Description

Ford Fusion is all-new for 2013. When the wraps came off the 2013 Ford Fusion at the Detroit auto show, even jaded auto journalists were dazzled by the midsize four-door's stunning good looks. Like the love child of an Aston Martin and a BMW, the all-new Fusion sports a wide grille with strong horizontal lines, sleek wraparound headlamps and sharp, assertive creases. The 2013 Ford Fusion is a five-passenger, midsize sedan. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional. The 2013 Fusion is available with a wide range of powertrains, including gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid variants. The old V6 engine found on the previous Fusion is gone, replaced by a plethora of four-cylinder choices: Standard is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower that carries over from the outgoing model; though least expensive, the 2.5-liter engine is the least-efficient choice. Two new engines debut for 2013 that are much more efficient: a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine that makes up to 178 horsepower, and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that churns out 240 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter turbo delivers the best acceleration performance. Fuel economy is aided by sticking with smaller engines, as well as by incorporating systems such as electric-assist power steering, and an optional automatic Start-Stop feature on models equipped with the 1.6-liter Ecoboost engine. We found the Start-Stop feature irritatingly rough but it can be turned off. The standard 2.5-liter engine is EPA-rated at 22-34 mpg City-Highway. Models with the new 1.6-liter engine achieve 25-37 mpg City-Highway with the manual transmission and 24-37 mpg with the automatic. The new 2.0-liter turbo is rated 22-33 mpg. The Fusion Hybrid model pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT). It's good for a maximum of 188 net horsepower, with fuel economy rated at 47 mpg City and Highway (yes, that's 47-47 mpg). The Ford Fusion Energi is plug-in hybrid that uses the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the Fusion Hybrid along with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. Fusion Energi is designed to run on pure electric power for short commutes and can be charged using a 120-volt or 240-volt outlet. The 2013 Fusion is built on an all-new platform, which Ford says is more rigid and safer than before. Although classified as midsize, the 2013 Fusion feels large and cavernous. This second-generation Fusion rides on a wheelbase that's about five inches longer than the first-generation version (2006-12), but overall body length is only an inch longer thanks to shorter overhangs. The 2013 Fusion is also an inch wider and taller than before.