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.