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Review: 2013 Ford Fusion gets sporty, flirts with luxury

James Raia

The 2013 Ford Fusion is slightly longer than previous models.

Redesigned for 2013, the Ford Fusion is firmly positioned in the midsize sedan market — the most prevalent and most competitive segment in the auto industry.

Available in three trims, the 2013 Ford Fusion is a four-door, five-passenger offering. Like several of its many competitors, the Fusion was also previously firmly planted in the world of pedestrian vehicles.

Not any more. It’s now in a segment chock-full of cars hard-to-beat. They’re fairly priced and offer high quality in comfort and equipment with comprehensive standard equipment lists and plenty of option packages.

The Ford Fusion has been redesigned for 2013.
The Ford Fusion has been redesigned for 2013. Images © James Raia/2013

In its new design, the 2013 Ford Fusion goes the front of the handsome line. The front grille is more pronounced and it’s meshed stylishly with a slightly wider and longer body. The Fusion’s interior is also appreciably more spacious, if angled to the point of being futuristic.

The Weekly Driver Test Drive

The 2013 Ford Fusion top-line Titanium edition arrived a week after a week’s test of the new Hyundai Azera. It’s larger than the Fusion, but driving consecutive sedans offered a reminder just how advanced mid-priced sedans have become. The Azera and Fusion and other top competitors, like the Kia Optima, offer so much standard equipment and so many optional upgrades, they’re all near luxury cars.

The Fusion Titanium comes standard with a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 2.0-liter, 240-horsepower engine, 18-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, keyless ignition/entry, auto-dimming side mirrors, rear parking sensors, sport front seats, a premium 12-speaker Sony sound system, HD radio and the contents of the SE’s Luxury and Technology packages.

My test vehicle (and the SE model) featured the Luxury Driver Assist package, which included automatic high-beam control, a 110-volt power outlet, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning and lane assist.

The optional sunroof was also included with every other option available, including 19-inch wheels, navigation system, adaptive cruise control, a parallel parking system and collision warning and brake intervention systems.

The Fusion accelerated seemingly faster than its rated 6.9 seconds in the 0-60 mph standard test. But the impressive off-the-line power was just part of a strong overall driving experience. The Fusion grips the road with its new more rigid construction. And it maneuvers around corners, through traffic and parks with ease.

Likes:

Midsize sedan sports car? It’s pretty close.

Good gas mileage.

Confidence on the road.

Dislikes:

Technology Interface (MyTouch) not intuitive.

Sharp-angled interior design too futuristic.

Over sensitive traffic detection system.

Facts & Figures: 2013 Ford Fusion

Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 6.9 seconds.
Airbags: (6).
Fuel economy: 22 mpg (city), 31 mpg (highway), 25 mpg (combined) six-speed automatic transmission.
Government Safety Ratings: IIHS (highest rating, good, on all tests; NHTSA, Overall, five stars; Frontal (driver), five stars; (passenger), four stars; Side crash (front seat), three stars; Rear seat, five stars; Rollover, four stars.
Horsepower: 240.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $32,200.
Manufacturer’s Web site: www.ford.com.
Price As Tested: $37,670.00
Warranty: Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion: 5 years/unlimited miles; Roadside Assistance, 5 years/60,000 miles.

What Others Say:

“Instead of just pushing the bar up in anticipation of the competition’s next move, it has completely side-stepped the pack with a five-passenger sedan that is both really exciting to look at and genuinely fun to drive. The all-new 2013 Fusion possesses authentic European dynamics, class-leading technological innovation and mold-breaking stylish flair.” — Autoblog.com.

“Good looks, performance and quality make the Fusion more of a contender than ever, although a fully loaded Titanium model can come with a rather cheeky price tag. Stick with a modestly optioned Fusion SE and you’ll find what we figure is the sweet spot of this awfully impressive lineup. If this isn’t 2013’s most-improved new car, we’re not sure what is.” — Left Lane News.com.

“With solid power, more refinement and top fuel economy, the 2013 Fusion could take Ford to the top of the midsize sedan class.” — Edmunds.com.

The Weekly Driver’s Final Words:

“The new look Ford Fusion is about as far away from what used to represent the stodgy-sounding term, midsize sedan. In a segment full of top-notch vehicles, the Fusion shouldn’t be overlooked.”

Article Last Updated: November 13, 2013.

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