2013 Ford Fusion Titanium review notes

 

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Shocking to drive a $37k Ford Fusion. Even more shocking: Equipped as this one is with all the features, it's probably worth it. Or close to it at least. I'd go for the Driver's Assist package, but I'd also save a grand and ditch the adaptive cruise control and just get normal cruise.

This is a comfy sedan that competes with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Chevrolet Malibu, but it looks a lot better. The aforementioned cars are quite a bit blander than the Fusion, which I find far more stylish inside and out. Also inside, I found the seats simply outstanding. I usually reserve such praise for Volvo seats. These are right there with 'em. Speaking of the interior, yeah, the MyFord Touch system can be a pain but I'm learning. The materials inside are mostly up to snuff.

The powertrain is good. There's good power here, and the engine is smooth or smooth-ish. Not smooth like a Honda, but smooth among the domestics. I'd like to spend more time in the car and get some highway miles in, but around town it's nice.

The ride is tuned more toward comfort as are the competitors. The structure felt stiff and body motions were kept very much in check.

Compared to the old Fusion, this could get my award for Most Improved.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Wife and I owned a pretty nicely equipped 2010 Fusion for a while, and we always enjoyed its combination of fuel economy, features and reliability. Exciting to look at? Not exactly, but it had a certain solid charm, particularly in refrigerator white.

This new Fusion, though, is a looker. It's what the Lincoln MKZ should have been (maybe a combination of the Fusion front-end and the Lincoln rear), and the interior is every bit the equal. MyFord Touch integrates well into the design and everything is well-placed and nice to the touch.

Our Fusion Titanium was loaded to the gills with the larger EcoBoost 2.0-liter I4 and AWD. There was plenty of power, but fuel economy was downright disappointing. Babying it around town with kids in the car, getting stuck in rush-hour traffic and using the remote start on a couple cold mornings netted an average under 18 mpg, about what I would have expected from the former V6 model and well under the EPA average. We'll have to see what a Fusion is capable of during longer-term testing, but at this point don't expect the so-called EcoBoost engine to net you much in savings at the pump.

Which brings us to the bottom line. One of the things that attracted my wife and me to our former Fusion SEL was its reasonable sticker price of around $27k and change -- a full $10,000 less than the 2013 Fusion Titanium. Even comparably equipped with a 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and FWD, the Fusion gets about a 10 percent price bump.

But, as Escape sales show, if you make something folks want, they'll pay you what you're asking. Ford has become a desirable brand once again, and the Fusion shows the company is really hitting its stride.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: There is some sticker shock at first with our 2013 Ford Fusion Titanium test car. Near $38,000 is a lot for a midsize sedan, but as others have mentioned above it's loaded with practically every option available on the Fusion.

It's without question a really nice midsize sedan and there's a feeling of solidity when you're sitting inside and driving this car. Where the old Fusion felt a little budget/rental-car-like the latest car feels substantial and well built from quality materials throughout.

I'm still no a fan of MyFord Touch, the touchscreen still throws me off in Ford vehicles and the touch sense controls on the center stack irritate me. Some people complain about some cars having too many hard buttons, but I would take a boatload of those if it meant not having to deal with touch sense ones.

The driver's seat is comfortable, offering some side support. I did a fair amount of driving during my night and was comfortable the entire time. There's a good seating position here.

Along with the new Mazda 6 and Kia Optima SX, the latest Fusion is at the top of the class for the most athletic driving midsize sedans out there. Behind those three is the Honda Accord on my score sheet, which usually doesn't get the credit it deserves in the drive department. There's lot of weight tuned into the Fusion's steering wheel with a pleasing amount of feedback. Steering response is snappy and brakes are grabby and strong.

The EcoBoost four-cylinder is smooth, powerful enough and had no problem moving the Fusion around respectably. My 18.7-mpg fuel rating on my fill-up wasn't very impressive, though, with a good majority of my driving on the expressway.

All-wheel drive isn't an option I would go for on my Fusion, but I understand that there are some consumers out there that believe they need it for winter months. To them, I say save some money, weight (this car weighs almost 3,700 pounds!) and fuel economy and just go with front-wheel drive and buy a set of winter tires and rims. The car's heft is noticeable in corners, but even still there's good grip here and the suspension does an admirable job of keeping body movements in check.

It's a very strong and competitive midsize package that can be considered near luxury. With the Milan gone with the death of the Mercury brand, I think Ford knew exactly what it was doing by offering the Titanium version of the Fusion. I'm sure there are some folks out there looking to replace their Milans, and the Fusion Titanium happens to fit the bill perfectly.

2013 Ford Fusion Titanium

Base Price: $32,995

As-Tested Price: $37,670

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; AWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 240 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 270 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,681 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 22/31/25 mpg

AW Observed Fuel Economy: 19.2 mpg

Options: Driver's assist package including cross traffic alert, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and driver monitoring, auto high beams, rain sensing wipers and a 110 volt outlet ($1,000); adaptive cruise control offers forward collision warning with brake support ($995); active park assist including ultrasonic sensors to guide the vehicle into a parallel parking position ($795); voice activated navigation with SiriusXM traffic and travel link, GPS, turn-by-turn directions ($795); 19-inch H-spoke dark aluminum wheels ($695); Ruby red tinted metallic paint ($395)