 pm
This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.
+1 Some folks need "Nitpickers Anonymous"....
June 23, 2009, 07:51:15 pm ...and little cables on cars.........go halfway to the stars................
June 23, 2009, 09:12:22 pm
This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.
NEXT WEEK: The front hood controversy; prop rod or hydraulic?
June 23, 2009, 09:42:03 pm Doesn't look like I've missed anything.
They actually had fairly good reasons for running the cable the way they did.
1) As the rubber grommet ages, moisture will infiltrate the space between the grommet and the sheet steel eventually causing corrosion and leaks.
2) Continually bending the cable mounted between the body and trunk will eventually break the plastic sheath and some of the conductors there-in. With the Fusion, it just rides up and down, with very little actual bending of the cable.
It's likely not the most elegant solution, but it is practical.
June 23, 2009, 11:18:20 pm
This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.
Yes.
At least it's not quite so infuriating when people get focused on one trivial detail and ignore the rest of the car when it's a competent-and-pleasant-but-boring car like the Fusion. The 911 GT3 thread (which was solely about the shade of blue paint) made baby Jesus cry.
June 24, 2009, 03:30:22 am
This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.
NEXT WEEK: The front hood controversy; prop rod or hydraulic?
Hydraulic FTW!
June 24, 2009, 09:39:37 am I have another thing to nitpick on. I don't like the single steering column stalk setup in NA Ford vehicles.
June 24, 2009, 09:49:00 am Yeah me neither, but I stopped complaining about it in my articles. It's just the way it is and isn't really that bad once you get use to it. But I tend to flash the headlights alot when trying to squirt the windshield.
June 24, 2009, 10:27:53 am
I think you are right not to complain about it in your articles as you'll get flamed by people who don't see it as an issue at all.
Fiesta and perhaps the new Focus will have the usual setup with 2 stalks (if they remain the same
June 24, 2009, 11:16:59 am One question--why did the car only get three-and-a-half "wheels" for comfort? The text of the review was glowing on that front.
"Back to the car though: the new Fusion’s interior is definitely an improvement over the old, with more soft-touch materials better ergonomics and the seats — oh my, the seats! They are wonderful, with great support and amazing comfort; I am truly impressed! The headrests on the rear seats are adjustable on the two outer positions, and leg and headroom is good in the rear as well.
* * *
On the road, the 2010 Fusion behaves admirably with good body control, a smooth and quiet ride and an engine and transmission combo that feel seamless and works effortlessly.
* * *
I think the Fusion would make an excellent highway cruiser."
I, personally, thought that the driver's seat in the pre-facelift Mercury Milan I drove was the best of any midsize family sedan I've experienced, and I also thought the body control and ride quality was commendable, so I'm in agreement with the text of the review. It just seemed like three-and-a-half stars was a little low?
I hate to keep re-opening the trunk issue (har har har), but it's not actually "a couple bucks per car." If the car had sickle-type hinges (which some say can damage luggage), and the cable was not secured to the hinge, you'd be right. But that's not an option on cars with struts supporting the trunk. There, you can either drill a hole through the lip of the trunk (which some say could lead to leaks into the trunk, even if it never would on the highly-angled lip of a hatchback's tailgate), or you can feed the wiring into the trunk without puncturing the lip (which some say could lead the wires to catch on something).
All of the three solutions have a drawback. None is obviously superior to the other two.
June 24, 2009, 11:35:52 am I don't know, I just felt 3.5 was a good number.
June 24, 2009, 11:36:48 am
...and people say JD Powers makes up numbers!
July 03, 2009, 02:18:53 pm
HAhahahahahaa.