Ford Fusion Titanium
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Tested
vehicle
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Highs: Styling,
agility, ride, quietness, fun to drive, braking
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Lows: MyFord
Touch controls, fuel economy, visibility, slightly snug cabin, small trunk
opening
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Drivetrain:
231-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine; six-speed automatic
transmission; front-wheel drive
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Major options:
Moon roof, navigation system
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Tested price: $$33,180
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The Titanium’s MyFord Touch controls
include lots of touch-sensitive buttons that are jumbled together and hard to
use.
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More test findings
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Branking
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Excellent
in the SE and Titanium. The Hybrid’s stopping distances were somewhat longer,
and the pedal feels a little grabby due to regenerative braking.
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Headlights
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Low
beams provide good reach to the front and sides, but they aren’t as bright as
in the best models, and they have a sharp upper cutoff. High beams shine a
good distance and are a bit brighter, but they are still not as bright as the
best we’ve seen.
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Access
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Getting
into the front is easy, but climbing into the rear may take some ducking
because of the sloping roofline
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Visibility
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Somewhat
restricted by wide roof pillars and a high rear deck. The outside mirrors
have clever small convex lenses set into them, which help you spot cars in
your blind zones. A blind-spot mornitoring system is optional. A rear camera
would also help but is available only with the frustrating MyFord Touch
control system.
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Cabin
Storage
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Cabin
storage is very generous up front. There are deep door pockets and a large
open bin in fornt of the shifter, but they can be tight to access. Beverages
int eh front cup holders get in the way of using the center armerest.
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Head
restraints
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The
center-rear restraint must be raised to protect an adult during a rear
collision.
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Child
seats
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Belts
alone can secure most child seats. Lower LATCH anchors are provided for the
rear outboard seats, but they are hard to access.
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Teething pains
We bought our three
2013 Fusions soon after they went on sale, as we typically do with most test
cars. But based on their iffy build quality, you may not want to be the first
on your block to get one.
Our test cars usually
have few, if any, defects. And the Fusion’s attractive interior has mostly
igh-quality materials. But we have been surprised at the number of
fit-and-finish flaws we’ve found in our Fusions, especially in our pricey
Titanium version. Its front doors were misaligned. Numerous trim pieces don’t’
line up. And the headliner was lumpy around the sunroof and ragged at the
forward edge. In our SE version, the hood didn’t line up. In all three of our
Fusions, the interior plastic molding had some sharp edges and the
center-console lid seemed flimsy.
If you want to buy a
Fusion, it might be worth waiting a year or two. We hope Ford will sort out
those flaws soon.
Ratings Midsized sedans
All tested models in performance order
A. Entry-level Midsized Sedans
Honda accord LX (4-cyl)
B. high-end midsized sedans
Hyundai Sontana
