Ford Fusion (2002-2012) review - Auto Express

The Fusion is a safe car, despite its age. It scored a four star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests, while all Fusion variants have front airbags – you'll have ... SkiptoContentSkiptoFooterIn-depthreviewsHomeFordFordFusion(2002-2012)reviewTheFordFusionisessentiallyaprevious-generationFiestawitharaisedrideheight.It'sspaciousbutoutclassedbyrivalsby:SamHardy27Feb20174OverallAutoExpressRating2.0outof5Drivesokay,raisedseatingposition,decentspaceinsideRideveryfirm,unattractivelooks,lessflexiblethanrivalsRepresentativeExample-PersonalContractPurchase:CashPrice£10,000.00,Deposit£1500.00,borrowing£8,500.00over4yearsat7.4%RepresentativeAPR(fixed).47monthlypaymentsof£132.04followedbyafinalpaymentof£4127.50.Totalcostofcredit£1833.38.Totalamountpayable£11,833.38.Basedon8,000milesperannum.Excessmileagechargesapplyifexceeded.Financesubjecttostatus18+only.Findyournextcarwithratesfrom7.4%APRTheFordFusionwassupposedtobearivalthethebestsuperminiMPVs,liketheHondaJazzandtheNissanNote.AndwhileitsoldinprofitablenumbersforFord(largelythankstothecompany’slargedealernetwork)itfailedtochallengetheclassleadersinanyregardwhatsoever.BasedonthepreviousgenerationoftheFiesta,itdidatleastofferacertainamountofpracticalitywithadecentamountofspaceinside,althoughforanMPVitwasn’tparticularlymulti-purpose.Afteradecade-longrun,productionoftheFusioncametoahaltin2012.Ourpick:FordFusion1.4ZetecEngines,performanceanddriveTherearetwopetrolsandtwodieselsintheFordFusionrange.Both1.4and1.6petrolsaresmoothandquietintown,althoughtheysoundharshonthemotorway.The1.4isthebetterbet,asitstillhasenoughpepformostdriversandismoreeconomical.The1.4TDCiisn'tahothatch,butit'sbetterthanthepricier1.6TDCi.TheFusionisbasedontheoldFiesta,soisgenerallypreciseandgoodtodrive,buttheraisedbodymeansthereismorerollincorners,andthecar'srideisveryfirm.MPG,CO2andRunningCostsYoucanexpecttheFordFusiontohavesimilarrunningcoststoaFiesta,whichmeansaHondaJazzorNissanNotewillbecheapertorun.Dieselversionsarecapableofreturningaround60mpg,buttheydocostmorethantheirpetrolbrothers,somakesureyouaredoingenoughmilestocompensate.Residualvaluesareonthelowside.Ifyouwanttobuyasupermini-MPVthatholdsontoitsmoney,theHondaJazzisthepickinthisclass.Asforequipment,evenbasicStyle+modelshavereasonableequipment,includingelectricwindowsandmirrors,aheatedwindscreen,CD/stereoandair-con.Interior,designandtechnologyTheFordFusionisaraisedversionoftheprevious-generationFiesta,withanextendedrooflineandsemi-estatecar-styletail.Itwasn'tgoodlookingevencomparedtorivalsfrom10yearsago,andisoutdatedtoday-certainlywhencomparedtothecurrentFiesta.Mid-specZetecversionslookthebestwithsportybody-colouredbumpers,alloywheelsandfoglights,buttheHondaJazzandNissanNotearebothmuchmorestylishdesigns.Thecabinisbestdescribedasdurable,withhard-wearingplasticsandstrongfunctionality.It'snotmodernorstylishlikethelatestFiesta,anddoesn'thavethequalityfeelofaJazz.Practicality,comfortandbootspaceThisiswheretheFordFusionreallydisappoints.Itshouldbemoreflexibleandspaciousthantheaveragesupermini,butwhilethere'sabitmoreluggageroomandheadroomthantheFiesta,there'snoslidingbenchlikeintheNissanNote–alltherearseatsdoissplitandfold.However,alowlipmeansitiseasytoloadshoppingbagsintotheboot,althoughtherearen'tmanycubbyholesupfrontforhidingphonesandcoins.ThedrivingpositionisslightlyraisedoveraFiesta,whichmakesgettinginandouteasierandallowsabetterview.However,thesteeringdoesn'thavereachadjustment,soit'snotascomfortableasmoremoderncars.ReliabilityandSafetyTheFusionisasafecar,despiteitsage.ItscoredafourstarratingintheEuroNCAPcrashtests,whileallFusionvariantshavefrontairbags–you'llhavetopayextraforsideandcurtainairbags,aswellasstabilitycontrol.Reliabilityisnotlikelytobeastrongpoint–theFiestaonwhichitisbasedhasnotperformedwellintheAutoExpressDriverPowersurveys.NextStepsFindadealerCarsSharethisonTwitterSharethisonFacebookEmailMoreonFusionShowme:FusionHatchbackUsedbuyer'sguide:FordFusionUsedcartests9Jul2013Usedbuyer'sguide:FordFusionThejacked-upFiestahadlimitedappealnew,buttheFordFusionlookstopvalueusedFordFusionHybridRoadtests16Jul2010FordFusionHybridFord'sUS-onlyhybridmodelmapsoutblueoval’secofuture-withhybridversionsoftheC-MAXandFocusonthehorizon.FordFusionIn-depthreviews29Dec2006FordFusionTheFusion,asitsnamesuggests,combineselementsofdifferentcarstocreatewhatFordhasdubbedan'UrbanActivityVehicle'.FordFusionPlusDurashiftRoadtests8Feb2006FordFusionPlusDurashiftThere'snodenyingthatFordwascompletelycaughtoutwhenitlaunchedtheoriginalFusion.FordFusionPlusRoadtests17Jun2003FordFusionPlusThereactiontoFord'sFusionhasbeenalittlecool,tosaytheleast.ComparedtothefunkyconceptseenattheFrankfurtMotorShowin2001,thepr…SkiptoHeaderSkiptoContent