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2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Ford Fusion

The  Comeback Kid: Do-it-All Sedan is Reborn for 2010 and is Better,  Smarter, Nicer, Prettier, Comfier, Leaner, Meaner, and Greener in Every  Way
November 17, 2009
/ By Matt Stone
/ Photography by Wesley Allison

In  1964, Motor Trend's Car of the Year award went to the entire Ford  lineup, recognizing its combination of design, engineering excellence,  and performance. In 1970, we gave the nod to the Ford Torino, which  could be ordered in a wide variety of configurations. Forty years ago,  buyers could choose from economical, six-cylinder-powered sedans to the  dragstrip-ready 429 Super Cobra Jet fastback. These legendary winners  had one thing in common: bandwidth. In the 1960s and '70s, this term  wasn't yet part of popular lexicon. Today, the 2010 Ford Fusion's impressive bandwidth as a model range was one of the many factors that  helped it earn the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year award.

Want  an economical midsize sedan that doesn't cost much, yet won't bore you  to tears? Need to please your greener side with a high-tech hybrid?  Fancy a near-sport sedan with AWD, 18-inch rolling stock, and the  latest infotainment and electronics? Depending on which model you  choose and how many option boxes you tick, the Fusion can be any of the above. Arthur St. Antoine calls the Fusion "a  compelling sweep across one of the market's most hotly contested  segments."

The original Ford Fusion came to market for the 2006 model year. The basics were there, but the  car wasn't fully baked. For 2010, Ford's product teams gave the lineup  a soup-to-nuts redevelopment so thorough, it's as if the  first-generation car never existed. Only the passenger-shell sheetmetal  and other basic architectural elements escaped being redesigned,  upgraded, or replaced. Although a four-door sedan is the only body  style offered, powertrain choices expand from two to four, and each is  new or substantially revised. There are several trim levels offered as  well: base S, upmarket SE, luxurious SEL, a separate Sport model, and a  Hybrid. Early in this year's COTY program, there were quiet whispers,  while heads nodded, about how the Fusion looked, felt, and drove like  an entirely new machine.

Engines Aplenty: Pleasantly powerful 2.5-liter inline four

The Sport's 263-horse 3.5-liter V-6

High-tech, fuel-friendly Hybrid

It  isn't often that lower-end models impress our lead-footed,  enthusiast-driver staff, but our 2.5-liter four-cylinder Fusion SE  tester proved the biggest of surprises. Paired with a slick-shifting  six-speed manual transmission and optional Monochrome Appearance  Package, (which, at only $895, includes 18-inch alloy wheels, V-rated  performance tires, a rear spoiler, leather steering wheel, and cruise  control), the Fusion SE goes from mild-mannered commuter to worthy  canyon charger. Edward Loh said it has a "balanced ride, yet it's  sporty and really fun to chuck in corners." And it boasts an EPA rating  of 22 city, 29 highway, and an as-tested sticker price of just $23,065.

Next  up is the 3.0-liter Duratec V-6 rated at 240 horsepower. This  powerplant is offered only with a six-speed automatic transmission. The  3.0-liter earns an 18/27-mpg rating from the EPA and is also the only  flex-fuel engine in the lineup, happy to run on gasoline, E85, or any  mix of the two. Order this engine in the SEL trim level, and it can be  had with optional all-wheel drive.

The top performer of the pack is the Fusion Sport,  which is far more substantial than the usual "tape stripe and badge"  treatment. The Sport gets exclusive use of the 263-horsepower,  3.5-liter Duratec V-6, mated to a SelectShift six-speed automatic. This  transmission allows full manual control, which mates nicely with the  Sport's 18-inch performance rolling stock, sport-tuned suspension, dual  exhausts, unique front and rear fascia treatments, rocker panels, and  rear wing. Although not a flex-fuel engine like the 3.0-liter, it earns  the same EPA rating, and can also be ordered with all-wheel drive.

Rounding out the roster is the much-anticipated Fusion Hybrid.  Loh called it "the crown jewel in Ford's hybrid program and the best  American-brand hybrid on the market." It's a true parallel hybrid  system that will operate on battery power alone, its 2.5-liter Atkinson  cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine, and a combination of both. It uses  the latest hybrid technology, including advanced and lighter weight  nickel-metal hydride batteries, regenerative braking, continuously  variable transmission, and variable cam timing on the intake tract to  smooth out the transition from gas to electric mode and vice versa.

Three  factors set it above others in the marketplace. The Fusion Hybrid, for  lack of a better term, drives like a "normal car." There's plenty of  low-rpm power, it's quiet, and the CVT transmission is much less prone  to the jerkiness found in most hybrids. The SmartGauge with EcoGuide  dual LCD cluster has taken the notion of hybrid driver interfaces to a  new level. If you choose, a function named Empower will train you to  drive more economically, by the adding or taking away green-leaf icons  on the display. It's fun and intuitive, and information such as the  state of the batteries' charge and current fuel mileage is displayed in  an easy-to-read, attractive way. While most hybrids won't go more than  15 or 20 mph in electric-only mode, the Fusion Hybrid will motor along  silently at up to 45. This is a useful feature when cruising around  parking lots, or in stop-and-go freeway traffic.  Frank Markus says, "This is the most fun I've had going slow. I raised  the car's average by 1.5 mpg and filled the display with leaves."

The previous-gen Fusion interiors left a lot to be desired, but the new cabins are great places to hang out. They've been redesigned, the materials and fabrics choices are of much higher quality, and they're better insulated for a quieter ride. And infotainment offerings are world-class. Ford's popular Sync connectivity system, now with 911 Assist, is standard on some models, optional on others. A 12-speaker Sony audio system is available, as are voice-activated navigation and Sirius TravelLink.

Safety is an important criterion, not only for our Car of the Year judges, but for anyone. The Fusion excels here too. Besides  standard four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, dual-stage airbags, and a variety  of other active and passive safety measures, you can order a rearview  camera system, as well as a Blind Spot Information System that warns  you when another vehicle is hiding in your blind spot.

Interior quality and materials have gone way upmarket.

In  these tough times, value is high on everyone's list. It's here that the  Fusion delivers great pop for the penny. The four-cylinder Fusion S starts at just $20,345 and is well equipped at that. Depending on which  of the other four models you choose, and optional equipment levels,  you'll find many of them will price out in the mid- to high-$20,000  range. Our fully loaded Sport AWD, at $33,525 as tested, represents the  high range of the Fusion lineup.

St.  Antoine summarizes: The Ford Fusion now represents "a sensational  lineup of quality powertrains (for which Ford deserves huge applause),  smartly tuned chassis, functional and attractive cabins, and  outstanding value." The Fusion has matured into a fully competitive  roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with the best in the  marketplace, including sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. In all, it's a worthy winner of Motor Trend's 2010 Car of the Year competition.

Subtle rear wing, exterior badging, 18-inch rolling stock, unique rockers, and special dual-exhaust outlets identify 3.5-liter-only Fusion Sport. AWD is optional.

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