2010 Ford Fusion: In Its Basic, Non-Hybrid State

Nice review James! One thing about the wheels. You listed them as 17" alloys but Ford says this about them:

"17” 5-spoke design wheel with Silver Painted covers
17” 5-spoke design wheels with silver painted covers, standard on Fusion SE."

I too thought they were alloys for quite a while until I read that. When you see them on the street, and frankly there are a lot of these in my area these days, they look like alloy wheels. Even up close.

Don't forget that the S and SE trims also have a manual transmission available, while the SEL and Sport trims are only available with an automatic transmission.

If the Sport trim were available with a manual, that would be my Fusion of choice, but a reasonably optioned SE with a manual would do fine for a commute car.

I'll second what baggs32 said, those are wheel covers, but a really good alloy imitation - and fine for snow duty with the original rims.

You missed the best feature of non-rental SE's : available with a stick!!

I spent a week and 2700 km in 2010 with a loaded rental SEL V-6 and came away very impressed.

Amazing post, James. Just change the title to "2011".

Yes, the SE is a "nice" car, but it is totally uninspiring to drive. I only drive a stick, but I have driven various versions of the Fusion, including automatics and V6s. The Fusion is designed not to offend anyone. And that includes a lack of engine or transmission sounds. Those sounds are absolutely necessary when you drive a stick. But the Fusion SE with a manual is probably more akin to driving a hybrid. There is no feedback of any kind. Shifting gears is like pushing the radio buttons with the radio off-- you really can't tell when to upshift or downshift. The steering is OK, but not great-- again, not much feedback.

So, it is what it is-- a low priced midsize family sedan. No more than that. Why they even offer the manual transmission is a puzzle to me. 99% of drivers would be better off with the automatic.

Actually, I would buy the SE or SEL with the 3.0 V6. I have driven it, and it is fun to drive-- plenty of needed noises, the nice shift buttons on the shift lever (I don't like paddles), and an EPA rating of 20/28-- which isn't that far off the 4 cyl. manual's 22/29. The SEL V6 is also available with AWD.

Oh yeah, there is the Fusion Sport. No manual tranny, and it only comes with a black interior. The black is a dealbreaker.

And it is available with a proper transmission in SE and S trims

Do people think you are weird when instead of taking pictures of the landscape you take pictures of your rental car?

Are you back yet? If not....

If the lava is flowing to the ocean, take a boat or helicopter ride around that area. It's a spectacular thing to see in person and worth every penny.

Also, if you're a diver, definitely do a manta night dive. Absolutely breathtaking.

A friend of mine that travel's all the time for work said if he was to buy a second car it would be a Fusion based on the rental car's he has driven.

The Camry's interior is pretty bad, but by any conceivable metric the Fusion's is worse. Way worse. And the seats on the Fusion are absolutely miserable and lack long-distance support.

Nasty interior aside, the Camry still has the best powertrains in the segment. The Camry also has a sense of refinement in its presentation and suspension tuning that the Fusion and some of its second-rate competitors are still lacking. I too, used to believe that the Fusion and Sonata had the Camry beat, but then I went and test drove them and found the Camry to still offer a higher level of refinement and practicality for the buyers in the midsize segment.

Year: Thanks for the year catch, the rental was in fact a 2010 like our long-termer.

Wheels: It's strange, the S comes with 16-inch alloys, but the SE gets 17-inch steels with alloy-look covers. Very strange, which explains the error on the Edmunds model review I was referencing in lieu of than my actual experience with the car (when I noted it's covers). I shall now update that model review and thanks for the catch.

Manual: I drove the pre-update Fusion with a manual and it was excellent. Good luck finding a 2011 Fusion SE with one, though.

ed124c: The Fusion Sport is actually available in two-tone interiors. My father owns one and has the black-blue combo -- it's quite snazzy. You can also get black-red. If you want beige, then no, you can't have that.

lostboyz: That's the story of my life.

blueguy: I am back and I'm quite sure the lava wasn't flowing anywhere when we were at the park. Pu'u O'o had shut down Thursday after its flare up.

-James Riswick

@jriz: The beauty of Ford is that you can order the car exactly the way you want from the factory. So if you really want a Fusion with a stick, you can always do that. Which is exactly what I would do if I was car shopping right now. Well actually I'd ordered a Focus hatch.

Hope you had fun on the honeymoon. (Assume that's why you're there). My brother and his wife went to HI for theirs and really enjoyed it.

Now if only they would make a proper wagon version. I'd love to replace our Taurus wagon with another Ford sedan based wagon, especially if it got 28 MPG, but all they offer are overweight CUVs getting poorer mileage.

sodaguy:

how do you measure refinement? The camry is quiet, but aside from that what is so refined about it? The styling is dull and lacks any sophstication and the interior is one of the lowest rent in class. Most family cars are quiet these days so I'm not sure why you're claiming the camry is the clear leader in refinement. The camry feels like it was built to meet a low price point and nothing more.

