The Ford Fusion has been the mainstay of the automaker’s sedan lineup for a decade; in doing so, it unseated the Taurus. But as sedans have given way to crossover SUVs, so will the Fusion. Ford will soon stop making the Fusion as well as its passenger car lineup.
The styling of the existing Fusion was revolutionary when it was launched in 2013 and remains narrow and sleek. Mechanically, there’s nothing wrong with that, adding a choice of 4 smart engines plus two hybrids, a classy ride, handling and perfect ty scores.
For 2019, the Fusion’s chassis is fine-tuned, and all models take advantage of automatic emergency braking and a blind-spot monitor. The diversity changes to become the S, SE, SEL, Titanium and Sport models. The Hybrid can be ordered in SE and SEL versions, while the Energi plug-in hybrid is only available in the Titanium version. It has an all-electric range of 25 miles, a 3-mile increase over last year.
There are four engines available in addition to the hybrid: a 2. 5-liter 4-cylinder, a 1. 5-liter turbo-4, a 2. 0-liter turbo-4, and a 2. 7-liter twin-turbo V6. Hybrids use a 2. 0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. All Fusions use a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The base 2. 5-liter engine makes 175 horsepower and is average, with less horsepower than competing base engines.
The 1. 5-liter turbo-4 engine only boosts the force to 181 horsepower, but offers more torque and better fuel economy, aided by stop/start technology. The 2. 0-liter turbo-4 engine breaks the 200-horsepower barrier with 245 horsepower.
The 2. 7L twin-turbo V6 develops 325 horsepower and a relative torque of 380 lb-ft. It comes in Sport styling with all-wheel drive. All Fusions have front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive.
The two hybrid sedans combine a 2. 0-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors, with a combined output of 188 horsepower. Tucked away in the trunk of hybrid sedans is a 1. 4 kWh lithium-ion battery in the Hybrid and 9. 0 kWh in the Energi. A frequently variable transmission (CVT) transfers power to the front wheels.
With a fully discharged battery, it takes 3 to 4 hours to recharge a point 2 (24 volt) charging station. Plugged into a 120-volt family outlet, charging takes approximately 7 hours.
EPA fuel consumption for the base 2. 5-liter engine is 21/31/25 mpg. The 1. 5-liter turbo 4 engine, with start/stop technology, gets more mileage while maintaining normal fuel: 23 mpg city, 34 highway, 27 combined.
The 2. 0-liter turbo-4 engine with all-wheel drive is rated at 20/29/23 mpg, while the Sport’s V6 brings those numbers down to just 17/26/20 mpg. Both engines require premium fuel.
The Fusion Hybrid is rated at 43/41/42 mpg, while the Energi plug-in hybrid is rated at 103 MPGe, or 42 mpg combined. Some hybrid competitors fare better, especially the Toyota Camry, which the EPA says is rated at 52 mpg combined.
The protection scores are excellent. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Fusion its most productive “Good” ratings in crash tests. The popular automatic emergency braking formula has been given a “Superior” rating. However, the lighthouses are rated as “poor”.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Fusion five stars overall, adding five stars for side impacts, four for frontal crash coverage and four for calculated rollover. Formation
The Fusion S ($22,840) comes with a 2. 5-liter engine, front-wheel drive, cloth seats, cruise control, climate control, rearview camera, push-button start, SYNC infotainment, Bluetooth, 16-inch wheels, steering wheel-mounted guidance. controls and a four-speaker AM/FM/CD player. For 2019, all models come with automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. All-wheel drive is not available. (Prices are MSRP and do not include destination charges. )
The Fusion SE ($24,120) comes with the 1. 5-liter turbo engine and adds forced front seats, 17-inch wheels, satellite radio and LED external lighting. The all-wheel-drive ($27,775) comes with an optional package that includes features, adding the 2. 0-liter turbo engine.
The FWD SEL ($28,580) comes with the 1. 5-liter turbo engine and more features than the SE. The all-wheel-drive SEL ($32,065) comes with the 2. 0-liter turbo engine.
The Fusion Titanium ($34,340) is supplied with the 2. 0-liter turbo-4 engine. There are also heated front seats, SYNC 3, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-surfaced gaming seats, a 12-speaker Sony audio system, HD radio, 18-inch wheels, and mood lighting. All-wheel drive adds $2,000.
