2016 Ford Fusion

A sedan that won't be reFused.

Overview:
Ford’s Fusion mid-size sedan has led a busy existence since it was last redesigned just three years ago. Now entering the 2016 model year, the likable and stylish Fusion lost its mid-level 1.6-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine for 2015; a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbo engine option that came online for 2014 serves as its replacement. The two engines briefly were sold concurrently, with the 1.6L paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission and the 1.5L mated only to an automatic. The Fusion still has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder as its base engine, but a manual transmission is no longer available with any version of the car. Also, hybrid and plug-in-hybrid models are still available, although for this review we're focusing solely on the more-conventional powertrains.

 
What’s New: Aside from the powertrain shuffle, little has been altered in Fusionland since our two most recent reports. Among the news for 2016 is the addition of a cold-weather package for the SE (which includes heated seats, remote start, and all-weather floor mats), as well as an appearance package for base S models that brings 18-inch black-painted wheels, a rear spoiler, and fog lights. We applaud Ford for coming to its senses and dropping the touch-sensitive dashboard controls on models equipped with the Sync touch-screen entertainment display. The updated center stack now incorporates physical buttons. Our only complaint centers around the new buttons’ size—they aren’t very large, and there is plenty of leftover real estate to the point that the center stack almost looks austere. Unfortunately, the buttons still control Ford’s outdated and at-times frustrating MyFord Touch infotainment system on uplevel models like our test car; Sync 3, which is much better, hasn’t found its way into the Fusion yet.
It’s easy to like the Ford’s styling, which even three years on still looks handsome, if no longer wow-inducing. (In early 2016, Ford is expected to unveil the 2017 model, with restyled bumpers, updated lights, and new tech that should improve on the breed.) Either of the two EcoBoost engines are good choices, delivering strong power and, in the case of the 1.5-liter, impressive EPA-estimated fuel-economy ratings of 24 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway—or 25/37 mpg city/highway with the optional stop/start technology. (The 1.5L managed 27 mpg in our testing, while the 2.0L posted a middling 20 mpg.) The 1.5-liter is the biggest surprise—it’s the smallest engine in the range by displacement but moves the Fusion respectably. Ford’s engineers tuned the suspension in such a way that the chassis absorbs bumps and jolts yet remains buttoned-down in corners. The overall sensation is European and upscale, and the availability of all-wheel drive sets the Ford apart from nearly all of its competitors save for Subaru’s Legacy and the Chrysler 200
As the saying goes, you can’t always get what you want, and what we’d like is for the Ford to show a little more athleticism. It feels plenty competent and the hardware is there, but the steering and suspension lack that final ounce of sharpness that sets apart sportier rivals such as the Mazda 6 and the Honda Accord. Legroom is decent in back, but the sloping roof saps some headroom. Other nits include the 1.5-liter EcoBoost’s tendency to groan at higher rpm (as distinct from sounding eager) and the 2.0-liter engine’s struggle to achieve anything close to its EPA-rated fuel-economy figures. This is a broader issue among Ford’s various EcoBoost engines, although the smallest of the lot, including the Fusion’s 1.5-liter, typically stray less from the EPA ratings. Finally, the automatic transmission’s thumb-operated, shifter-mounted rocker switch for manually selecting gears is so useless as to make us wonder why it was even engineered at all. Are paddles too much to ask for?