@mikeolan:

If you're referring to the 2005-2009 Fusion, you might be right, but the 2010+ Fusions are worlds better than the Camry as far as the interior. Ford really stepped up its game, while Toyota rested.

@sodaguy:

The 4-cyl Camry is not all that refined, and neither is Ford's 4-cyl. Larger displacement 4-cyl seem to be pretty noisy engines when flogged no matter what brand. On the inside, the Camry, however, is a complete disappointment for the reasons James mentioned, and the handling is a few steps behind the Fusion as well. My 1999 Camry has a better interior than a new Camry.

@stovt001, unfortunately its called the edge

I had a 2010 Camry for most of the month of December and was not impressed.

The interior was nothing special, it didn't ride nearly as well as I remember past Camrys riding and the handling was totally bland.

The 6 speed auto worked fine if you drove with a really light foot but try to rush it and it quickly felt confused, like it didn't know what gear to be in.

Add in some rattles and groans and it wasn't at all what I would expect from a car with 2200 km on it.

The Fusion is a much better car.

good post. Thank you for being honest.

@sodaguy- I dont like the Fusion's interior design, but the materials and construction are fine. The entire upper dash section is soft from door to door and there are some other nice surfaces in the cabin as well. Plus, the switchgear looks and feels substantial, especially relative to the lightweight feel of the Camry's components. I was in a relative's XLE and the shift lever was so flimsy it felt like you could break it by shifting into gear with too more force.

Funny someone slammed the Fusion suspension while praising the Camry. I'd fall on the opposite side and call the Camry suspension horrendous and the Fusion decent to good. Guess it depends on what you want from a car. Not everybody buying a compact to midsize vehicle wants the car to drive like a 1980s Buick.

"Nasty interior aside, the Camry still has the best powertrains in the segment. The Camry also has a sense of refinement in its presentation and suspension tuning that the Fusion and some of its second-rate competitors are still lacking......."

That's a first!

Being that I've yet to have any seat time behind the wheel of the current Sonata, I haven't a clue in terms of handling and refinement. That said I did have seat time behind the previous gen, and while it did not blow away the Camry it certainly was on par with it.

The current Camry is an also-ran. It does nothing exceptional and while the 4 cylinder received a bump in power and an extra cog during the vehicle's mid-cycle refresh, nothing was done to enhance refinement. Meanwhile Ford took a different approach attempting to address every and anything that it could to make the Fusion more attractive to mainstream buyers (inside and out).

My mom has an '06 Fusion in SE trim, with the four-banger. I drive it every so often, honestly can't find much to complain about. It feels a tad underpowered, I think the Fusion would be a great, fun car with a V6, and if I can't find a suitable American sedan with a RWD drivetrain, I am considering a new Fusion as my next vehicle in a year or so.

Even better, for just $895 list you can get the 'Appearance' package, which contrary to the name, has upgraded suspension components, fairly nice looking 18" alloys with better quality tires (still all-season but 'performance' rather than 'grand touring'--some companies charge more than $900 for the wheels/tires alone, see below), different seat fabric with snazzy contrast piping and contrast stitching on the steering wheel, and a rear spoiler (unfortunately IMO, but it's what the culture wants to say 'sport'). The identically priced 'Monochrome Appearance' package adds a body-colored grill (desirable, IMO), but it rules out a couple of the paint color choices.

Now, the Camry. A number of the local Toyota dealers have a surprising number (that being more than 0, or maybe 1, but not 6 apiece) of 4-cylinder Camry LE automatics equipped from the factory (because the price is listed on the factory Monroney and not a dealer sticker) with $2125 18" TRD wheels and, obviously, tires to fit. I am not intimately familiar with Toyota's trim lineup, but my impression was that the LE was the cheapest Camry that an individual would be wiling to buy. While people looking for a minimally-priced family sedan might well like it to look like a more expensive one, how many of those people are going to spring for $2000 wheels and tires? It turns a $23K car into a $25K car--and since the sticker didn't list any suspension changes, how will the base suspension feel with the +2 package?

The Fusion is a great midsize sedan, especially now that the 6, Accord, and Sonata have all ballooned in size. I think it looked better, inside and out, before the facelift, but it's still a nice car to drive and experience. If only the rump weren't so tall...

I rented a Fusion SE in LA last year and was so impressed. It just seemed like the car that nearly everyone should be driving. I can't understand why anyone would get a Camry. Or an Accord. Or even a Taurus. The Fusion did so many things so well. A few years ago I got a Mazda6 with the hatchback as a rental and that had been my best prior rental surprise....until I got the Fusion.

@mikeolan is exagerating but so is James Riswick!

The Fusion has controls that are like the old (terrible) Focus. Look at the Console with the radio and AC, the buttons and design are the same.

You know what Ford heard whiny journalists saying "soft touch soft touch" and very smartly put tons of grainy soft plastic inside Fusion. Obedient journalists said "oh wow soft touch soft touch"

But the truth is the Control layout is waaaaay behind the curve!! Looks VERY dated. Camry Console looks much more modern and sleek.