The Fusion AWD Sport ($40,015) gets the 2. 7-liter twin-turbo V6, adaptive dampers, paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels, LED headlights and foglights, leather/suede seats, a nine-speaker audio system, aluminum pedals and active noise cancellation. Four wheels are standard.
The Fusion Hybrid SE (about $27,000) features front seats, satellite radio, and LED lighting.
The Fusion Energi Titanium is supplied with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, 18-inch wheels, leather seats, heated front seats, a SYNC 3 infotainment system, satellite radio, a Sony audio system with 12 speakers, ambient lighting and a rear spoiler. . Formation
The Fusion’s sleek silhouette and gallant stance are carefully proportioned. Its simple horizontal oval grille is striking. When the Fusion was first released, many thought it was an Aston Martin. This similarity is not fortuitous as the corporations merged at that time.
From each and every angle, it’s as smart a sedan as it gets. It gives a presence that suggests timelessness.
At the rear, it may simply be for a more expensive German sedan, with LED taillights separated by a thin chrome strip.
The interior has taken a step forward over the life of the Fusion. Chrome rings surround the gauges and some controls. The demo screen is small on the S model. Hybrids have a glass-covered indicator cluster, which can be configured to demonstrate desired insights and charts.
The curved front seats are sleek and well-designed. There’s clever headroom and legroom up front, while the top doors make it easy to get in and out. Forward visibility is perfect thanks to the superior driver’s seat, plentiful windows, and narrow roof pillars.
The cab may not be flashy, but it’s functional, with an easy-to-use rotary shift knob and a clever array of garage compartments. And it’s quiet, unless it’s for the roar of Sport styling with its twin-turbo V6.
The sumptuous Titanium styling features quilted leather seats and door panels. Two adults have good compatibility in the rear, but a third will be a bit tight. The Fusion has moderate legroom for a car of its size and the rear seat cushion is flat, but the seats fold down to reveal about 16 cubic feet of trunk space.
The Fusion S is the cheapest and least rugged Fusion, with a 2. 5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that makes 175 horsepower. Its force peaks at around 4,500 rpm, which means you want to accelerate for intelligent acceleration. The base engine runs well with the 6-speed automatic transmission, which is operated by a button on the center console. It’s a pretty clever setup overall.
The 181-horsepower 1. 5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the SE and SEL models is tuned for higher torque at low revs and delivers intelligent acceleration from a standstill and decent overtaking power. The Fusion Titanium’s 245-horsepower 2. 0-liter turbo-4 engine is much faster, with strong acceleration from a standstill. It’s worth it for those who live in the mountains. It is particularly well suited to the 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
The Fusion Sport’s 2. 7-liter V6 engine develops 325 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Its acceleration is lively, from 0 to 100 km/h in just over six seconds. This engine excels at highway speeds, where overtaking at half throttle is its strong point. The long steps of the highway extend without problems. It also seems vigorous.
With the 3 turbo engines, the 6-speed automatic transmission does a smart job of transferring power to the ground. The 1. 5-liter engine is front-wheel drive only, while all-wheel drive is optional with the 2. 0-liter and V6.
The ride of the Fusion with the 4-cylinder engine is charming: firm and controlled, absorbent, even with the largest wheels.
Equipped with a well-tuned electric force guide, the 4-cylinder Fusion intelligently responds to the driver’s actions. We wouldn’t call it nimble, however, the Fusion’s guidance is a bit more taut and accurate than other midsize sedans. It’s a little smooth on the road, but it’s well balanced. In fact, the 4-cylinder Fusions take more corners than the Sport with its heavier V6 engine and can be more fun to drive on a winding road.
The Sport uses adaptive dampers that adjust to the shorter, stiffer sidewalls of its 19-inch tires. But the bearing is still very firm, almost hard. Frame movements are perfectly controlled. The direction of the Sport is lively, exact and constant.
When it comes to hybrids, neither the Hybrid SE/SEL nor the Energi stand out at first glance. For 2019, the Energi has a higher-capacity battery that increases the all-electric range to 25 miles, Ford explains.
Both hybrids are fun to drive. They steer a little more than other models, although a lot, and have the same quiet and pleasant ride. Brake integration is a strong point of Fusion hybrids. They integrate regenerative braking and higher friction than most hybrid systems.
The 2019 Ford Fusion remains one of the most productive midsize sedans available. It ticks all the boxes: a modern look, a choice of six motors so you don’t get wrong, a sleek ride, precise handling, Sync 3 infotainment and, in 2019, very smart safety.