Typical internet exageration, you focus on one thing --quality and fit materials-- and ignore desiign which for many is more important

-Rod

@rod_stewart:

The Camry's modern and sleek in a 1960's Star Trek way. The silver console and blue lighting are terrible. The LCD in the radio is appauling. It's no different than the display in my 1999 Camry.

While the layout in the Camry is simple and fairly ergonomic (which is nice), the execution and style is awful. If you're going to do something simple, you'd better do it right and not miss the details. In this regard, the Camry fails.

"Camry Console looks much more modern and sleek."

Like an indiglo Timex clock from the late 90's? Even with such a simplistic design Toyota still missed the boat by making buttons that are close together and not decernible by touch.

@arumage

Compared to the Fusion, you still think so?

Look at Fusion displays w/o Navi, they are straight out of the 80s. And like I said buttons and Console design are straight out of 2010 Focus!! So tacky! At least Camry has a smooth and simple look.

To Each His Own but I think the next Fusion will show you exactly how Ford REALLY feels about the current Interior design---it will be MUCH sleeker and higher quality like the new Focus which puts Fusion to shame.

-Rod

"The Camry's interior is pretty bad, but by any conceivable metric the Fusion's is worse. Way worse. And the seats on the Fusion are absolutely miserable and lack long-distance support."

ROFLMAO...really? That is one of the most ignorant things I have read this week on this blog.

The Fusion's interior may be made of good quality materials, but I can't help but think that it looks very bland. It's just a sea of black or gray plastic, almost depressing. In this class I think the Sonata's interior wins, it looks $10,000 more expensive than it actually is.

I've rented a Fusion SEL in the past and came away quite impressed. Sadly for me, though I've asked for it specifically when I've rented since, Hertz always give me the "or similar" option.

"Look at Fusion displays w/o Navi, they are straight out of the 80s."

Doesn't Toyota still utilize the digital clock in almost all of their cars?

It may be a good car, I even thought about buying one when I was looking for a car. But when you have short legs and a long torso (I'm 6'4"), it isn't that great a car. Even with the seat in it's lowest position I felt like my ears were touching the roof. Obviously they weren't, but my head was, and I was stuck staring straight at the visor. This is a problem I have with a lot of vehicles, but it was worse in the Fusion. I ended up with a Kia Forte SX, plenty of head room front and back.

Hey jriz,

by your own admission this trim level and options "...was the Fusion most people will buy...."

So how about if IL gets some of their future cars in a trim level and optioned the way most people will actually buy the car?
Does every car that gets added to the long term test fleet really have to be the top trim with virtually every option offered by the manufacturer??

It would be interesting to read how livable a car is everyday in a trim level that the average Joe would own.

The claim that IL gets all the options so they can test and report on them kinda falls flat IMO.
On the 528 for example, I don't remember reading many posts of how well the individual options work and if they are worth the money. And that after IL added a whopping $15K in options.

"The claim that IL gets all the options so they can test and report on them kinda falls flat IMO.
On the 528 for example, I don't remember reading many posts of how well the individual options work and if they are worth the money. And that after IL added a whopping $15K in options."

When you drive free cars you get as much free kit as the manufacturers will offer. Most press cars given for LT fleets are loaded. IL has been known to get cheap when they were paying for their vehicles. They used to have base model Enclave with cloth seats that they purchased themselves. Their Cruze is loaded, but its a $26k car so that's understandable. Then again, little has been said about the features of the car so I dont understand why they got an LTZ.

I personally don't own a Fusion, but if at all possible it's all I will rent -- I've actually waited almost an hour at a rental car agency before to be able to get a Fusion instead of the other vehicles they had in stock.

To say the Fusion drives better than any other car in its class is a colossal understatement -- especially with the 4-cylinder (the V6 is of course faster and smoother but it makes the front end feel heavy). I've actually managed to average over 32 MPG in a Fusion V6, and done even better in a Fusion 4-cyl. The seats are great for long trips, it has plenty of interior space, the automatic transmission is programmed almost perfectly (though I wish that the manual shift gate were available with the 4-cyl, not just the V6).

The Sonata of course has a prettier interior (though not higher quality in terms of materials or fit and finish), but the Fusion is hands-down the better car to *drive*.

The Camry doesn't even deserve mentioning.

"It would be interesting to read how livable a car is everyday in a trim level that the average Joe would own."

BINGO +1000! WInner winner Chicken dinner...(or Sheen-dinner)!

"When you drive free cars you get as much free kit as the manufacturers will offer. Most press cars given for LT fleets are loaded. IL has been known to get cheap when they were paying for their vehicles. "

Get cheap for their cars? Ummm lets see they bought a GT Premium Mustang....Flex Limited, GT-R, Raptor, Camaro SS, DGC SXT, Challenger R/T, even the Focus was an SES.... I could go on and on. What other car besides the Enclave have they bought in the past few years have they cheaped out on? Even the Enclave was over 30K. All you have to do is look over at the right hand side of the screen and you can see almost EVERY car IL purchased is a top of the line unit. Care to back up that statement with facts?